Sad news about Kennell  / Margo Richardson (history dept. colleague )
I had the pleasure of working with Kennell for 9 years in the history department. During that time, we had many interesting and lively conversations about history, current events, art, movies, life as an RF in Branner Hall, and growing up back East (me in Pennsylvania and him in Virginia). This last year, as his body began to fail him, he remained characteristically upbeat and positive, with his wit and sense of humor very much in evidence on the day I visited him for the last time at Stanford Hospital. I will greatly miss him, as will his many other friends, colleagues, and all of the students he has inspired over the years. Close

Stanford's Heart, Soul and Conscience  / David Lempert (Branner RA, 1982-83 )
Kennell Jackson was the heart, soul and conscience of Stanford University and I worry about the University's future without him. Anyone who loves the university and loved (or even hated) Kennell, needs to reflect and act to make sure his influence and voice are not lost and that Stanford will not die as a great university. The Stanford that Kennell found himself within was more like a "Stepford" community than a Stanford; a place filled with engineers and technology and perfectly manicured order and a feelgood tranquility and an intellectual and spiritual deadness. It was a place of diversity that was starting to be seen in skin color but not in ideas, and it existed in a harmonious uniformity that marks a church or military order but not a place of debate, challenge, ferment and vitality. The Stanford of the 1980s was Hoover-Reagan (and now Condy Rice) University, with no attachment to the world other than a paternalistic vision of Leland Sanford and his nouveau riche descendents guiding it. Kennell opened a space for something that was disappearing from the country's universities and from Stanford; actual thinking and the play of ideas. Kennell chose to live in Branner not because he wanted to follow Residential Education's administrative policy of "civilizing" and regimenting what they saw as heathen, unsocialized freshmen and a kind of raw material input that needed to be tamed. Where the Stanford administration saw "inputs", Kennell saw human beings looking for something great to do with their gifts. In freshman wildness, that Stanford sought to control and stamp out, Kennell saw intellectual curiosity and play, and he sought to liberate intellect and spirit while teaching responsibility and empathy. In Branner Hall, he created the only really live and intellectual center on a mostly dead campus that was serving as a conveyor belt for professionals of California suburbia with whom he largely empathized. In a sense, he took the idea of residential education and created a kind of alternative university within the university. Kennell's "T-Shirt Museum" and other Branner exhibits were a counterpoint to the sterile, patronistic exhibits elsewhere on campus, and they centered the university on student initiative, creativity and intellect, where it belonged. Kennell's opening of the Branner living room to anyone whom anyone wished to invite for dinner or talks made it a universal center. In the year I lived in Branner, Joan Baez, Steve Jobs, and CIA Director Stansfield Turner were just some of the folks who appeared in my living room. Where others sought to package knowledge, Kennell opened the space of Branner to experiments and learning, and he inspired new forms of experiential learning that he helped accredit. Kennell was the father of the "Unseen America" courses that brought students out to explore and interact with and contribute to, and to develop skills in the real world -- factories and Native American reservations and prisons. He knew that this could be done with freshman and that it would change their world. At the same time, Kennell opened space for play and humor, and believed in promoting beauty and comfort. As a moral compass for Stanford and really for the country, Kennell would walk by the Hoover Institute and stand up to the U.S. government architects of policies of terrorism and greed that have led the world to its insecurity today. He would shame high level officials, telling them, "We know who you are and what you have done. You can't just hide here." He would try to challenge them to think and take responsibility. When others were "mean spirited" and had "no ideas" Kennell shone the light on them and made them realize that this was the standard they needed to be held to, on those terms. Kennell talked about and inspired ideas and morality -- the heart and mission of the university that most of the rest of Stanford had abandoned in pursuit of power, money, status, harmony and efficiency. Kennell taught that history had to have context and that individuals had to create that context as a base for change. He knew that it was up to us to create new and meaningful traditions as a way to begin to change history. And he began to create those traditions in Branner Hall. At the end of every academic year, Kennell would say that his work at Branner and Stanford were part of a struggle in which "civilization just manages to stay ahead of the forces against it and win out by a tiny margin." Without Kennell on this planet, I truly fear for Stanford and for civilization. Close

