Honoring and Remembering the Man..Reverend Jesse Jackson

“Rev. Jesse Jackson was a fearless fighter for justice, dignity, and the everyday people this country too often ignores. He didn’t just speak about change, he demanded it. He reminded generations that our voices matter.

I’m saddened to hear the news that one of the last powerful and remaining  African-American pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement has died. So many thoughts are piercing my mind. 

 They are painful, powerful, hope-filled, encouraging, and motivational. 

As I reflect, Rev.Jesse Jackson’s words, “I am somebody”, were more than a chant. 

They were a declaration of dignity for Black people everywhere. A reminder that our worth is not given. It is inherent. It is ancestral.

His journey led him back to the Mende and Temne people of Sierra Leone, a lineage of resilience, strength, and unbreakable spirit. That connection was not symbolic. It was sacred.

His message will outlive any moment: “Keep hope alive.”

“No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to flee and fly high.

 No government, no legislature, has a right to limit your dreams. You should never agree to surrender your dreams.”

Jesse Jackson

“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it.” ~ Jesse Jackson

Today, in this shared space, we remember not only the leader the world knew, but the ancestors that shaped him.

I am Somebody!

I am Somebody!

I may be poor,

But I am Somebody.

I may be young,

But I am Somebody.

I may be on welfare,

But I am Somebody.

I may be small,

But I am Somebody.

I may have made mistakes,

But I am Somebody.

My clothes are different,

My face is different,

My hair is different,

But I am Somebody.

I am Black,

Brown or White.

I speak a different language

But I must be respected,

Protected,

Never rejected.

I am God’s child! 

– Rev. Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson (1941-2026)

Partial history….

1. Jesse Jackson I Am Somebody speech (1963)

2. Jesse Jackson on Sesame Street (1971)

3. Jesse Jackson on Black foreign policy (1984)

4. Jesse Jackson on SNL (1984)

5. Jesse Jackson Democratic Convention speech (1984)

6. Jesse Jackson Democratic Convention speech (1988)

7. Jesse Jackson on A Different World (1989)

8. Jesse Jackson on Election Night of President Obama (2008)

“Today, we honor the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson, a son of Greenville, South Carolina, and a giant in the fight for civil rights.

A pioneer. A political trailblazer. A voice for justice when it mattered most.

May we continue the work, build on the progress, and carry forward his unwavering commitment to equality and opportunity for all.”