Thank You, Jesse Jackson!

By: Donald V. Watkins

Copyrighted and Published on March 8, 2026

An Editorial Opinion

The crowds are gone now, Jesse. The “important people” have returned to whatever they are doing in life. It’s just us now. 

Even though we had many conversations on the battlefield of civil rights in America, I never got a chance to properly thank you for everything you have done for African Americans, women, Whites of interracial goodwill, and me.

We first met at Southern Illinois University a couple of days after Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated on April 4, 1968. During the early morning hours of April 5th, someone spray-painted this racial insult on the main entrance to the Student Center Building: “The Only Good Nigger is a Dead Nigger.” You came to SIU to calm us down and kept us from tearing up the place. You taught us how to channel our anger and rage into positive action. Thank you!

You kept things going after Martin was killed. No one wanted to catch the next bullet, but you were fully prepared to do whatever was necessary to bring Martin’s dream to life.

You founded Operation Push in 1971 to focus on economic empowerment in urban communities across America. This program produced dramatic results for many decades.  No public figure or national leader since you has empowered our communities on this scale and in such impactful ways. Thank you!

In 1984, you founded the National Rainbow Coalition to promote economic empowerment, corporate accountability, and community reinvestment within corporate America. Under the Coalition's umbrella, you created the Wall Street Project, which dramatically increased access to capital for Black and women entrepreneurs. It also created business alliances and major vendor opportunities with Wall Street giants for thousands of capable and qualified Black-owned and women-owned companies. Thank you!

On a personal level, you made it possible for Nathan A. Chapman and me to take four companies public on the NASDAQ.  You also opened the door for me to co-found Alamerica Bank in 2000, which was ranked No. 4 in the nation for its asset group and return on assets.  You believed in us, when most Blacks in America thought it was impossible for African Americans to achieve this level of business success in the financial services industry. Thank you!

Furthermore, you are the only public figure or national leader who opened up the nation's financial markets to thousands of Black-owned and women-owned businesses, while asking nothing in return for yourself. Thank you!

When you ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, you shattered the negative view held by millions of Black Americans who believed we were not good enough to run for and win the American presidency. Blacks gained much-needed self-esteem in the political arena because you had the courage to run for president and subject yourself to the harshest public scrutiny imaginable. You made 6 million voters in 1988 believe we were "somebody." Thank you!

Looking back on it today, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden were direct beneficiaries of your "blood, sweat, and tears" in the national political arena.

When no one else in the country could do it, you went and brought home Americans who languished as hostages and prisoners in Syria (1983), Cuba (1984), Iraq (1990), and Serbia (1999). Thank you!

As I look out on the political landscape today, I do not see anyone who is capable of providing your caliber of exceptional national leadership. Every one of the so-called "big names" on the national political stage is owned or controlled by AIPAC or some other special interest group. I appreciate the fact that no special interest group ever owned or controlled you. Likewise, no one ever made you disassociate yourself from a valued member of the communities you served. Thank you!

Rejoice in Heaven, Jesse!  I will keep fighting on the battlefields of civil rights, economic empowerment, political empowerment, and social justice until it is my time to join you. We still have a lot of fighting to do.

Thank you for everything! I will see you on the other side of midnight!