Good afternoon, my readers. You’ve probably heard the news about the passing of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson.
News broke this morning of his passing- he was 84 years old. Reverend Jackson led a life long struggle for the rights of the downtrodden and ignored. Black progressive politics was in a few ways based on the Jackson model. His Rainbow coalition was about uniting different groups of people around an agenda that would help all.
Those who recall his two presidential runs of the 1980s readily point out how they paved the way for other Black politicians on the national level.
In this moment, one of the most powerful messages he used to reiterate was the saying “I am somebody” This was a pushback against the notion that you had to have a title or name to be heard.
Rest in peace, Rev. Jackson.