Humanitarian at Heart

J. Neal Jackson, owner of Eagle’s Market Convenience Store.

By Sharon L. Shervington

Two of the things that J. Neal Jackson takes the most pride in are his store, the Eagle’s Market Convenience Store, and being an involved father to his 11-month-old daughter. Two things he believes in are hard work and helping people. “I’m a humanitarian at heart,” Jackson said in a recent interview at the barbershop that abuts his convenience store on Eagle Street, “And I love to help people.”

These are the values that have accompanied him on a challenging journey from a crowded apartment in a housing project in Greensboro to his current position, one which he hopes to develop further through his current run for a seat on the city council. Jackson, who played Division One basketball at the University of California at Irvine, first came to Asheville to play basketball for UNCA. He liked it here even though he said that when he first arrived he “didn’t think there were even any black people here.”

Now, a steady stream of customers of all ages and colors meanders
throughout the market every day. On a busy day, Eagle’s Market can
serve 200 to 300 customers. Jackson said he opened the store in 2006
because he wanted to meet a need in the community.

That is something that he has been doing for a while, ever since his
days as student body president at Page High School in Greensboro. And
it was during his high school years that he became comfortable with a
diversity that he believes has a chance to flourish in today’s climate.
That is when he had a chance to be part of the Anytown Leadership
Program, where participants are given specific tools to help them
confront race and gender stereotypes that are often internalized over a
lifetime. “We had to make lists of the stereotypes we had about people.
And then you confronted each other with them,” he said with a wry shake
of his head. Clearly the experience was uncomfortable, but one Jackson
feels was worthwhile. “I stopped seeing in stereotypes.”

He’s had a whole range of jobs, working as everything from an
upholsterer to a limousine driver before recognizing, after polishing
his professional skills in a law office and in real estate, that what
he really wanted to be was an entrepreneur. One of his favorite things
in the store now is that he gets to “sit and listen to people’s
problems.” And he likes it that his customers look to him as an
informal advisor.

Jackson also serves on Asheville’s Board of Adjustments and on the
Transit Commission. And in addition to his run he has something else
quite special coming up in November. That’s when he is due to become a
father for the second time.