Sparking an Interest  / Morgan Craven (student/ advisee )
I had little idea of my then dormant passion for African studies until I took Professor Jackson's class called African History Through Novels and Film.  Not only did I discover my interest in studying Africa, but I began to re-examine my ideas of how to approach all areas of study.  Professor Jackson later became my major advisor and was absolutely instrumental in my decision to spend one of my summers doing a fellowship in South Africa.  I will remember Professor Jackson as someone who always made me think differently about subjects, challenge myself academically, and appreciate art and alternative forms of the truth. Close

Thanks Kennell  / Cedric Smith (Serra Frosh 75-76 )
Kennell sits firmly among the key role models of my life.  In my tribute, I want to thank him for his contribution to a life that I wish I could have told him has been well-lived.
 
I'm in the midst of a mid-life career break after several years as a corporate executive in London.  I was just completing a 'Forks-in-the-Road' exercise about decisions I've made throughout my life and reviewing the primary influences on me.  During the exercise I wrote down Kennell Jackson's name as a key influencer and decided to google his name and discovered this site.  It truly saddens me to learn of his death just at the time I was planning to reach out and reconnect with him. 

With Kennell, his contribution to society can be measured one person at a time.  For me, I will recall his coaching, his help picking my counselors, his help with my Honors Thesis.  I will remember his humour.  I will remember his getting up under my facade and encouragement to be true to myself and my personal evolution.

I remember my curiosity at what he got up to on those infrequent jaunts to the City in the festive era of the 70's when he just had to get some time away from us post-adolescents.  He would return from those weekends with a twinkle and a smile but not let much out to the queries as a 17 year old lad.

I am happy for Kennell that life has involved influencing the lives of thousands of Stanford students.  For me, he helped me to proceed down the fork that included creation of the thickest passport in existence after years of traveling weekly throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa as part of my day job.

Thanks Kennell.  You did good by me!

Cedric Close

Kennell's Gift of Gab  / Robert Helm (Mau Mau seminar participant;RA in Serra (79-80) and Branner (80-81) )
Kennell and I first found common ground in our respect for Jimmy Carter, which put us in a rather elite group even among Democrats. I remember Kennell defending Carter and his family (he loved Roslynn--the "Iron Magnolia") to a skeptical Serra House audience. I also remember Kennell arguing with a freshman about the future of FM radio. His tastes were eclectic and as others have said, he had an opinion about pretty much everything. His Sunday began with a trip to Palo Alto to pick up his copy of the New York Times and that would provide him with a week's worth of things to talk about.

Some fellow faculty person (Stansky?) once told Kennell that he had the "gift of gab". Kennell thought that a great compliment. I have a recollection that we did a skit at Serra House where Kennell (playing the part of some old time villain) said, "I'm evil, and I have the gift of gab!" It brought down the house.

It was an honor to be involved in Kennell's initial move to Branner, where he envisioned recreating the intellectual atmosphere of an English college in the heart of the larger university. I understand from things I've read and heard that he was successful in doing just that, which is testimony both to him and to the many others who joined him there to lead the many fine quality programs that Branner has become well known for. I hope that the University is able to honor his memory by keeping those programs alive.

Close

Tribute to Prof. Kennell Jackson  / Meshack Owino (Friend, and Colleague )
I first met Prof. Kennell Jackson when I joined the Department of History Stanford University as a visiting lecturer in January 2003. We immediately striked it off as friends even though he was several years my senior, a fact which says a lot about what kind of a person he was -- simple, kind, caring, compassionate, and personable.

