Overview:
The life and legacy of Fr. Jesse Jackson challenges today’s student leaders to face injustice with moral courage, refuse to die, dream beyond current circumstances, and work diligently to transform society into a world of justice and hope.
On Friday, mourners will have one last chance to honor the Rev. Jesse Jackson. A public homecoming service in Chicago marks the end of two weeks of nationwide commemorations after the civil rights icon’s death on February 17.
His passing is not just a time to mourn, however, it is a call to action. In a society that has grown increasingly unfair — from housing insecurity to immigration attacks — his 1984 Democratic National Convention speech remains relevant, especially to student leaders who want to build a better world.
In that famous speech Reverend Jackson said: “No generation can choose the age or the situation under which they are born, but through leadership we can choose to make the era we were born in, an era of enlightenment, an era of jobs and peace and justice.
Too often, people embrace dangerous ideas and turn their backs on hope and the collective power to dream and create a better future. In these challenging times, we must ask: who are the dreamers who dare to see a better world?
As a former student leader, I was inspired by those words to take small steps toward a bigger vision. I believe that in order to understand how to make the world a better place, I had to first learn from the people who came before me, whether it was through an interview with a veteran of the Civil Rights Movement, reading a biography, or watching a documentary. This kept me in tune with the legacy of the bold dreamers of the past, who served as my inspiration.
One of my teachers who acted as a father figure to me when I was in the Freedom Schools of Philadelphia, Reverend Clarence James Sr., was taught by Reverend Jackson. Although I never met Reverend Jackson in person, his legacy touched my life through Reverend James’ guidance and the inspiration found in his talks.
Reflecting on the words of Fr. Jackson provides today’s student leaders with the same kind of inspiration.
Pastor Jackson teaches students that they must meet the moral challenge of their day. He teaches students that they cannot be spectators in an unjust world. On the other hand, they must see themselves as pieces that, when united, form a fabric ready to transform an unjust world into a just one. Reverend Jackson teaches us that leadership understands that there is right and wrong, and we must always be on the side of those who are oppressed by this injustice.
He challenged the students to dream at the same time, and face reality. He believed that surrendering to “the way things are” is an irrational approach. Instead, he urged the children to dream of what they should be, which means they should think of a new world without injustice that prevents people from living according to their God-given potential.
As a result, he encouraged teachers to “teach life, not just to make a living.” Pastor Jackson believed that we should go beyond teaching children the skills that make them ready for work. In public schools across America, the emphasis is on preparing students, especially Black students, for work rather than pursuing their dreams. Some teachers do this because children are born into working-class communities, but Pastor Jackson had an answer: his misunderstanding of teaching was based on his experience growing up poor. He went on to say “I was born in the slums but these slums were not born to me. Pastor Jackson wants teachers to teach students in a way that will encourage them to achieve their dreams like he did.”
Critics will point to Reverend Jackson’s imperfections and missteps to tone down his words. But history is not made by perfect people. History is made by people who do not see their mistakes as decisions about their participation in changing an unjust system. Pastor Jackson fought for what was right without consequence. And for that I salute this brave and fearless leader.
Dr. Cornel West in a recent interview, asserted that Pastor Jackson was “a big wave in the Black Freedom Movement”. He was a great leader who fought with love on the side of the oppressed. Rev. Jackson’s death is the end of his physical life on earth, but his life provides lasting lessons for the youth of today and generations to come.
Let’s honor the memory of someone who had the courage to dream of a better world, regardless of the consequences. Long live Pastor Jackson, who taught us to keep hope alive by accepting the moral challenge of our time.
Dr. Nosakhere Griffin-EL is an award-winning educator, founder of The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore, and Public Voices Fellow for The OpEd Project in partnership with the National Black Child Development Institute.
