MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

What is Jackie Washington Day? 'Jackie's Back!' fans take over Twitter to pay tribute to 1999 film

Jackie Washington is a fictional R&B diva played by Jenifer Lewis in the 1999 Lifetime mockumentary 'Jackie's Back!'

Fans of the 1999 mockumentary 'Jackie's Back!' inundated social media with “Happy Jackie Washington Day” tweets, memes, and videos on July 15 to celebrate a holiday created in 1984 in Kinloch, Missouri to commemorate the music and influence of Jackie Washington.

Jackie Washington is a fictional R&B diva who was played by Jenifer Lewis in the 1999 Lifetime mockumentary. Hardcore fans of the movie, which has often been called a cult classic, celebrate July the 15th as Jackie Washington Day, a day to honor the diva in her hometown of Kinloch every year.

READ MORE

Did Whoopi Goldberg affair cost Ted Danson $30M? A look at 'Mr. Mayor' star's torrid split from wife Casey Coates

How did Jeff LaBar die? Cinderella guitarist mourned by fans after tragic death at 58

'Jackie's Back!'

'Jackie's Back!' is a television film directed by Robert Townsend that premiered on the Lifetime Television Network on June 14, 1999. Described as a mockumentary, 'Jackie's Back!' centers around the life and career of Jackie Washington, a 1960s R&B diva played by singer-actress Jenifer Lewis. In the film, after spending years in uncertainty and obscurity, the passionate artiste decides to organize her own comeback concert with filmmaker Edward Whatsett St. John, who is played by the talented Tim Curry. The film also features a series of cameos by popular faces in Hollywood.

Fans took over Twitter to celebrate the day. "Happy Jackie Washington Day! Be safe out in these streets," Author Keith Boykin tweeted. "Attn black gays: Jackie Washington Day is three business days away. Get your houses in order and your wigs ready," journalist Jarrett Hill wrote. "Happy Jackie Washington Day! Bruh.. it snuck up on us this year.. please do not use the washing machine today!!" one Twitter user added.

"Hey Play Mama! Remember me? Don’t come into my yard! You was the nastiest little child, had the nastiest mouth in this neighborhood. Happy Jackie Washington Day!" another commented. "I really need to do laundry, but it’s Jackie Washington day. It’ll have to wait till tomorrow," another chimed in.

The cast of Jackie's Back consisted of several Hollywood stars, which cemented its legacy as a cult classic. Aside from Jenifer Lewis, who played the protagonist, the movie saw TV Blake play Antandra Washington (Jackie's daughter), Tangie Ambrose as Shaniqua Summers Wells (also Jackie's daughter), Robert Bailey Jr as Wilson Wells (Jackie's grandson), Whoopi Goldberg as Nurse Ethyl Washington Rue Owens (Jackie's sister), Loretta Devine as Snookie Tate (Jackie's childhood friend), Tom Arnold as Marvin Pritz (Jackie's former manager) and Alan Blumenfeld as Ivan Loren Freeman as Kim and many more actors.

The mockumentary also featured a string of cameos by well-known celebrities including Patti Austin, Charles Barkley, Diahann Carroll, Eddie Cibrian, Jackie Collins, Don Cornelius, Taylor Dayne, Melissa Etheridge, Kathy Griffin, Sean Hayes, Ricki Lake, Howie Mandel, Camryn Manheim, Penny Marshall, Bette Midler, Liza Minnelli, Rosie O'Donnell, Dolly Parton, Donna Pescow, Chris Rock, Eva Marie Saint, Grace Slick and director Robert Townsend himself.