Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.'s Impact On My Life & Ministry

Today, we mourn the life and legacy of a Civil Rights giant, an icon whose voice thundered through the corridors of injustice and whose presence reshaped the moral conscience of a nation, Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.

Rev. Jackson did not merely influence history; he influenced my life. He taught me that it is not only permissible, but necessary, to address politics from the pulpit. He framed it theologically and prophetically when he said to me, “Chris, in the Bible, every king had a priest.” In that single statement, he unlocked a revelation that forever shaped my ministry: politicians are better when they have access to prophets. Power needs a conscience. Policy needs a pulpit. Government needs God’s guidance. Rev. Jackson embodied that sacred intersection of faith and public life. He stood as a bridge between the sanctuary and the statehouse, between protest and policy, between prayer and progress.

Every protest march that I organized, led, or co-led in Chicago, Rev. Jackson did not simply call to offer support, he showed up. In moments that shook our nation, Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, he stood with us. He advised me. He mentored me. He taught me how to navigate the media, how to speak truth without trembling, and how to carry conviction without compromise. He demonstrated that leadership is not about volume, but about vision, not about attention, but about action.

This was the man whose image hung on the walls and bulletin boards of my elementary school classroom at Carter G. Woodson in Bronzeville. As a child, I looked at his picture as history. Never could I have imagined that I would grow up and have the profound privilege of working alongside him in various seasons and settings. His tutelage was invaluable. I did not have the blessing of speaking with him every day, nor laboring beside him continually, but every single moment I did share with him altered my life and broadened my perspective. Time with him was transformational. Simply put, hours spent with this giant of a man was far more valuable than months with others. He gave voice to the voiceless and visibility to the overlooked. He could command a room, calm a crowd, and mobilize a movement. His rallying cry to “Keep Hope Alive” was not a slogan, it was survival strategy for a people who had endured centuries of struggle.

One of the last things he told me still echoes in my heart: “Chris, I am very proud of the work that you are doing in your churches, organizations, and efforts to reconnect the African American and Jewish communities. They were side by side with us during the Civil Rights movement, and both of our communities need each other more now than ever. I’m proud of you, son. Keep it up!” That affirmation meant more to me than words can adequately express. That work is now called The Unity Forum (TheUnityForum.com), and I remain deeply committed to strengthening and reviving that historic bond. His blessing was not merely encouragement; it was a charge. And I intend to carry it faithfully.

I have often said within our African American community that Rev. Jesse Jackson was one of our last living major icons, still fighting the good fight, still carrying a voice that could summon unity and spark action nationwide. When God decides for him to leave us, there will be a void, an empty seat that may never truly be filled. Too often we fail to appreciate and celebrate greatness while it walks among us. Now, the responsibility shifts to us. It is our turn, every faith-based leader, every community-based organization leader, every organizer and activist. It is our turn to pick up the mantle. It is our turn to stand in the gap. It is our turn to ensure that we continue to “Keep Hope Alive.” I cannot help but wonder: Who will take up the mantle? Who will continue the work? Who will fight untiringly, as he did, for justice that rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream?

Rev. Jackson was, at his core, a gospel preacher who embodied Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” To do justly, he marched, protested, negotiated, and legislated so that justice would not remain an abstract ideal but become a lived reality for African American communities.

He confronted discriminatory hiring practices, demanded corporate inclusion, and challenged unjust systems that marginalized our people. To love mercy, he advocated not only for rights but for redemption. He worked for prison reform, sought clemency in complex cases, and extended compassion even while demanding accountability. His leadership was firm, but it was never devoid of grace. To walk humbly with God, despite national acclaim and global influence, he never stopped identifying himself as a preacher. He prayed publicly and privately. He leaned on Scripture. He understood that movements without morality collapse, and activism without alignment to God eventually loses its way. His commitment to voter registration, education and community organizing has lit a fire in me that will never die.

How fitting that one of my heroes in Black history has taken his wings during Black History Month. It is as if heaven itself marked the moment, welcoming home a servant who labored long and faithfully in the vineyard of justice. Forever my hero. Forever a voice that stirred nations. Forever a standard-bearer for hope. Rev. Jesse Jackson’s accomplishments are woven deeply into the fabric of American history. Among his most significant contributions:

• Close aide to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel the day Dr. King was assassinated.
• Founder of Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), advocating for economic justice, educational equity, and corporate accountability.
• Founder of the National Rainbow Coalition, building a multiracial, multiethnic political movement rooted in justice and opportunity.
• Two-time Democratic candidate for President of the United States (1984 and 1988), breaking barriers and expanding the political imagination of a generation.
• Advocate for voting rights, fair housing, labor rights, and economic inclusion.
• Negotiator for the release of American hostages abroad, using moral authority to open doors diplomacy could not.
• Tireless champion for African American communities, fighting for jobs, equal access to capital, minority business development, and justice in the courts.

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

To his beloved wife and family, to the Operation PUSH family, and to the Rainbow Coalition family, and the African American community at large. To everyone around the world who his love, service, leadership and sacrifice touched, I extend my deepest and most heartfelt condolences. We grieve with you. We honor you. We thank God for sharing him with us. May God forever bless the legacy and memory of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. And may we, the next generation, prove worthy of the mantle he leaves behind.