Remembering Jesse Jackson and His Impact on Alabama

Longtime Civil Rights leader and two-time Democratic Party Presidential candidate Jesse Jackson passed away this morning as a result of extended health issues. His family reported he passed away peacefully at his Chicago home, surrounded by loving family.

The man who was with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he was assassinated in Memphis, came to Alabama many times for voting rights marches, civil rights events, anniversaries and political rallies in Selma, Birmingham, and Montgomery.

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Alabama impacted Jesse Jackson and Jesse Jackson impacted Alabama. He not only visited the state many times in his civil rights fight, but he also came to Tuscaloosa or referenced the city or UA several times.

In his 1984 appearance he brought his presidential campaign to mobilize his "rainbow Coalition" to Tuscaloosa and appeared before a n excited crowd chanting, ''Run, Jesse, Run!" Many credit his 1984 and 1988 runs for the Democratic Party nomination for opening the door for Barack Obama's successful presidential bid to become the first black president.

After the devastating tornado that struck Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011, Jackson toured the rubble to offer support and draw attention to the rebuilding efforts.

In September 2013 while visiting Birmingham, Jackson addressed the issue of racial segregation within sororities and fraternities at the University of Alabama, describing the continued exclusion as "abhorrent".

A memorial service for nationally known black media icon George E. Curry brought Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton to Curry's hometown for services to Elizabeth Baptist Church where Jackson spoke on a program.

In a 2018 event Jackson spoke to some 500 people at the University of Alabama's Ferguson Student Center. During this visit, titled "New South, New Challenges," he encouraged students to register to vote, discussed unity, and reflected on his work with Dr. King. "What makes America great," he told the mostly student audience, "is the right to fight for the right."

After Democrat Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore to win the 2017 special U.S. Senate election, Jackson praised voters in Tuscaloosa and Auburn in an interview with the student newspaper Crimson White. "Tuscaloosa and Lee County voted for Doug Jones." Jackson stated. "That's significant to me, because given our football fanatics here and in Lee County who loves blacks on the field, to see them vote in a progressive way was significant. It was a statement."

Some, inside and outside the civil rights movement considered Jackson a grandstander, bringing attention to himself. Others, saw him as the continuation of the movement led by Dr. King.

“I am Somebody,” is a poem he often repeated as he sought to reach people of all colors. “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,” he would lead crowds into repeating.

Jesse Jackson was a powerful voice who is credited with holding the civil rights movement together in the years after MLK's assassination.

His Rainbow/PUSH Coalition is expected to announce a public memorial to the 84-year-old.

Perhaps it is only fitting for Jesse Jackson to die during Black History Month" because he truly is a part of history.