Jesse Louis Jackson

On Saturday, February 2, 2013 I finally made it to the Rainbow Push forum. I decided I had to attend and participate in the walk for Hadiya Pendleton, the 42nd person killed by gun viloence in January.

I grew up in the 70’s and my grade school did expose us to black history which included the civil rights movement. Even then I rejected Jesse Jackson as the self designated leader of black Americans. I did not like how he seemed to ride on the coattails of the honorable Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. I know he was there on the front line walking and working with Dr. King but even then I failed to see what he had done for us lately. The fake boycotts of companies that seem to only net something for his personal causes and not so much black people as a group was not enough.

When I got to the church, a woman herded attendees to fill the middle front rows. When the broadcast started at 10:00am only 9 rows were occupied, more people arrived later. A wonderful choir and other speakers filled the agenda prior to Jesse Jackson’s appearance. One group from the westside wore “My Life is Valuable 2” t-shirts. One member held a large picture of a young man shot to death recently while eating at a fast-food restaurant. Later, I looked into the incident, the police have him documented as a gang member. On Saturday he was presented as an innocent victim simply eating dinner.

Dr. Brenda Butler of Columbia College spoke about her Columbia Links project. It is a journalism and leadership program for Chicago Public School teens and teachers. The group is responsible for the posters “Don’t Shoot I Want to Grow Up” campaign.

Having only seen Jesse Jackson as this “iconic” figure on television I expected him to appear more human and less like a rehearsed self-serving activist, I was wrong. The speakers are all careful to always refer to him honorably by using his full title and name. He is the same activist I have listened to since childhood, delivering catchy one liners that he would occasionally have the audience repeat.

I agreed with him calling for the people to stop harboring the criminals. He compared the citizens’ refusal to snitch to the Chicago Police Departments “Blue Code” of silence. Most of the crimes go unsolved because no one will come forth and say what they saw. He called for President Obama to come to Chicago. I called for Obama to hold town hall style meetings in June. He was here raising campaign funds and never took any time to address the violence. As a former “community organizer” why wouldn’t he offer solutions to the very people he once worked with in high crime areas? Don’t be fooled, Jackson and his demand to have Obama come here is all choreographed. He would be hard pressed to speak publicly in a negative manner about this historical president.

Jackson did mention Jesse Jr.’s book and his reference to Thanksgiving and slavery. Jackson Rule #1: Always be promoting your brand, family. I was shocked that Jonathan was not speaking. In the weeks since Junior’s resignation Jonathon has suddenly appeared on some Saturdays sounding very statesmen-like. I would be shocked if he is not appointed or elected to a stepping stone position soon.

Jackson’s speech included many reasons for the crime in the city. He said banks got bail outs and we got locked out. Lack of after school programs but access to guns that are not made in the city but yet are brought into Chicago. No black owned gun manufacturers or shops. He shared some financial statistic on poverty, historical statements on slavery and comment on Romney’s off-shore accounts. He never called for us to take responsibility for our own children. He did say if the parents can’t raise the kids properly society must step in.

The meeting ended with collecting donations. Those giving $100 were called to stand and an usher walked to the person and took the money. I saw a woman that Jackson had introduced earlier stand up in the front row and pass him a crisp $100 bill. Then those giving $50, $35 and so on were called.

We drove to Hadiya’s school, coincidentally located on the same street just 4 blocks north. The march was 6 blocks long from beginning at Martin Luther King College Prep High School, ending at the park located 4400 south on Oakenwald Avenue. When Jackson arrived we were told to line up in pairs behind him. I was paired with a man from the westside who survived on disability checks and money he made from panhandling. He showed me his medication; he was happy to have raised enough from begging to buy them. The next young man I walked with had played basketball for a well known Chicago high school and used that opportunity to attend college. He was well dressed and a minister in a jail and was asked by Jackson to attend. He drove in from the western suburbs.

Members of the television, print and online media followed us as we navigated the streets. People in cars blew their horns and waved in support of the march. Jackson held a short press conference once we arrived. The shelter is located in a public park, the gunman jumped the fence to shoot at the group seeking cover from the rain. Hadiya and her friends were out of school early after a day of exams. She was not affiliated with any gang.

It was very cold and I was not looking forward to the walk back. Jesse Jackson gathered us to begin the return trip and said he wanted to make sure we stayed together for safety. At some point we were told to board the chartered school bus intended for the group from the westside. Jackson chose to ride on the bus and not in his black limo. I sat next to a nice woman who had just completed a job readiness program at a local junior college. She was eager to tell me that she had formerly worked for Alderman Sandi Jackson, “She’s very sweet”, I bit my tongue. I engaged her in conversation about the viloence and feeling safe as a Chicago resident. She said that living in fear is not the answer, she had faith in God.

As we got off the bus he shook our hand. He was looking away and talking to one of his handlers when it was my turn. My sister reminded me that I did shake the hand that once shook Dr. King’s hand.