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Burlington Commission on Human Rights, 1964-1965

At Work in Industry Today Page 12

into the Army at age 18. "I was a dropout," hes explains, "because our family, which included 10 children, didn't have a lot, and I felt I wanted to help them out, and earn a little something extra so that I could have something."
     Following a tour of duty with the U.S. Army's 73rd Combat Engineers in Korea, Mr. Jackson worked as an unskilled laborer with two Philadelphia companies, and had worked as a janitor and sweeper at General Electric since mid-1963.
     "But for five years," he recalls, "I had been thinking about furthering my education. I could see I wasn't getting anywhere."
     Early in 1964, he enrolled with Opportunities Industrialization Center in Philadelphia. The Rev. Leon Sullivan, chairman of the Center, helped him choose the curriculum-machine training-that best suited his talents, and he enrolled for an 18-month course. Now the Center is training him in the operation of a turret lathe, drill pres,s radial drill, milling machine, and engine lathe.
     Meanwhile, back at General Electric, Mr. Jackson's aptitude and initiative in starting his own off-the-job training program made him a good prospect for on-the-job training.
     Thus, Raymond Jackson's hopes for progress are beginning to come true. "When I joined GE," he adds, "it was a better paying job than the one I had, so I have gained considerably with the Company all the way.
     "I wanted very much to work for GE," he says. "A company of this size and reputation, I felt, would be able to offer opportunities to advance, good pay, and good benefits. I like machine shop work in general, working with machinery, and I hope to work up to larger lathes. I've always liked building things. Being in the Army attracted me to blueprints and such, but I felt I couldn't get very far in the long run, unless I was willing to learn more on my own."
     What does he like best about General Electric?
     "I think what attracts me the most is the opportunity that exists here for those who want to get ahead. I know that I will continue to advance provided I work hard, keep up my study and continue to do my best on the job."
     Speaking of his six youngsters, aged 2 to 10, Mr. Jackson says quietly and seriously: "I'd like to see all of them get all the education they can."

[photo to right]
Zachariah Jennings

Howard University graduate serves Company and community

When Zachariah Jennings got out of high school in Norfolk, Va., in 1942, there was "just nothing" ahead for him, he felt, unless he could get some kind of further education.
     Mr. Jennings' father, a railroad worker, had all he could do in those days to support five growing children. Zach Jennings realized that college for him would have to be a do-it-yourself program.
     Today, nearly 25 years and two degrees later, he is more than ever convinced that the road to a better life is through education.
   Seated behind his desk at General Electric's plant in Lynn, Massachusetts, where he works as a design engineer, Mr. Jennings will tell you that you must feel as though the "sky is the limit."
     "Of course each of us has a limit, but you never can be sure just what it is, so the only thing to do is to keep pushing as hard as you can," he says.
     His career illustrates what he means. By working at a variety of jobs during his high school years, he scraped together enough money to enter Howard University in 1942. The following year he was drafted. When he was discharged after three years with the rank of first sergeant, he returned to Howard, studying electrical engineering. He was graduated with honors in 1949, and, among other achievements, he was listed in that year's edition of "Who's Who in American Colleges."
     Upon graduation, he joined General Electric on the Company's engineering program. After training assignments in Cincinnati, Syracuse, Philadelphia, and Schenectady, he was recalled by the Army this time as a lieutenant in the Signal Corps, to serve in Korea. In 1953, he again returned to civilian life to pick up the threads of his career.
     In 1954 he was assigned to the Company's Lynn plant where he has held successively more responsible jobs in the design and development of control systems for aircraft.
     "I find this kind of work stimulating and rewarding," he says.
     What about his outside life? Zach Jennings lives with his wife and three children in Peabody, a town adjoining Lynn. During the late 1950s he spent several nights each week attending graduate school at Northeastern University. In June, 1960, he was awarded a master's degree in electrical engineering.
     "Education is a way of life with me," says he. "It has opened doors and provided opportunities for me and for my family. I am just about convinced that education is the answer, not only to the problems of the Negro, but to those of the nation and the world."
     On his off hours, Mr. Jennings occasionally plays tennis, enjoys fishing, and holds a ham radio operator's license. He is also co-chairman of the North Shore Committee for Equal Opportunity. In this latter role, ye gets around quite a bit; does some talking to different community groups.
     "We try to do two things," he says. "We try to find opportunities for qualified Negroes in business and industry, and we act as a focal point to help those who feel they are being treated unfairly, especially in the matter of housing. I think we are making some progress."