Prof Jackson was a great scholar, and a good human being. Unlike most other scholars we know who spend their entire lifetime in the academic ivory tower, Prof. Jackson was simple and unassuming. He regarded all as equals, as people, as human beings. He dedicated his life to studying the Akamba, and the Mau Mau body. He loved Kenya and Kenyans. When I talked to him on the phone last month [a month before his passing on], he told me that he was planning to establish a Book Prize through ASA in the name of Prof. Bethwell A. Ogot. He also told me that he was planning to host a conference on the Mau Mau War at Stanford University next year. He sounded weak as we talked on the phone, yet he was already planning about the following year. He was that dedicated to his work. He was a good scholar, and a good person.

I will cherish him as a friend and a colleague. I will truly miss him.

Meshack Owino,
Clevelnd State University,
Cleveland, Ohio.
-----------------------    Close

Sad to lose Kennell  / Estelle Freedman (colleague)

Kennell gave so much to Stanford and its students that the campus feels emptier with him gone; I am sure that his spirit is with all of those he touched, and thus everywhere!  Now it is up to the rest of us to sustain his special brand of human kindness in our academic world and our lives.

Close

An educator, mentor, and humanitarian with no equal  / Peter LeVine (student/friend)

I share the profound sadness and loss at the passing of Kennell Jackson.  I met Kennell as a resident at Serra House in 1970 and remained friends with him for thirty five years.  He was and will always remain unique, and without equal, as a brilliant teacher and mentor who dedicated his entire life to teaching young people and, indeed people of all ages, to study, question, and challenge the political and social norms that too many Americans become complacent with.  His impact on my life, and the lives of thousands of Stanford students, was profound.  

While other professors and educators at Stanford may have been more widely published and more famous, Kennell influenced the lives of more Stanford students than all of the scholarly books or journal articles attributed to Stanford faculty in the past hundred years combined.  Day and night, for 35 straight years, Kennell was never too busy to listen to students, respect them, and teach them to never be complacent with elitist political, economic, and social institutions that needed and remain in need of change so that the many millions of people in the world who are born into poverty and/or inequality could have a fighting chance of living a healthy and productive life.

If there was ever an unsung hero in the history of Stanford University, that hero is Kennell Jackson.  His genius in influencing the lives of so many people, especially his students at Stanford, created legacies of positive leadership in so many diverse endeavors.  Kennell Jackson realized that a truly great teacher and mentor is one who spends time - hundreds and hundreds of hours each and every year - with young people  in the dormitory, the classroom, or in a chance meeting on or off campus.   In this most important respect, Kennell Jackson will be remembered by the thousands who knew him and will always remember him as Stanford University's greatest professor and, perhaps more importantly, Stanford University's greatest humanitarian.

Kennell Jackson death at such a young age is an incalculable loss, especially to the many future Stanford students who will not have the privilege and benefit of being taught and mentored by a man whose passion was positive political and social change.  I am deeply saddened by the loss of my favorite teacher and my friend.

 

Close

Remembering Kennell Jackson  / Edward Alpers (professor)
Although Kennel and I were born in the same year, our different paths into academic life resulted in my serving as an examiner on his Ph.D. dissertation committee at UCLA in 1972. I arrived at UCLA in Spring Quarter 1968, and a year later Kennell joined the  Stanford faculty, working on his dissertation and beginning to make his mark as a teacher and mentor to many generations of students there. His dissertation was a pioneering piece of research among the Kamba of Kenya and the several articles that he published from it were important contributions to knowledge. His work was an inspiration to and important foundation for Robert J. Cummings (Howard University), who completed his own work on the Kamba at UCLA in 1975. Although out paths crossed only infrequently over subsequent years, I am honored to have known Kennell and join the many others who mourn his passing. Close

Stories About Kennell from the Very Early Days  / Ray And Jane Oleson (RA, Serra House, 1971-72 )

Upon arrival at Serra, Kennell was only a few years older than us.  He loved being around the students and his apartment door was always open.  He would hold court in the dining room, regaling us with stories of his childhood and the history department.  He loved his dog "Franz" that he kept in the side pen next to Serra and would walk him after dinner.  Later in the evening, he would retire to his apartment to work but always left the door open and, of course, a group of 4-10 students would come sit at his couch and on the floor as he was typing and talking with us.  We understand that he became more private in later years, but in the early years these sessions would occur every night.

