NPR’s Scott Simon Interviews James Jacobson on Weekend Edition
April 11, 2009
The headline on NPR’s story says it all:
“Parents’ Escape From Nazis Inspires Entrepreneur”
My father, Kenneth Jacobson and me at my college graduation from the University of Virginia in May 1988.
As I write this post, I am flooded by the deep feelings of gratitude and appreciation I have for my father, Kenneth Jacobson. He passed away on March 12, 2005 at his home in suburban Washington.
He was a big fan of NPR and was responsible for introducing me to public radio when I was a small child. We had many “driveway moments” together as we would sit in a parked car, listening to the last few minutes of a fascinating NPR story. Perhaps someone will have one of those moments today when they listen to my story on Weekend Edition.
As the interview with Scott Simon reveals, the fact that both of my parents fled Nazi Germany when they were still children was a quiet–but most definite–influence on my desire to create and mold my own destiny.
I am certain that it impacted my decision to persue an entrepreneurial life where both my successes and my failures would be as a direct result of my own efforts.
For most of my life I have not discussed my past or my parent’s history with anyone. It was not because I was ashamed or thought that they would take it wrong. It just did not seem to matter.
Today, as I get a bit older and perhaps a bit wiser, I see that my family’s background did and does influence who I am and what I do. I am now just beginning to understand the importance of it and how it has been a silent hand guiding me along my career paths and through my life choices.
I remember the conversation with my wife Molly Jacobson several months ago when the pieces started to fit together. We were talking about Barack Obama and I quipped, “You know…I’m first generation American.”
Then there was a pause.
I had never really thought of myself in that light before. I am first generation American.
So while the part about fleeing Nazi Germany is interesting and makes for a good story, the thing that I believe that means more and has shaped me the most is that I am first generation American.
I still get a lump in my throat when I think about our country’s founding fathers and what they achieved to make this grand experiement manifest. I believe in free enterprise and the marketplace of ideas where people vote with their pocketbooks. I cherish the opportunity that we as Americans have as a birth right.
I am deeply honored that NPR will share my story with so many people today and I hope that the story serves as a small reminder of what a great country we live in.
NPR Weekend Edition Profiles First Generation American Story of James Jacobson
April 3, 2009
My personal story of how being a first generation American has impacted my life will be profiled on NPR's Weekend Edition with Scott Simon.
Tomorrow on Saturday, April 4 April 11, 2009 National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition with Scott Simon will profile me as part of a series they are doing on first generation Americans.
I recorded the interview yesterday with Scott Simon at the studios of Hawaii Public Radio in Honolulu.
When NPR approached me about this interview, I admit that I was a little hesitant, because my family history and my background is not something I usually speak about. In fact, for many friends (and certainly business associates and clients), this may be the first time that they hear that I am actually a first generation American…both of my parents were immigrants from Nazi Germany who were forced to flee during World War II.
I look forward to hearing the segment which I understand runs over six minutes and will be in the second hour of Weekend Edition Saturday with Scott Simon.
When NPR puts the story online, I will post a link here on my blog.
UPDATE: April 3, 2009 2PM Maui/ 8PM East Coast
I wanted to let you know that the producer at NPR called me to say that they may hold the story for a week in light of the shooting at the immigration center in New York…NPR thinks the 2 stories may not work well together. When they do run the piece, I will put a link here on my blog.
UPDATE: April 10, 2009 10AM Maui/ 4PM East Coast
I spoke with the producer at NPR and the story is scheduled to run on Saturday, April 11, 2009 in the second hour of Weekend Edition with Scott Simon.