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Saving...

into the Army at age 18. "I was a dropout," hes explains, "because our family, which included 10 children, didn't have a lot, and I felt I wanted to help them out, and earn a little something extra so that I could have something." Following a tour of duty with the U.S. Army's 73rd Combat Engineers in Korea, Mr. Jackson worked as an unskilled laborer with two Philadelphia companies, and had worked as a janitor and sweeper at General Electric since mid-1963. "But for five years," he recalls, "I had been thinking about furthering my education. I could see I wasn't getting anywhere." Early in 1964, he enrolled with Opportunities Industrialization Center in Philadelphia. The Rev. Leon Sullivan, chairman of the Center, helped him choose the curriculum-machine training-that best suited his talents, and he enrolled for an 18-month course. Now the Center is training him in the operation of a turret lathe, drill pres,s radial drill, milling machine, and engine lathe. Meanwhile, back at General Electric, Mr. Jackson's aptitude and initiative in starting his own off-the-job training program made him a good prospect for on-the-job training. Thus, Raymond Jackson's hopes for progress are beginning to come true. "When I joined GE," he adds, "it was a better paying job than the one I had, so I have gained considerably with the Company all the way. "I wanted very much to work for GE," he says. "A company of this size and reputation, I felt, would be able to offer opportunities to advance, good pay, and good benefits. I like machine shop work in general, working with machinery, and I hope to work up to larger lathes. I've always liked building things. Being in the Army attracted me to blueprints and such, but I felt I couldn't get very far in the long run, unless I was willing to learn more on my own." What does he like best about General Electric? "I think what attracts me the most is the opportunity that exists here for those who want to get ahead. I know that I will continue to advance provided I work hard, keep up my study and continue to do my best on the job." Speaking of his six youngsters, aged 2 to 10, Mr. Jackson says quietly and seriously: "I'd like to see all of them get all the education they can." [photo to right] Zachariah Jennings Howard University graduate serves Company and community When Zachariah Jennings got out of high school in Norfolk, Va., in 1942, there was "just nothing" ahead for him, he felt, unless he could get some kind of further education. Mr. Jennings' father, a railroad worker, had all he could do in those days to support five growing children. Zach Jennings realized that college for him would have to be a do-it-yourself program. Today, nearly 25 years and two degrees later, he is more than ever convinced that the road to a better life is through education. Seated behind his desk at General Electric's plant in Lynn, Massachusetts, where he works as a design engineer, Mr. Jennings will tell you that you must feel as though the "sky is the limit." "Of course each of us has a limit, but you never can be sure just what it is, so the only thing to do is to keep pushing as hard as you can," he says. His career illustrates what he means. By working at a variety of jobs during his high school years, he scraped together enough money to enter Howard University in 1942. The following year he was drafted. When he was discharged after three years with the rank of first sergeant, he returned to Howard, studying electrical engineering. He was graduated with honors in 1949, and, among other achievements, he was listed in that year's edition of "Who's Who in American Colleges." Upon graduation, he joined General Electric on the Company's engineering program. After training assignments in Cincinnati, Syracuse, Philadelphia, and Schenectady, he was recalled by the Army this time as a lieutenant in the Signal Corps, to serve in Korea. In 1953, he again returned to civilian life to pick up the threads of his career. In 1954 he was assigned to the Company's Lynn plant where he has held successively more responsible jobs in the design and development of control systems for aircraft. "I find this kind of work stimulating and rewarding," he says. What about his outside life? Zach Jennings lives with his wife and three children in Peabody, a town adjoining Lynn. During the late 1950s he spent several nights each week attending graduate school at Northeastern University. In June, 1960, he was awarded a master's degree in electrical engineering. "Education is a way of life with me," says he. "It has opened doors and provided opportunities for me and for my family. I am just about convinced that education is the answer, not only to the problems of the Negro, but to those of the nation and the world." On his off hours, Mr. Jennings occasionally plays tennis, enjoys fishing, and holds a ham radio operator's license. He is also co-chairman of the North Shore Committee for Equal Opportunity. In this latter role, ye gets around quite a bit; does some talking to different community groups. "We try to do two things," he says. "We try to find opportunities for qualified Negroes in business and industry, and we act as a focal point to help those who feel they are being treated unfairly, especially in the matter of housing. I think we are making some progress." 12