When his mom from Virginia came to visit, he treated her like a queen.  He always talked in such reverential terms about her that it was marvelous to see the two together.

We still remember so many of the sayings he had...."Do you miiiiiinnnd" (said in a deep rising voice)......"Seth Katz speaks the truth" (later memorialized on a bumper sticker and placed on his Volvo.... "Wait 'til Jane and Ginny get here"......and so many others.

The seed of Branner Presents was born in Serra House with trips to Pescadero for cioppino, invitations to Richard and Jing Lyman for dinner at Serra, square dances, and visits to San Francisco.

One of my strongest memories was sitting with Kennell as he helped revise my law school application essay.  I sat at his knee as he gave me a couple hours of his time just to work on this essay.

We saw him rarely in the intervening quarter century but, when Jane got sick, he called to wish her the best.  My greatest wish is that I could have returned the favor before it was too late.  Goodbye Kennell.  We miss you already.

Close

Professor of History  / David Skinner
I knew Kennell Jackson through our mutual interests in African and African American Studies.  He was a kind, gracious gentleman, a man of great wit and knowledge and a tireless contributor to furthering our understanding of African and African American connections.  He will be sorely missed but long remembered. Close

An Intellectual Giant Moves on Up a Little Higher  / Edna Allen Dean (Family Friend )
Kennell will always be remembered as a special young man here in Farmville, who was so bright, and ahead of his time. Charming and full of interesting antedotes, we exchanged "student stories" throughout the years.  The world has lost a very special person. I have known him since we were all youngsters here in Farmville, Va.  His childhood friends have always remained loyal and loving. I will cherish those moments when he visited Farmville through the years, and the conversations and laughs we have shared.  It's so hard to believe that he is no longer with us, but I know that wherever he is, he is still teaching and bringing issues to the table that heretofore have not been addressed. Close

Kennell Taught Me To Ask Questions  / David Hornik (Branner '87, RA '89-'90 )
For me Kennell Jackson was the very personification of intellectual curiosity. He taught me to never shy away from asking questions. Kennell was as comfortable discussing the viscosity of his soup with an eager waiter as he was questioning the intricate theories of those scholars he brought to campus to enlighten and entertain us. I will forever be grateful to Kennell for having opened my eyes to the richness of the world. Kennell did not merely live his life, he reveled in it. And those of us who had the good fortune to stand by his side and see the world through his eyes were blessed, for we learned to see the quirky little details that make the world unendingly fascinating. I will miss you, Kennell! Close

Kennell Jackson  / Christopher Vaughan
I only knew Prof. Jackson in a very limited way, but even this brief connection was enough to leave an impression. My sophomore year (2002-2003) I was planning on organizing a series of "dialogues" between professors at my row house. At the suggestion of an upperclassman who knew Kennell well, I invited him to participate, along with Prof. David Palumbo-Liu, in our first "dialogue"--a discussion on multi-culturalism in a university setting. I was more than a little green then and quite nervous about "moderating" the event, but these two professors made the evening great. You could tell even then that Kennell's health was in decline, but he was eager to participate and bring his range of experience with race issues at Stanford to bear on our talk. He was engaging throughout the discussion, but one moment in particular stands out. Toward the end, Kennell took a long thoughtful pause before answering a question about how he envisioned the future of cultural issues at Stanford. When he answered, he said that he sometimes wondered what the point of a university like Stanford was in such a troubled world. Would all the time and money invested here be better used if it served a more specific mission? It wasn't an easy question, and I doubt there is an easy answer. But I'm glad Kennell asked that question, and I've been made to think back on it several times over the last few years. Thank you, Kennell. Close

retired educator  / Diane Redd Lane (elem.-college friend )
Kennell entered Mary E.Branch Elem. Farmville, Va. 1949 wearing knickerbockers, tall and slim.  We couldn't stop snickering.  He was an intelligent guy and we simply loved him.
We went on to Hampton Institute together and remained good buds.  Oh, this is so hard to accept but Lottie and
Kennell Sr. await you with loving arms.
I am so happy I saw you at the Prince
Edward Co. program that summer.
I'll always love you.

