Meet Jerkari Jackson | Visual Media Artist, Creative Director, Actor, Musician & Model

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerkari Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerkari, why did you pursue a creative career?
When I was about 13 my Uncle bought me my first camera. At that young age I had a lot of spare time on my hands. I became extremely infatuated with youtube. I would spend hours & hours everyday & after school just streaming random videos of content around the world. I recognized the power of visual media at a very early age & its influence is has on us a society & how it shapes us. More specifically I knew the importance of representation in media & it’s potential to bridge gaps in society and foster a better coexistence. As a black male growing up in Chicago I felt a major disposition with my identity & the implications & misconceptions that come with being a black male in society. Throughout my 1st 2 years of high school I battled with depression. A lot of it stemmed from me trying to find my place in the world & figuring out who I was. I wasn’t the best at basketball, I never cared to join a gang or immerse myself in the street life. I was more on the artistic side & always had a charismatic personality like no other. I didn’t feel see my thoughts, views or perspective reflected much on TV but youtube was a platform I could go on to & find liked minded content creators. Eventually I became inspired to start making my own content. I made skits vlogs, music videos, etc., stayed consistent with it & eventually grew a following on social media after some of my videos went viral. I always felt this sort of personal obligation to make the world a better place than when I entered, no matter how big or small that change is. In the midst of building my brand through Youtube & finishing high school I discovered my purpose. It’s to bring more representation to the forefront. I want to show other young people, especially black males that you don’t have to fit into a box or limited category of what’s expected of you due to the status quo. You can do whatever it is you want & create your own narrative. Never let anyone tell you who you are. Only you can dictate your own story.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I think what sets me a part from others is that I know how to captivate an audience. I know what works & what doesn’t & what techniques make good storytelling. I love working in front as well as behind the camera, I’m sort of a jack of all trades. Of course creative directing is my passion but I’m an exceptional actor, model & musician as well. In this industry it pays to be multifaceted especially when you’re just trying to get your foot in the door. What’s dope is that I have different demographics of followers that follow me for different purposes. A lot people just think my personality is funny but didn’t realize I make music, others didn’t realize I model & that I do all these other things in film production as well. It’s rewarding when people go out of their way to congratulate me for making strides down different creative avenues.

One thing I want people to know who are considering joining the creative industry is that it’s no clear road ahead. Unlike other industries or occupations there is no step by step guideline on how to navigate your career as a creative. You have to take risks & invest into your craft . A major lesson I’ve learned since moving to Atlanta & actively pushing into the industry is it’s not what you know, majority of finding work comes from who you know. So never be too hard on yourself for not being where you want to be in your career journey. Most times it’s not due to a lack of talent but simply because you weren’t given the opportunity to be extraordinary.

My last piece of advice would be to be genuine, treat everyone with kindness you come across. You never know who they are or what resources they may have. People underestimate the power of networking. Yeah looks can get you far but personality goes a very long way too. A quote I live by is, “I may not always remember verbatim what a person has said to me in the past but I NEVER forget the way they made me feel.” Sometimes producers may not know specifically what role they need from you on a set but are willing to pay for your assistance solely, because of the positive energy you bring to a set alone. I’ve always been about kindness & spreading positive vibes. Maybe it’s the spiritual side of me talking but I truly believe what energy you put out in to the world comes right back to you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of the 1st places that immediately comes to mind is Harold’s Chicken and Ice Bar right off of Old National Highway. Harold’s Chicken is a franchise restaurant that originated in Chicago (my hometown) & they took a spin on it here in ATL, offering drinks, live DJ, & an extended menu. That place is always guaranteed to have the vibes & entertainment. Roc South is another spot I love that’s near by where I stay in North Druid Hills. It’s more laid back atmosphere that also has great music, but the southern cuisine there is top tier! If you’re looking for a good seafood spot, the Cirque Blu Seafood House is the best seafood I’ve ever had in my entire life. Hands down, & I’ve been to a ton of seafood spot here in ATL, not a single place came close! As you can probably tell, I love going out to eat. I’m still fairly new to the A so I’m still haven’t been to some of the heavily touristy spots yet there’s some places on my list still for sure.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely want to thank my Uncle Cory, for believing in me enough to buy me my 1st camera. That ended up being a major factor in me discovering my calling. A little side note but he also bought me a pretty expensive keyboard growing up which I taught myself how to play & still keep it with me wherever I go til this day. I think he saw the potential I had before I truly recognized my own power. A major part of my drive, stems from wanting to put myself in a position where I can do more to help him financially.

I want to shoutout a few of my best friends J-Mac, Hassan, & Tray for not only supporting me as far my goals and aspirations but also supporting me mentally & emotionally. Having people you can confide in about real experiences you go through makes getting through tough times so much more bearable. I’m so grateful to have them in my corner. They some real quality human beings fasho.

In addition, I also want to thank my close family & friends for always showing love & being so supportive, also just reminding me to stay focused on the goal. I think a lot of people who know me closely, know & see I have a much greater purpose than just an ordinary 9-5pm conventional life, so they joke all the time about not forgetting about them when I make it big in Hollywood one day haha.

Instagram: instagram.com/hunchokari

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kari-jackson-b15b0348

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HunchoKari_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerkari.jackson

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HunchoKari

Image Credits
Photographers include: Troy Williams, Makya Tate & T Levar