Bruce Jackson (scholar)
Bruce Jackson (1936-2018) was an American folklorist, ethnomusicologist, filmmaker, photographer, and writer known for his extensive fieldwork and documentation of marginalized communities, particularly within the American prison system and the African American blues tradition.
Jackson earned his PhD in folklore from Indiana University in 1966. He taught at the State University of New York at Buffalo from 1967 until his retirement in 2003, where he founded the Center for Studies in American Culture.
Jackson's work emphasized direct engagement with his subjects and a commitment to presenting their experiences and perspectives with authenticity. He utilized a variety of media, including books, films, and photographs, to convey his findings to a wider audience. He was a pioneer in ethnographic filmmaking.
His notable publications include:
- Wake Up Dead Man: Afro-American Worksongs from Texas Prisons (1972)
- Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me: Narrative Poetry from Black Oral Tradition (1974)
- Killing Time: Life in a Texas Penitentiary (1977)
- Law and Disorder: Criminal Justice in America (1984)
- Inside the Wire: Photographs from Texas and Arkansas Prisons (1998)
Jackson's films include Death Row (1979) and Out of Order (1986), both of which examine aspects of the American criminal justice system.
His work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and the American Folklore Society's Lifetime Achievement Award. His legacy continues to influence the fields of folklore, ethnomusicology, and documentary filmmaking.