Mural Honors Inez Jackson

San Jose city officials and community leaders unveiled a mural honoring Inez Jackson, a pioneering civil rights figure, on May 19, 2026, at the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) library on Sixth and Julian streets. The artwork, commissioned in partnership with the San Jose Public Library, celebrates Jackson's decades-long contributions to local education, housing, and civil rights advocacy. ### Who Was Inez Jackson? Inez Jackson, who died in 2023 at age 94, served as the first Black woman elected to the San Jose Unified School District board in 1971, breaking barriers in local education governance. She later became the first Black woman on the board of the San Jose Housing Authority in 1975 and held leadership roles at the AACSA, including executive director from 1985 to 1995. Jackson founded the Martin Luther King Jr. Library's Black History Collection in 1971, which grew into a key resource for African American history in Silicon Valley. (; ) During the civil rights era, Jackson organized voter registration drives and advocated for affordable housing in East San Jose, a predominantly Latino and Black neighborhood facing redlining and displacement pressures from Silicon Valley's tech boom. "She was a bridge-builder who connected communities across racial lines," said AACSA Executive Director Jason Mellone at the unveiling. ### What Does the Mural Depict? Local artist Emilio Gonzalez created the 20-foot-by-10-foot mural using acrylic paints on the library's exterior wall, featuring Jackson's portrait alongside symbols of her legacy: a schoolhouse, housing keys, and books from the Black History Collection. The design incorporates vibrant colors reflecting African American cultural motifs, with Jackson holding a gavel to symbolize her board roles. Gonzalez completed the piece over four weeks, working with input from Jackson's family and AACSA members. (; ) The mural's location at Sixth and Julian streets places it in the heart of the Mayfair neighborhood, an area Jackson fought to preserve amid 1970s urban renewal projects. San Jose Public Library provided $15,000 in funding through its art grant program, with additional support from AACSA donors. ### Why Was the Mural Created Now? The project stemmed from a 2024 AACSA proposal to the San Jose Public Library's community art initiative, aimed at commemorating Black History Month figures with lasting public installations. Library Commissioner Maria Perez championed the effort, citing Jackson's underrepresented role in Silicon Valley's tech-centric history. "Inez Jackson's story reminds us of the human foundation beneath the innovation narrative," Perez said. San Jose has installed seven public murals since 2023 honoring diverse leaders, part of a citywide equity push following 2020 racial justice protests. The Jackson mural joins others at the Dr. Roberto Cruz Alum Rock Library and the Joyce Ellington Branch Library. ### Who Attended the Unveiling? More than 150 people gathered on May 19, including Jackson's daughter Linda Jackson-Williams, San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei, and representatives from the NAACP Silicon Valley branch. Performances by the East Side High School choir preceded ribbon-cutting remarks from Mellone, who called the mural "a beacon for future generations." Kamei presented a city proclamation declaring May 19 "Inez Jackson Day." (; ) ### Where Can People See It and What's Next? The mural is publicly accessible 24/7 at 1401 Alum Rock Ave., co-located with the AACSA library open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Virtual tours and artist talks are available on the San Jose Public Library website. Gonzalez plans a companion youth mural workshop at the site on June 15, teaching 20 students aged 12-18 about community art. ```