Death of Jacoby Dickens, Legendary Black Businessman/Banker/Civic Leader, best known as Former Chairman of Seaway Bank
As we commemorate the 30 year anniversary of the historic 1983 election of Harold Washington, that includes highlighting others who played significant roles in that election, from Lu Palmer's "We Shall See In '83" Candidate Selection Process and historic CBUC/BIPO mobilization rallies at Bethel Church; to Ed Gardner's financial support of the "Come Alive October Five" historic voter registration campaign; that followed with other major Black business support of people like another Black business leaders like legendary Jacoby Dickens, former Chairman of Seaway Bank. It was said and ironic that as we kick off the Harold Washington commemorations, that the word began to circulate that Jacoby Dickens passed away in Florida.
I have not seen any formal release other than e-mails and social media posts, but am sure the official details on the death of this Black business icon and his legendary leadership as a Black businessman will be released soon. As Chairman of Seaway Bank Dickens led that bank as a trailblazer with that bank promoting the growth of new Black community businesses through loans, outreach and community development programs.
According to a biography from THE HISTORY MAKERS "Dickens distinguished himself as much for his philanthropic efforts as for his entrepreneurial successes. In addition to the community outreach programs developed through Seaway, Dickens designed a loan and scholarship program at DePaul University named in his honor. As a director of Chicago State University, Dickens donated more than $1 million to the institution. On December 7, 1995, the Chicago State University Physical Education and Athletics Building was renamed the Jacoby D. Dickens Physical Education and Athletics Center in honor of the esteemed benefactor.
As I grew up as a young activist and leader with organizations like The Chicago Urban League, Operation PUSH and other grassroots Black economic empowerment and civic activities, you would always find Jacoby Dickens at the core of the community business leaders providing economic resources to help create and sustain those efforts. Dickens kind of grassroots economic investments are surely missing from the banking community today, many who have to be aggressively challenged to make access to capital and financial resources available to low income communities.
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