Enduring Legacy of Andrew and Jasmine Robinson: Part 2

In our final Black History Month installment, we celebrate Jasmine Robinson, the first black woman to work at Crown and later, after being hired by Wabash College, the first black woman to hold a professional position.

Born in Putnam County into a large farm family in 1927, Jasmine Robinson was a force in her own right. After graduating high school in 1945, she worked as an inspector for the U.S. Government. Her marriage to Andy in 1947 brought her to Crawfordsville, where she quickly became involved in community life. She played organ for her church for 45 years, bowled and helped found the local chapter of the NAACP. She later landed a job in the computer lab at Wabash College and hosted her own cooking show on the radio.

But moving to Crawfordsville wasn’t easy. She and Andy faced discrimination in housing and employment. The town’s famed Welcome Wagon did not visit her and Andy, she shared with Wabash College. They struggled to find housing, wrote Wabash’s Beth Swift. White residents would not rent to people of color, and the one apartment with a black landlord included a provision that no children were allowed. Expecting their first child, they had to find another solution shortly. Their church offered an unused second-floor space that was hospitable for families.

After several short-term solutions, “a white friend suggested that perhaps they could build their own home. They applied for a loan and were denied, despite their excellent credit and job stability,” Swift reported. “When their friend heard of this, he went to the bank and, ‘…and after some strong persuasion they gave us a loan (laughs) and we built this house that we are now living in, in 1964.’ ”

“I hate to say this, but overt discrimination in employment was a general practice here. Employment opportunities apart from domestic and janitors were few, if any,” Jasmine told Wabash. “There was, an unwritten law, that black women, … were to be maids and the men were to be janitors.”

Jasmine worked a variety of jobs, peeling vegetables at a restaurant and working at a nursery school, offering seamstress services on the side. She needed to work to help Andy support the family, and she sought out ways to improve her opportunities, including taking a business class. Jasmine’s determination and resilience shone through. After being turned down at multiple businesses, Hoosier Crown, a bottle caps manufacturer, hired her. She was the first black woman to work there.

Her 28-year career at Wabash College, where she worked in the computer center, began in 1963. Jasmine broke the professional color barrier, becoming the first woman of color to hold a professional position in Crawfordsville.

Jasmine’s impact at Wabash extended far beyond her job description. She became a mentor and advocate for black students, providing a safe space and a listening ear. According to Beth Swift, Jasmine and Andy hosted dinners for black students and offered support and guidance.

Jasmine’s passion for jazz found an outlet in her radio show, “Cookin’ With Jazz,” on the Wabash campus radio station. She also compiled a cookbook of the same name, sharing her culinary talents with the community. Her contributions to Wabash College were formally recognized when she was named an Honorary Alumna in 2007, and the computer center in the Malcolm X Institute was named in her honor. The MXI also instituted the Jasmine Robinson Pioneering Woman Award in her name.

Together, Andy and Jasmine worked tirelessly to improve their community. At Grace and Mercy Ministries, Jasmine, “Jazz,” was remembered as the life of the party.

“She was so fun and had an infectious laugh. She dressed to the nines for church, and many weeks she would play the organ along with the rest of the praise team. When she wasn’t on the platform playing with a smile on her face, she sat in the front row and moved her hands along with the music, playing piano in the air in front of her. She showed up at every pitch-in with the biggest tote of homemade yeast rolls you could imagine. She hosted brunches for women from church on a small table in her kitchen, with enough food to feed 20,” said Kelly Stanley.

Jasmine helped found the local chapter of the NAACP and served as its president. Stanley recalled how Jasmine almost missed her chance to meet Barack Obama when he was running for president. Wanting to do some family friendly events while Michelle and their kids were traveling with him, his team contacted the skating rink in Lafayette. Jasmine and members of the church, including Stanley, received invites. Jasmine was thrilled at the opportunity to meet the future president.

When Obama donned skates and circled the floor a couple of times with his girls, Jasmine had not yet met him. Security was ushering Obama toward the back when their pastor realized that Jasmine was going to miss her chance to meet Obama. He grabbed her hand to draw her to Obama before he slipped out. A secret service agent started to stop them, but when he saw Jasmine, he let them through. She walked up to Obama and handed him a photocopy of a newspaper article with a picture recognizing her for her civil rights work in the community. He stopped moving, looked down at it and then back at her. “Is this you?” She nodded, and he read the article (and signed it, I think) then grabbed her hand and looked her straight in the eye. “Thank you. I am here because of people like you. God bless you!”

Her and Andy’s commitment to each other and their community was evident in their 73-year marriage and their shared dedication to making Crawfordsville a better place for all.

Despite the challenges they faced, Andy and Jasmine Robinson remained dedicated to serving others. They confronted discrimination head-on, using their experiences to advocate for change and create opportunities for future generations. Their individual accomplishments and their shared commitment to community service earned them the respect and admiration of Crawfordsville residents.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, multi-issue political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government. For information about the League, visit the website www.lwvmontcoin.org; or, visit the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, Indiana Facebook page.