Dear Editor,

I was very sad when I learnt that the Reverend Jesse Jackson had died. Rev Jackson was a towering figure in American history who could be best described as a civil rights leader, politician, and activist. He was surely a giant in the civil rights movement.

My first encounter with the reverend was when he visited Jamaica in the early 1990s. He was invited by the Government at the time to visit the violence-prone areas of Mountain View and to have talks with the members of the community. I was a teenager at the time, and I went to the community to view the proceedings.

While there I saw a group of people standing with representatives of the Government and the Member of Parliament. I did not immediately recognise the reverend as the group comprised both dark-skinned and light-skinned individuals. I asked someone standing close by to point him out to me, and I was quite surprised when he pointed to a light-skinned person. I was looking for a dark-skinned man because the US media at the time did not differentiate light-skinned from dark-skinned black people — only whites and blacks — so I thought he was very dark-skinned based on the media’s portrayal of him.

Rev Jackson was an inspiring, determined, and compassionate advocate for equality, justice, and peace. He was one of a kind, always representing the voiceless in society. He ran unsuccessfully for president of the United States in 1984 and 1988 on the democratic ticket. However, he continued to push for racial equality and justice with his Rainbow Coalition, which represented both a multiracial and multicultural political alliance.

He was also a trailblazer who paved the way for future black leaders and politicians like the first black president of the United States Barack Obama. I was so elated at his election, and I cried with Rev Jackson (and Oprah Winfrey) when they witnessed his victory.

I was filled with emotion when I saw Rev Jackson’s tears because, although I was not alive when they assassinated Rev King and the countless others who were persecuted on Bloody Sunday in Selma, I am happy he was able to witness the results of that election and see the first black person be elected to the highest office in the land. I could just imagine how he felt.

At his death I can only say, ‘Let’s honour him…he was a servant of the oppressed.’

Daniel Morgan

daniel.morgan@uwi.edu