The Jesse I Covered: A Reporter’s Reflection on Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

Posted by Maudlyne Ihejirika, Chicago Sun-Times

So much running through my mind, with the death of #civilrights #icon Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., the local and national #community #leader I covered during my nearly 30 years as a Chicago Sun-Times #newspaper #reporter.

There was no #CHICAGO #news beat I was assigned where this man we simply called "Jesse" wasn't present and involved — be it #education and #housing, #race and #socialjustice; #politics and #policing; #urbanaffairs and the #nonprofit sector. He was a constant, always activating advocating, agitating, demanding #equity.

He was a complicated figure, as #history's #brilliant and #famous usually are. As for me, I'll remember the man who took me under his wings as a rookie reporter covering Rainbow PUSH Coalition every Saturday in the early '90s, giving me scoops that raised my profile, and building a #journalist #source relationship that stretched for decades.

My photo archives of and with Jesse is immense. But I'm staring at one that sticks out. In the late 90's, after "OJ" Simpson was found not guilty of the June 12, 1994 murder of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman, OJ lawyer #JohnnieCochran, who famously stated "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit" in winning the October 3, 1995 verdict, shot to fame. (Half the country applauded the verdict; the other half abhored it). But Cochran used the fame to expand his legal reach, including making plans to set up shop in Chicago.

It was a weekend. I got a call from Jesse telling me to get down to Chicago Midway International Airport right now. "Why," I stammered. "Do you want an exclusive with Johnny Cochran or don't you?" Jesse asked. I hightailed it to Midway, met and interviewed the legendary Cochran, wrote a story picked up nationally. I leave the photo here, me grinning like a Cheshire cat at the scoop I'd just received. That was the Jesse I knew, the Jesse I'll remember. Rest. In. Peace.

#journalistlife #writer #writing #writerslife #storyteller #storytelling #stories