John E. Jacob's ‘I Will F.E.A.R. No Evil’ Mantra Made Him a Powerful NUL President and Howard Board Chair

Throughout his life and esteemed career, John E. Jacob (BA ’57, MSW ’63), a former National Urban League president, Howard University alumnus, and Board of Trustees chairman emeritus, has found his greatest successes in building coalitions — and betting on himself.

That impulse animates his new memoir, “I Will F.E.A.R. No Evil,” a chronicle of his 90-year journey through segregation, service, and stewardship. Jacob says he wrote it to remind readers, especially Black readers, that the turbulence of the present is not unprecedented.

“We live in some dangerous times,” he reflected. “But we’ve been here before. In my lifetime, I’ve seen cruelty and insensitivity. Black people need to understand that while it is rough and tough, we fought our way through it, and we can do it again.”

For years, Jacob resisted putting his story on paper. His perspective was changed by his wife’s simple plea: “Do it for your granddaughter.” The request unlocked a purpose. 

Jacob’s path to Howard began with a decision as pragmatic as it was defiant. 

“I grew up poor,” he said. “People see my glory, but they don’t really know my story.” 

In his childhood, athletic scholarships were a common ticket to college for Black boys. Jacob assessed his chances candidly — “too small for football, too short for basketball” — and chose a different route.

“I said to myself, you can work at being smart,” he said.

That mindset and work ethic propelled Jacob into Urban League leadership after completing his master's degree — first in Washington, later in San Diego, and ultimately as president of the national federation. The National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization advocating on behalf of economic and social justice for African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States, is the oldest and largest community-based organization of its kind in the nation.

One early Washington initiative demonstrated his coalition style. Charged with expanding the League’s footprint to Northern Virginia without staff or funding, he began with the local newspaper. An item mentioned white clergy convening in Mount Vernon to discuss “the critical issues confronting Northern Virginia.” Jacob drove to the meeting uninvited.

He challenged the group to confront a basic injustice of both race and economics. Black service members stationed at Fort Belvoir could not find housing near base. The clergy paired Jacob with a Unitarian minister and Air Force veteran, John Wells. Together they met Fort Belvoir’s commanding general and asked him to convene local property owners at the officers’ club. The general delivered a pointed message: Black soldiers defend this nation, and this region’s prosperity. 

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