Darrick Hamilton

History made in Chattanooga 💥🎆🎉

Reverend Jesse Jackson was a man ahead of his time and yet always right on time. He shook not only his own world but the very foundations of American politics, especially within the Democratic Party. He carried the love, loyalty, the righteous fight of a Baptist minister, and the determination of a public servant. He fought with urgency and deliberation, and he loved like Jesus, with boundless compassion and unwavering conviction. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to walk in community with Reverend Jackson, Mrs. Jacqueline Jackson, and their children. I have learned from his historic accomplishments, from his groundbreaking presidential campaigns in the 1980s to his continued advocacy for the poor and oppressed across the globe. Reverend Jackson didn’t just talk about the Rainbow Coalition, he built it, lived it, and sustained it. I cherish every conversation I’ve had with him. He and Mrs. Jackson always left a spark in my spirit, a spark that caused me to think more deeply, to love more boldly, and to walk more firmly in my purpose. Reverend Jackson had a way of letting you know you were on the right track. Even when the road was rough, his example lit the path. We will hear many tributes to Reverend Jackson now, and rightly so. But let us not forget that when he was making history, he was often maligned. He was not universally celebrated. His family endured relentless attacks, yet they never stopped. They kept going. That is the mark of true courage and conviction. Reverend Jackson was the embodiment of hope, justice, and love. He leaned always toward what was right, what was just, and what was good. His eloquence and oratory skills were legendary, but it was his love for the people that truly set him apart. I first met Reverend Jackson in the late 1990s when I was a Legislative Service Commission Fellow in the Ohio Senate. He came to speak with us as part of his national tour to unite rural and urban communities. That visit left an indelible impression on me. I was in the presence of legacy, of living history, of a man who had already changed the world and wasn’t done yet. Who would have thought that years later I’d have the profound blessing of not only working alongside him, but building deep relationships with the Jackson family. They have all made sacrifices for the greater good, sacrifices that have yet to be fully acknowledged or honored. Reverend Jackson’s love never wavered. His courage never wavered. His clarity never wavered. His purpose never wavered. We owe Reverend Jackson, Mrs. Jackson, and the entire Jackson family a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid. But we can honor them. We can continue the work. Reverend Jesse Jackson was a peacemaker. He was ahead of his time, and yet always right on time. I will forever hold dear the moments I shared with him, Mrs. Jackson, Santita, Yusef, Jonathan, and Jesse Jr. Their love is a testament. Their legacy is a charge. May we carry it forward and, to echo his own words, keep hope alive.