Photo by Carlos Puma.
Corey A. Jackson represents the 60th California Assembly District. Before serving as a panelist for “How Does the Inland Empire Strike Back Against Hate?,” a Zócalo public program presented in partnership with California Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, United We Stand, UCR ARTS, and UCR College of Humanities and Social Sciences, he joined us in the green room to chat Interview with the Vampire, being a youth minister, and growing up in Rialto.
What is your song of the summer?
My song every summer is “Summertime in the LBC.” It’s just the song I grew up with in the ’90s.
What’s one thing hanging on your fridge?
I have absolutely nothing hanging on my fridge. I really don’t have anything on my walls either. I’m very simple. Everything I do outside the house is very complicated and hectic. So inside of my house, everything is peaceful.
What relaxes you?
I start off with the news in the evening and then I go into all my streaming. I have all my pandemic streaming accounts still.
What are you watching right now?
On Disney+, it’s The Acolyte. On HBO, it’s House of Dragons. On Hulu, it’s The Bear. On AMC, it’s Interview with the Vampire. It is beautifully written. I think that’s my favorite show.
What’s one memory that stands out from growing up in Rialto, California?
We were so excited when they built the Walmart. Every week me and my friends walked to Walmart to buy some candy.
What was your favorite candy?
Back then I did a lot of Jolly Ranchers.
As a politician, you’ve worked to prevent local school boards from banning textbooks and other materials. Do you have a favorite banned book?
The one I know the most is Uncle Tom’s Cabin. My biggest disappointment in terms of banned books is the rich collection of Martin Luther King Jr.’s work.
In addition to being a politician, you’ve also been a youth minister. What’s one thing that position taught you?
Everyone goes on their own journey. And it takes them to different places at different times.