The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights strategist, Baptist minister, and two-time Democratic presidential candidate who redefined modern political coalition-building, died on Feb. 17. He was 84.
An exceptional orator, Jackson’s speeches which combined theology, policy, protest, and possibility, came from pulpits, protest lines, and presidential conventions. Jackson’s “Rainbow Coalition” message in 1984 and his “Keep Hope Alive” declaration in 1988 became organizing tools for marginalized communities who fought for economic justice and political inclusion.
The nation currently assesses Jackson’s identity through his words and their context. The civil rights leader’s most powerful quotes speak to his lifelong struggle to broaden American democracy.
“We must leave racial battlegrounds and come to economic common ground.”
During the mid-1980s presidential campaign Jackson stressed the need to move away racial conflicts toward economic unity. The statement connected civil rights with economic justice because Jackson believed that racial advancement and economic equality must coexist for America’s future.
“America is more like a quilt: many patches, many pieces, many colors…”
The statement from Rev. Jesse Jackson encapsulates the fundamental nature of American diversity. During his “Rainbow Coalition” speech at the San Francisco Democratic National Convention on July 18, 1984 Jackson presented his idea of merging different communities to create a united democratic movement.
“When I see a broken window… that’s the slummy side…Train some youth to become a glazier—that’s the sunny side.”
At the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, Jackson used this metaphor to show the difference between despair and empowerment. Through his speech, Jackson encouraged people to see the potential of underserved communities while pushing for resource investment instead of neglect.
“I was born in the slum, but the slum wasn’t born in me…Hold your head high…”
On July 19, 1988, Rev. Jackson made the statement at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, where he shared his life experience while delivering an inspirational message
about endurance. That, in turn, encourages people to transform obstacles into sources of strength.“Keep hope alive…It gets dark sometimes, but the morning comes.”
What became Jackson’s signature phrase was delivered at the 1988 Democratic National Convention to instill hope amid the ongoing struggles for justice and equality.
“I may be uneducated, but I am somebody…”
During the 1970s and 1980s Civil Rights Movement, Jackson recited this poem at rallies, schools, and media appearances. Jackson adopted the poem as a well-known declaration of personal value and group respect.
RELATED CONTENT: Rev. Jesse Jackson, Profound Civil Rights Leader and Philanthropist, Dies At 84