Jesse Jackson was an inspirational figure for many

There is always a pioneer. In American politics in the last decades of the 20th century, Jesse Jackson, preacher, civil right leader and lieutenant to Martin Luther King Jr, the civil rights icon, made the first move to bid for the American presidency through Democratic Party nomination. He tried twice, in 1984 and in 1988. And he failed to win the party nomination on both the occasions.

But he raced ahead and opened the doors of aspiration to Blacks in America, ultimately paving the way for Barack Obama to win the Democratic nomination and the presidential election itself in 2008. It is not far-fetched to say that without Jesse Jackson’s presidential bid in the 1980s, there would have been no Obama in 2008 and in 2012.

In a memorable speech he made at the Democratic convention in 1988, he spoke out the American dream clearly and resoundingly. He said, “Wherever you are tonight, you can make it. Hold your head high, stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but the morning comes. Don’t you surrender. Suffering breeds character, character breeds faith. In the end, faith will not disappoint.”

This is the exhortation of a man who spoke when he did not succeed, did not get the nomination. It is easy for a person to speak in exalting tones in the moment of victory. Jesse Jackson’s voice was of the man in the moment of defeat, but who did not let defeat break him. Jessie Jackson kept himself involved. He reached out to countries which are hostile to the United States like Cuba to get American prisoners released because Jesse Jackson stood up as a man of goodwill and love and peace. He carried the burden of being a politician to a higher level.

Obama reached the political pinnacle and he stepped away. But he is not the inspirational figure that Jessie Jackson was. Jackson rose out of poverty and hardship. He understood the plight of the oppressed and helpless. The fact that he was a religious preacher might have helped him. He used the language of faith that he has acquired through his religious calling.

Black youth in Donald Trump’s America need the example of Jesse Jackson more than the successful Obama. There is of course greater presence of Blacks in American politics. But these Black politicians are not inspirational figures that Jesse Jackson was. Martin Luther King Jr remains an icon set on a high pedestal as it were. The stirring words of his memorable speech, “I have a dream”, will continue to be the beacon that they were meant to be.

But Jesse Jackson was the activist, the doer, the go-getter. The man who reached out, the man who got himself involved in the problems of others across the colour and race divide in America and in the world.

He did not lose himself in the identity politics where Black politicians are expected to champion Black causes. Jesse Jackson stood for all Americans and for all people across the globe. He was the political brand ambassador. He succeeded In his mission because he was open and large-hearted.

It looked like that he faded away ever since he was diagnosed with the Parkinson’s ailment in 2017. But his life story will remain a dynamic factor in the lives of Black people in America even as police brutality, especially of white officers, against Blacks remains a tragic and brute fact of American life. There have been many Black heroes and heroines in the last 100 years. But Jesse Jackson will retain his inspirational figure status because he was the man who stood up even when he did not score victory in the political arena.