Mahalia's unfulfilled dream
Throughout her life, Mahalia Jackson had a great, unfulfilled dream: to build a non-denominational temple in Chicago. This temple was to be not just a house of worship, but a vibrant "living memorial" to her deeply rooted convictions and unshakeable faith. It was a vision that transcended her musical career and reflected a deep longing for community, education, and spiritual renewal.
Mahalia's temple was intended to be a place open to all religions and races.
Proclamation
She imagined a place where the gospel was not only taught but also sung—a center for evangelistic work and revivals to "lead sinners to conversion." But her vision went far beyond traditional preaching:
Education and youth development
She wanted to provide young people with a comprehensive education, teach them to sing, instruct them in business matters, and show them how to celebrate life. She even considered training them for show business "on God's side."
Musical education
Aspiring gospel singers should receive music lessons and counseling.
Healing and integrity
The temple was to house divine healers and, above all, be run honestly and without deception—a direct contrast to some of the practices she observed in other churches.
The inspiration for this ambitious plan came in part from Elder Lucy Smith, a respected preacher in Chicago who had built her own church and was the first woman to speak on radio in the Chicago area. Mahalia admired Smith's success and her ability to create a spiritual home of her own.
Mahalia was aware that such a large-scale project would require immense resources. She had vowed that "if she ever got too much money," she would build a temple. And she collected money: through royalties from her mega-hit "Move On Up a Little Higher" and countless performances, she became a true "super saleswoman." People from all walks of life donated willingly. There were even reports that the then governor of New York, Nelson Rockefeller, contributed $10,000 to the project, which Mahalia interestingly requested in cash.
To further her philanthropic goals, she established the “Mahalia Jackson Scholarship Foundation“. Originally, this foundation awarded an annual scholarship for church music at Roosevelt University, but Mahalia soon recognized the need to expand its goals. She planned a "star fest" as the cornerstone of the new, larger foundation. Transparency was of utmost importance to her: she wanted to ensure that no money went into the pockets of individuals, especially not her own. To put the project on a broader financial footing, Mahalia ventured into the business world. She initiated various ventures, all of which were to be black-owned, with the aim of creating prosperity in the black community:
- Donut Shops
- Mahalia Jackson Chicken System
- Mahalia Jackson's Parlors
- Food products
The choice of location was particularly important to Mahalia.
She favored a plot of land on the South Side of Chicago, ideally located directly on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. A building that was originally considered, the Swedish Club, proved to be too small with a capacity of 500 people. Mahalia needed space for up to 1,500 people. Finally, she found a "majestic building": the former K.A.M. Temple on Drexel Boulevard and 51st Street. This impressive marble and stone structure resembled a Roman temple and could accommodate over 1,200 people. It featured stained glass windows, a pipe organ, a choir loft, a community hall with a stage, a chapel, a large kitchen, classrooms, a library, offices, and even a four-room apartment. The basement was to serve as a recording studio and generate rental income to support the temple financially. There were even plans to build a high-rise building around the temple to secure additional income for the temple and the school.
But despite her tireless efforts and clear vision, Mahalia encountered significant obstacles that ultimately shattered her dream:
Lack of time
Their busy travel and tour schedule left little time for detailed planning of the temple.
Personal stress
Marital problems and reports of missing foundation funds hampered the project.
Property issues
Landowners drove up prices, and one woman refused to sell her land, which was earmarked for the high-rise plan.
Disappointments after purchase
After purchasing the K.A.M. temple, it was "cleared out," with valuable items such as the grand piano being removed, which deeply hurt Mahalia.
Health problems
Serious health setbacks, including heart problems and sarcoidosis, weakened her considerably and forced her to rest.
Resistance from the environment
Her managers and friends advised her against investing in real estate, as they considered it too expensive.
Skepticism from officials and clergy
Col. Jack Reilly, a city official, expressed concerns about the practicality of the project. Some clergy in Chicago rejected their connection to Martin Luther King Jr., which made their work even more difficult.
The failure of Mahalia Jackson's temple dream came abruptly and under tragic circumstances.
Despite purchasing the K.A.M. Temple and making a down payment of $15,000, she unexpectedly withdrew her offer just two days before the deal was scheduled to close. On January 4, 1972, she instructed her lawyer, Gene Shapiro, to cash all her savings bonds immediately. A few days later, on Sunday, January 23, shortly before a scheduled operation on January 24, she informed her lawyer that she wanted to liquidate all her possessions and move to Arizona. This sudden decision and the announcement of her operation shocked him. Just three days later, on Sunday, January 27, 1972, not only did her long-cherished dream come to an end, but so did her life.
One could speculate that Mahalia Jackson had a premonition of her approaching end and acted accordingly. The dream of the temple had been a part of her for many years, and she had long had the financial means to make it a reality. But "something always came up." It seems that the temple was primarily an idealistic dream—the idea of a perfectly functioning community of all religions, skin colors, and nationalities. At the same time, she was a realist and knew that this ideal was hardly achievable. In addition, she would have had to take care of the implementation herself, which was impossible given her busy schedule.
Although the magnificent temple never became a reality, Mahalia Jackson's vision remains a powerful testament to her deep devotion to the community. She wanted to create a lasting legacy beyond her music—a legacy of inclusion, education, and spiritual uplift for all.
©Thilo Plaesser