Jesse Jackson’s journey from a South Carolina protest to presidential runs
In 2024, I met with the Rev. Jesse Jackson on June 16 and watched him do something truly remarkable: cast a shadow like a giant, figuratively speaking, as a monument to freedom more than 40 feet high and 150 feet wide was dedicated in Montgomery, Alabama. There was a sea of people who took part in the dedication of the monument, and then these souls turned to Mr. Jackson in a manner worthy of his seriousness.
“Charismatic leadership” is a phrase that could be used to describe Mr. Jackson’s personality and politics, just as it might have been used to describe Martin Luther King Jr. or Malcolm X. And yet what defines them and their legacy is not just celebrity. These are their actions and words, expressed at all times and out of turn, in the spirit of creating a better world.
Mr. Jackson died Tuesday morning at the age of 84, his family confirmed in a statement, which spoke glowingly of him as a “servant leader.”
Why we wrote this
Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday, took up the mantle of Martin Luther King Jr. as a voice for equality, presidential candidate and champion of the Black vote. Our commentator traces Mr. Jackson’s journey back to his roots in their shared home state of South Carolina.
“His unwavering commitment to justice, equality and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity,” Mr. Jackson’s family wrote. “A tireless agent of change, he raised the voices of the voiceless – from his presidential campaigns in the 1980s to mobilizing millions to register to vote – leaving an indelible mark on history. »
As a native South Carolina and, like the late Chadwick Boseman, with ties to Upstate South Carolina, I knew Mr. Jackson from an early age. More importantly, I was familiar with the protest that sparked him and many others — the desegregation of libraries in his hometown of Greenville in 1960. During Christmas break in 1959, Mr. Jackson came home from the University of Illinois and tried to get a book for an assignment, but was turned away at a whites-only library.
After two initial demonstrations the following March, on July 16, 1960, Mr. Jackson and seven high school students returned to this library and staged an effective sit-in before being arrested. A similar event occurred in February 1960 in Greensboro, North Carolina, with students from North Carolina A&T, and proved effective against segregated businesses. Mr. Jackson later transferred to North Carolina A&T, where he played football and was elected student body president.
Marty Lederhandler/AP/File
By the end of the decade, his personality and political views connected him with Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In 1966, Mr. Jackson took the reins of Operation Breadbasket, a Chicago-based program focused on economic empowerment. This project established Mr. Jackson’s roots in Chicago and was the impetus for future mobilization efforts such as the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. After Dr. King’s assassination in 1968, Mr. Jackson was considered his successor because of his contributions to civil and human rights.
While Dr. King’s criticism of Vietnam ultimately led to his pro-labor, pro-black campaign in Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. Jackson’s criticism of the Ronald Reagan administration led to two bids for the Democratic nomination, in 1984 and 1988. Although Mr. Jackson did not win the nomination in either campaign, he crafted a populist message that would come to fruition. years later with the election of Barack Obama, whose “Yes, we can!” and “Hope” were similar to his predecessor’s exhortation “Keep hope alive!” »
His actions have sometimes sparked personal or professional controversy. But Mr. Jackson never stopped fighting for ordinary working-class people. As recently as 2018, he pushed for an economic boycott of companies that were creating food deserts.
“Our father was a serving leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless and the disenfranchised throughout the world,” the Jackson family said. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values by which he lived.”
Besides being from South Carolina, what I will always remember is how handsome Mr. Jackson looked on “Sesame Street” in 1972, sporting a manicured afro with sideburns and a gold pendant. It’s a reminder of the origins of “Sesame Street,” a program designed to educate and recognize urban youth. In this particular episode, children of various nationalities and races were all seated in close proximity to Mr. Jackson, who led them through a recitation of “I Am Somebody!” »
It’s the kind of cautionary tale that defines Mr. Jackson’s genius and love for people.
