Civil rights and Rev. Jesse Jackson’s name were often connected as the advocate spent nearly 60 years fighting for eqaulity on across the globe, the nation, and in Chicago. <\/p>\n
As the memorial outside Rainbow PUSH’s headquarters continues to grow, many are looking back on how impactful Jackson’s words were then and still are today. <\/p>\n
A mighty voice was silenced on Tuesday morning. Across the globe, Jackson is being remembered, and in Chicago, where Jackson and his family were anchored, the loss is truly felt.<\/p>\n
“I remember when Rev. Jackson ran for president, and I was on the float at the Bud Bulliken yelling, ‘run Jesse run, you’ve got to run Jesse run.’ I was just nine years old,” said Afrika Porter.<\/p>\n
That’s one of many childhood memories Porter has of her countless interactions with Jackson. She grew up in the halls of the Rainbow PUSH headquarters. Her parents were charter members.<\/p>\n
“People referred to him as an icon, gentle giant. Rev. Jackson was a beast,” she said.<\/p>\n
Jackson fought for decades for civil rights. First, fighting for equality for African Americans. His words of positivity resonated with people, even children, especially Black kids.<\/p>\n
“There’s no room you can’t enter that you don’t feel confident in. That’s because of Rev. Jackson,” Porter said.<\/p>\n
“But I am somebody, yeah!” said Jeremy Young.<\/p>\n
Young considered Jackson a mentor. He joined Rainbow PUSH as a teen, and as a parent, he said Jackson’s words still resonate. <\/p>\n
“It’s the catalyst to our success, and a lot of young people who were with me at that time would say the same,” Young said.<\/p>\n
Jackson continued to champion the push for civil rights in the streets of Chicago. In 2013, Jackson marched to help find the murderer of Haydia Pendlenton, even calling for a federal intervention.<\/p>\n
“He helped me to get a pardon,” said Wallace Bradley.<\/p>\n
Bradley, a reformed gang member, recalled how Jackson never turned his back on people. <\/p>\n
“We talking about a man that went around the world to bring individuals home … he was able to be in South Africa when Mandela got free,” Bradley said.<\/p>\n
The phrase ” … But I am somebody,” five decades ago, helped shape the name of the male mentoring program\u00a0 I Am A Gentleman. <\/p>\n
“When we were thinking about the name of our organization 10 years ago, it was those two words, I am, that was inspired by hearing Rev. Jackson for so many years,” said Jermaine Anderson, executive director of I Am A Gentleman.<\/p>\n
Anderson said that Jackson’s impact will forever be taught to the next generation.<\/p>\n
“He made us proud to be a man, but he also made us proud to be a black man, and most importantly, he made us proud to say that we are a part of history,” Anderson said.<\/p>\n
Jackson witnessed history, made history, and now leaves behind a legacy history can never forget.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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