Diane Redd Lane
605 Lake Ridge Place
Va. Beach, Va. 23452 Close

Respect / Shaun Phillips (Branner class of '07 )
I'll never forget my first encounter with Kennell- it was our first house meeting of the year. 150+ freshmen, including myself, crammed into the Branner lounge to meet our RAs and fellow dormmates. None of us had been on campus for more than a week and we were frantically searching for our place in the university, as well as people to look up to and guide us in our quest. This is when Kennel came in. I was sitting behind one of the large white pillars in the lounge... and the pillar obstructed my view of a small section of the stage on which the RAs were performing/speaking. The RAs introduced Kennel and he began to speak to us. I was excited to hear such a confident, yet soothing voice behind the man in charge of my dorm. I immediately imagined it belonged to a young 30-something prodigy of an RF, assigned to Branner because it was the biggest and the best of the freshmen dorms. I certainly wasn't wrong about his character, I was however a little off on my age estimate. When I actually saw Kennel I was really surprised to match my his face to my initial impression. Although my athletic commitments kept me out of Branner most of the time, I was lucky to be around and talk to Kennel from time to time. He was genuinely interested in every one of us... he would ask me about my swimming at lunch and although he wasn't familiar with the sport- he always cared about what I had to say and made me feel like I was an important part of the Branner family. I know I wasn't as close to Kennel as countless of others were, but I do know about leadership. Kennel was a great leader- he was strong enough to govern over 170 people living under the Branner roof and still caring enough to make you feel comfortable and important whenever he spoke to you. Kennel was a unique and fascinating individual... one of the people I've really been lucky to have met in my years at Stanford. Stanford is a greater place because of Kennel and I can only hope that I am able to positively influence the lives of others at Stanford the way he did. Lets keep his memory strong- Close

Kennell / Andres Mendez (friend)
I really loved Kennell. What a great guy. He was such a positive force. I will never forget sitting with him after lunch listening to his good natured conversation. And who from my dorm could forget the "It's called Reciprocity" comment?--truly classic words. Kennell was all about letting people do their own thing, as long as it wasn't bothering someone else. I remember how he always had a way to put a positive spin on everything. Even after a friend died, he told me how she'd "fought the good fight, just like we'll all have to at some time or another." Really wise words. Kennell definitely fought the good fight, and I know he never lost his positive outlook. I hope I can carry on his memory by following his fine example. Thank you Kennell. May you always be happy. Close

Making an Institution  / Leo Cunningham (Branner RA '80-82, Serra House '78-'80 )

Kennell was as complex as the issues that mattered to him.
He was charming and irascible and demanding and supportive.
He was an educator, always.
And he taught fairness.
Branner was an extension of Kennell; and thousands of us are better for it.
Thank you, Kennell.
 

Close

Thanks Kennell  / Justice Hampton (Resident in Branner 01-02 )

Kennell, you will be missed greatly. I know I was a bit of a knucklehead freshman year, but I have always had a deep respect and admiration of you. Thanks for everything.

Close

Kennell and Creative Contradiction  / Eric Silverberg (Branner HAA, 00-01 )
To me, Kennell seemed to embody that sort of creative contradiction that you find so many places in the Stanford community. He could gruff, but empathatic, blunt, but rife with innuendo, and wise, but still kindred to the freshman in his charge. I enjoyed my conversations with Kennell - he reminded me of my southern relatives who all wear their thoughts on their shirtsleeves but are very, very funny. He had an unwavering devotion to Branner and the freshman experience, and in many ways sustained it through a period when the notion of an "all freshman" dorm was under heavy criticism in the 80s. Lives have been deeply shaped by Kennell, his work, his vision, and his dessert hours, and we are all better off for it. -Eric Branner HAA, 00-01 Close