On Jesse Jackson and Fighting the Good Fight.

[B.See]

Excerpts from, Jesse Jackson, civil rights icon, dead at 84 - Salon via MSN

Jackson was an impassioned orator — from an improvised speech that introduced him to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. outside a church in Selma, Alabama to his historic 1984 speech at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. His poem “I Am — Somebody” became a rally cry that spread across the country from protests to Sesame Street, empowering adults and children across all social lines.

He ran for president in 1984 and founded the Rainbow Coalition, an advocacy organization that promoted the collaboration of marginalized groups. He received over 3 million votes in the Democratic primary, landing third in the contest behind Sen. Gary Hart of Colorado and the nominee Walter F. Mondale. He ran again in 1988 with more success, but lost the nomination to Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.

“America is not like a blanket — one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt: many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, all woven and held together by a common thread,” he said. “We must leave racial battle ground and come to economic common ground and moral higher ground. America, our time has come. We come from disgrace to amazing grace.”

“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,” Jackson said.

Fighting the good fight. Rest in peace, Jesse.

[walkingman]

1. The world needs more Jesse Jacksons - RIP

[Buckeyeblue]

2. I always liked him

He would have been a more interesting candidate than Mondale in 1984. I think he would have won more than 1 state and I think St. Ronnie would have had a tough time with him.

And he definitely would have been a better candidate than Dukakis.

I think the white Democratic establishment struggled with Jackson, because he couldn't be controlled. He called out injustice wherever it occurred. He showed up at all the right places and usually said all the right things.

[B.See]

3. usually. and

when he didn't, was wise enough to apologize, reach out, build bridges, form coalitions, and make amends,

instead of refusing to and doubling down.

Empathy, growth, maturity, for the greater good.