Keep Hope Alive: Al Sharpton Remembers His Mentor, Jesse Jackson

Every young person's life has a moment when they encounter someone who instills in them the belief that the world can be different. For the author, that moment came when his mother brought him to Reverend William Augustus Jones, a renowned pastor at Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn. Reverend Jones recognized the potential in the young boy and introduced him to Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., already a prominent figure in the civil rights movement.

Jesse Jackson, despite his youth, commanded an aura of authority that left a lasting impression on the young boy, who would later become the youth director of Operation Breadbasket in New York, a campaign that aimed to address economic disparities faced by Black Americans.

Jesse Jackson was more than just a political leader; he was a preacher who understood the power of the Black church. He saw the prophetic tradition of the church as a form of political power, a realization that would shape his approach to activism. The integration of faith and action was central to his philosophy, and he never allowed the sacred and the civic to be seen as separate entities.

This philosophy would become a guiding principle for the author as he worked alongside Jesse Jackson at Operation Breadbasket and later at the National Action Network (NAN), where he incorporated the Saturday morning action rallies inspired by Jesse's Chicago-based PUSH.

The author acknowledges that Jesse Jackson's effectiveness stemmed from his roots in the Black church, which provided him with a strong foundation in both spiritual and social justice principles. He emphasizes that Jesse never separated the sermon and the strategy, ensuring that his message of hope and action was always present in both church and community settings.

This approach not only inspired the author but also shaped the way NAN conducts its Saturday morning action rallies, carrying on the legacy of Jesse Jackson's approach to activism.

Throughout his career, Jesse Jackson demonstrated a practical approach to social justice, advocating for the rights of farmers, steelworkers, sharecroppers, and young Black men across the United States. He challenged the Democratic establishment, stood up for marginalized communities, and recognized the shared struggles of people of all colors.

His commitment to building "houses of justice" – places where ordinary people could find support and fight for their rights – remained at the core of his work. The author, inspired by Jesse's example, carries forward this tradition of combining faith, action, and practical advocacy in his work at NAN, honoring the lineage that runs from Rev. King to Rev. Jackson to the present-day efforts at NAN.