Action Jaxon

Did you ever feel like opening your yapper and just letting out an ear-wrenching scream?! Hormones raging? Life overwhelming? One way I cope is by getting out of town.  This time I choose the land of Big—Texas.  Big oil wells, Big land, Big men. And Action Jaxon is no exception. I’ve bumped into him on several AIDS bike-athons but we never connected. (One year he pedaled over two thousand miles.) He said I always had an open invitation to visit, and so I cash in.

Action, forty, is an on-air radio personality in Dallas for 97.9 The BEAT. He has long been associated with fundraising for AIDS, and recently he established The Action Jaxon Foundation, whose goal is to increase HIV awareness in minority communities. In May, he hosted a Celebrity Mini-Golf Challenge that benefited his Foundation. Action has worked on the AIDS Service of Dallas Advisory Board, was the organizer of one of Dallas’ largest HIV Testing Drives, and in 2001, he was bestowed the NAACP Man of the Year Award. The man is well-rounded and attributes that to his being influenced by both the East and West coast cultures. Action hails from California but immediately after high school graduation, he moved to Washington DC with his family.  He spent seven years with the U.S. Army, and two years ago, he got hitched. His wife, Sherri has accompanied Action on many of his rides.

We meet at The Angry Dog restaurant in the Deep Ellum section of Dallas, which is a really cool artsy district.  Action is chowin down on a huge juicy hamburger, fries, and a Pepsi. I have my usual chicken Cesar salad with extra dressing (no croutons).

Ruby Comer: Love this area of Dallas—so edgy, so jazzy, so jumpin. Action, what gives you the motivation to be such an activist?

Action Jaxon: Because the numbers of HIV infection are just so scary! Numbers don’t lie. I see the amount of African-Americans who are infected, the children that are infected, the people who are dying from AIDS, and the infection rates increase. You’ve got to have some foresight when you look at these numbers; it doesn’t look good for the future. So I feel that the position I’m in right now, I should do everything I can to get the word out there that AIDS is killing us. It is affecting America, and a lot of people are unaware.

Has AIDS touched you personally?

If you asked me that question six years ago, I’d say, no. Though I did lose some uncles early on in the AIDS epidemic. But now, I’ve met so many people by participating in the AIDS rides, and my involvement with HIV and AIDS, so of course, I know people who are no longer with us anymore. And I know people who are infected but they’re holding on, surviving day by day. It now affects me on a daily basis.

How do you handle someone’s death?

By understanding the circle of life—we are born to die. It’s a sad circle but ya deal with it. I don’t try to get caught up emotionally and become devastated. If I did I’d be devastated the rest of my life because there’s always somebody dying. I remember the people for what they did, and for the memories they gave to me. Those things keep with you forever, until you die. As long as you’re alive, you keep their spirit alive. They never really die.

And your take on the afterlife?

I don’t believe in it. I believe we all have a purpose here, and if there’s something after that, I really don’t want to know.

You spent seven years in the Army? Wow!

I had a blast!  I worked in communications. I traveled the world…[he thinks a moment] I jumped out of a plane.

What’s it like?!

It’s great! [He is energized.] It’s an amazing feeling. You’re up in the air, you don’t hear anything; it’s a peaceful quiet. All you hear is the whistling in your ear [he imitates by blowing]. You’re not heavy; you’re not light. You’re just flyin’ without a plane. It’s an awesome feeling. It’s hard to explain. You have to try it, Ruby.

Maybe in my next life.  [Eyeing his arms] What muscles you have!  And you have “Action” inked on your right arm and “Jaxon” on the left. How many tattoos in all?

Twelve. I’m trying to get number thirteen! 

Any piercings?

My brow, my lower lip, and ears used to be pierced. But once I became a married man I had to become Mr. Conservative Joe. [He laughs.]

[We’re both just about finished with our grub] So what’s up for the future?

I’m trying to get sponsorship in order to participate in the Hawaiian AIDS Ride in July. I’m also hoping to do another celebrity boxing match later on this year. 

From my heart, Action, “thank you” for your contribution to the AIDS epidemic.

I wish I could do more, and I’m trying to do more. If ya know anybody who needs some help, tell them to give me a call. That’s why they call me Action.

Contact Action at AJ Foundation, 3301 McKinney Avenue, Suite 200, Dallas, Texas 75204;  214.754.5900 (office); 214.999.1172 (fax).

Ruby Comer is an independent journalist from the Midwest who is happy to call Hollywood her home away from home. Reach her by e-mail at MsRubyComer@aol.com.

June 2004