CounterPunch Exclusives

CounterPunch Exclusives

Jesse Jackson: A Man of Soul

Jesse Jackson at the United Nations, 2012. Photo: UN.

Brother Jesse was a large man. He was Brother Jesse to me and I was Brother Warner to him as soon as we were introduced. He was large physically. He dominated all the space around him. But it wasn’t his physical presence that impressed.

Brother Jesse was a preacher man in the great Southern Black tradition. I saw him inspire an auditorium full of white diplomats and business leaders in Brussels to stand up, hold hands, and sing “We Shall Overcome” with him.

Much is being written about Jesse Jackson’ accomplishments: civil rights leader with Martin Luther King Jr., presidential candidate, founder of........

© CounterPunch