An exhibit at the Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., shows a young Rev. Jesse Jackson (right) reading a newspaper article about the assassination of his mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Photo Credit: Regal Media Group/Todd A. Smith)
Following an icon is never easy.
When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., succumbed to an assassin’s bullet while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., the obvious successor was Rev. Ralph Abernathy.
But a younger leader in the Civil Rights Movement took the reins from the fallen martyr and continued the mission to elevate the African-American community in a country determined to keep them second-class citizens, despite legislation that said otherwise.
What King had in eloquence and emotion, Rev. Jesse Jackson also had, with an added element of rhythm, rhyme, and relatability that made him a perfect leader for the African-American community in the 1970s and 1980s.
But he was more than just empty rhetoric.
His words made a difference domestically and globally.
And he was able to make a difference on the global stage without losing his credibility in the ghetto.
On Feb. 17, Jackson left the physical world and became an ancestor.
African-American ancestors mean a lot to younger generations because their words often echo in the hearts and minds of the community long after God calls them home.
But Jackson’s words were so powerful that they will continue to inspire future generations for decades to come.
To honor a life well lived, RegalMag.com will highlight some of Jackson’s most poignant messages, as well as messages from the many people he inspired over the decades because of his sacrifice and leadership.
Rev. Jackson, job well done.
Thanks for being an obedient servant of the Lord.
“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.”—Rev. Jesse Jackson
“To be called African-Americans has cultural integrity—it puts us in our proper historical context. Every ethnic group in this country has a reference to some base, some historical cultural base.”—Rev. Jesse Jackson
“I was able to run for the presidency twice and redefine what was possible; it raised the lid for women and other people of color. Part of my job was to sow seeds of the possibilities.”—Rev. Jesse Jackson
“Even if we win, it’s relief, not victory. They’re still killing our people. Stop the violence, save the children. Keep hope alive.”—Rev. Jesse Jackson, after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.
“Hope, not dope. If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”—slogans often used by Rev. Jesse Jackson.
“A part of our life’s work was to tear down walls and build bridges, and in a half-century of work, we’ve basically torn down walls. Sometimes when you tear down walls, you’re scarred by falling debris, but your mission is to open up holes so others behind you can run through.”—Rev. Jesse Jackson
“I get very emotional knowing that these speeches belong to the ages now.”—Jesse Jackson, Jr.
“Our father was a servant leader—not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world. We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family.”—The Jackson family in a statement after his passing.
“He taught me that protest must have a purpose, that faith must have feet, and that justice is not seasonal, it is daily work. [Jackson taught me] trying is as important as triumph. That you do not wait for the dream to come true; you work to make it real.”—Rev. Al Sharpton
“(I) always wondered how much trauma that must have been [for Jackson to witness the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.]. He never would talk about it too much. He said, ‘We’ve got to keep Dr. King’s legacy alive.’”—Rev. Al Sharpton
“I come here with a heavy heart because on my chest is the stain of blood from Dr. King’s head.”—Rev. Jesse Jackson at a memorial in Chicago, wearing the same blood-stained turtleneck he wore on the day of King’s assassination, April 4, 1968
“(Michelle Obama) got her first glance of political organizing at the Jacksons’ kitchen table when she was a teenager. And in his two historic runs for president, he laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office in the world.”—President Barack Obama
“Jesse Jackson was about equal treatment for everybody. He believed everyone deserved a seat at the table to enjoy the benefits of America.”—Harris County, Texas Constable James “Smokie” Phillips
“Jackson embraced the rainbow as a metaphor for unity. His work was rooted in standing up and speaking up for those who have nothing…I would imagine it’s hard for younger generations to watch old videos of Jackson during rallies of his heyday and understand what he meant to so many people. He was not just some old man spouting political rhymes. He was a loud speaker for those across the country who felt unseen and unheard. He showed up, from urban neighborhoods to Native American reservations to poor farm communities. He empowered children of color to believe that they had a chance at the American Dream.”—Houston Chroniclecolumnist, Joy Sewing
“I wanted to begin by expressing a sadness that the passing of a person. I knew very well Jesse was a piece of work. He was a piece of work. But he was a good man. He was a real hero.”—President Donald Trump
