Saturday, May 3rd at 7PM
Cape May Stage, 405 Lafayette St.
During the Jim Crow era, African American travelers heavily relied on an annual publication, the “Green Book”, to navigate segregated areas, using it to find safe places like hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and even beauty salons that would serve them, essentially acting as a lifeline for safe travel across the country where they might face discrimination or danger due to their race.
This presentation will provide a first-hand account of how the book served its purpose and uncovered even more discriminatory actions along the way.
Presented by Cape May MAC in association with Chase Jackson, and hosted by Cape May Stage.
About the Presenter:
Chase Jackson is an arts administer and a community arts activist. She believes that even though the arts can be created for aesthetic and intellectual purposes and judged for beauty and meaningfulness, she also feels that the arts can also be used as an educational, motivational and economic development tool as well as a tool for cross cultural communication and interactions. Currently, Chase is the executive director of Ocean City Arts Center. She holds a BS in accounting from Elizabeth City State University and a certificate in arts administration from UNC Kenan–Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill. She has 40+ years in non-profit management. Chase is an accomplished storyteller, producer, director, actor and blues belter. She is on the steering committee of the Creating Change Network, a program hosted by New Jersey Theatre Alliance and ArtPride New Jersey that aims to build a more equitable, just, and anti-racist arts community in New Jersey.
On a more artistic note, a Blues fanatic, she was the manager of national recording artists, Saffire-the Uppity Blues Women, on the Alligator label. She has also performed under the name of Miz Mamie with her own band, the wRight Blues Band in Red Bank, NJ and as a featured vocalist with De Gut Bucket Blues Band in Norfolk, VA. Chase is the co-founder of the Natchel’ Blues Network (NBN), a blues society based in Norfolk, VA.
Chase is an experienced sailor and a tall ship lover and advocate. She serves on the board of Tall Ships American, a national organization working with tall ship operators, host ports, crew, and corporate sponsors to focus on youth education, leadership development and preservation of the maritime heritage of North America. She still sails whenever, wherever and on whatever she can.
During her time in Cape May County, she has produced numerous plays, story and poetry slams through her production company, ChaseArts, as well as been active with several local non profits as a consultant and volunteer.