Keep Hope Alive
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Early this morning, The Reverend Jessie Jackson, icon of the American civil rights movement passed away at the age of 84. He will be remembered as a transitional figure who was on the balcony when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, carried the torch into the next generation, and in two runs for the American presidency changed the face of our electoral politics. He had more acts than the Ed Sullivan Show in the last 58 years. As a young boy, they said that "he could talk a hole through a billy goat."
I had one memorable encounter with him that I wrote about early last year. I replay it today in his honor and memory.
During my tenure, the National Archives offered very limited display time for the Emancipation Proclamation which is written on paper and not the more durable parchment media. Displayed too frequently in its earlier life, it is terribly and irretrievably faded.
The Proclamation would either be displayed for a limited number of days just after the January 1 anniversary of its signing in 1863, or around the Juneteenth anniversary.
In 1987 the Archives had public programming to commemorate the New Year’s display and invited both the famed civil rights leader Reverend Jessie Jackson and the African American historian and distinguished Duke University professor, John Hope Franklin. Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland quietly slipped into the theater, and I asked him to join us after the presentation to see the document in the Archives rotunda.
As we came down the stairs to the rotunda we were mobbed by press and cameramen, and it occurred to me that this dance into the very long line of waiting pilgrims was going to be tricky. I actually had nothing to fear. What I had not considered was that I had a practiced showman with me.
As we walked parallel to the line of waiting visitors, Reverend Jackson approached an African American family about 30 feet from the head of the line. My other guests and I paused as Jackson asked the father whether he could take his daughter up to see the document. The star-struck father immediately recognized Jackson and placed his adorable little girl in the awaiting arms of the good pastor.
As Jackson carried the smiling angel forward, the cameras began a cacophony of shutter clicks and Dr. Franklin, Senator Sarbanes, and I just followed the parade. When we reached the encasement holding the Proclamation, John Hope Franklin stepped forward and gave a brief seminar on Lincoln's iconic document.
It was magic and I’ll never forget the day Reverend Jackson carried that little girl forward and parted the sea.
Jesse Jackson was a giant in his day. And an important figure in civil rights and politics. And he had his flaws. I can't forget his reference to "Hymietown." But perhaps his flaws make his positive contributions that much more significant. Thanks for sharing this story,John.
Thanks for sharing. You had some really great experiences at the Archives.
Thank you, John, for reprising your memory of Jesse Jackson’s bold spirit.
Gone too soon!
Another icon of courage has left the arena. Godspeed!