By Jonathan Gramling

It was very fitting that I interviewed Mother Jacqueline Wright in the vestibule of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The church has always played a central role in her life. Her husband, the late Rev. James C. Wright, had played  a pivotal role in Madison’s civil rights movement. Rev. Wright headed Madison’s Equal Opportunities Commission for 25 years and was the pastor of Mt. Zion when he died.

As I listen to Mother Wright talk about her and “Jimmie’s” life, my deep respect grew even deeper. She talked about the days when her mother owned a beauty shop on Mound Street in the old Greenbush neighborhood back in the early 1960s. They ended up moving the business to Gilson Street when an urban removal project leveled “The Bush.”

Unbeknown to them, the property owners on S. Park Street conspired to not sell to the African American businesses moving from the Bush.

Rev. Wright and Rev. Dawson built the building that now houses the Style and Grace Salon. Back then, it was known as Jackie’s Beauty Salon and Jimmie’s Barbershop. Wright and Dawson would later team up to build the old Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Fisher Street.

When listening to Mother Wright recount all of the battles they fought while Rev. Wright was the EOC director and the racial steering that occurred on Madison’s south side, it is truly awesome to realize what a spiritual woman Mother Wright is. In spite of the hate and discrimination and prejudice, she has a sweet and smiling demeanor. Since Rev. Wright was a carpenter and worked as an aide in Madison