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StoryCorps Griot: Queen Jackson and Debra MacKillop

From: StoryCorps
Length: 02:16

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Queen Jackson tells her case manager, Debra MacKillop, how she became homeless. Read the full description.

Jacksonq_small Queen Jackson tells her case manager, Debra MacKillop, how she became homeless.

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Piece Description

Queen Jackson tells her case manager, Debra MacKillop, how she became homeless.

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A story worth sharing

A story that really needed no introduction (other than to whet the appetites of listeners) because it was so complete with a beginning, middle and tantalising open end. It's amazing how much story there can be in just a few sentences.

Transcript

Queen Jackson (QJ): I was working for the state of Colorado. And I had all these great ideas of retiring and sitting back and enjoying my life. But as the budget was becoming very strained, I was one of the first to be laid off.

Well, I had some money in savings. And I thought, no big deal, I can go out and get another job. Well it didn't happen that way. One week turned into another, a month, five months. And the unemployment was not covering my rent. Therefore I lost my apartment.

My daughter, you know, she wants so badly for me to move in with her. But I'm of a generation in which, you know, your children don't take care of you; you take care of your children, you know. I remember I didn't have the money to buy her a birthday card. And I thought, I'm gonna go out with this sign, "Will Work for Whatever”.

Well dummy me, I get dressed like I'm going to a job interview, and I had to...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Time now for StoryCorps…

Today we hear from 60-yr-old Queen Jackson.

Queen has been homeless for about a year.

And at StoryCorps in Denver, Colorado...

She told her case manager, Debra MacKillop how it all started in 2009…

When she was laid off from her job as an administrative assistant.

OUTRO:

Queen Jackson with Debra MacKillop at StoryCorps in Denver, Colorado.

Their conversation will be archived with all the others at the Library of Congress.

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Densistafabriken Fredrik Trilogi. The Kora Records 2010 00:23

Additional Credits

NPR, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Related Website

www.storycorps.org/listen