Jesse Jackson’s legacy paved the way for Kamala Harris’ historic Democratic nomination • The TRiiBE

This year’s DNC honored prominent black politicians who have shaped the Democratic Party. DNC Chair Minyon Moore and Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison paid tribute to political leaders such as Lewis, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, Shirley Chisholm and Rev. Jesse Jackson, recognizing their contributions to the civil rights movement.

The selection of Chicago as the host city of the DNC also shows how both Jackson and Chicago have shaped the model for building collective power, said Illinois State Senator Robert Peters (D-13).

“This is a unique place where black political power has grown and grown. We must never lose sight of that as we have this Congress here and we have a history tied to Reverend Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama,” Peters said. “We are a great example of what it means to build black political power, progressive black political power. I’m happy to be able to play my small part.”

At age 82, Jackson made a surprise visit on August 19, opening the first night of the DNC. Despite his Parkinson’s diagnosis, he received a standing ovation as he waved to the crowd, accompanied by the Reverend Al Sharpton, his son, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson and others.

Jackson’s legacy laid the foundation for Harris’ historic nomination, as well as Barack Obama’s campaign. With Jackson at the helm, Chicago’s black political movement played a key role in shaping these groundbreaking campaigns.

The DNC also commemorated the 40th anniversary of Jackson’s speech to the DNC in San Francisco in 1984. The previous year, Jackson had announced his intention to seek the Democratic presidential nomination.

“Reverend Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 campaigns were really the lightning rod for so much,” said the Rev. Dr. Janette Wilson, a senior adviser to Jackson and an Illinois state delegate.

Jackson’s presidential campaigns prepared the ground for future leaders like Carol Moseley Braun, who became the first African-American woman to serve in the U.S. Senate in 1992 because of Jackson’s encouragement: “If he could run for president, she could certainly run for Senate and win,” Wilson said.

Although Jackson’s presidential bids were unsuccessful, they catapulted him onto the national stage and inspired a new generation of political leaders, particularly black politicians.

His focus on black and working-class issues resonated well and paved the way for candidates like Obama and Harris. Jackson lost the Democratic nomination to former Vice President Walter Mondale in 1984.

However, his campaign was able to register over a million new voters, win over 3.5 million voters and help the Democratic Party regain control of the U.S. Senate in 1986, according to Keeping Hope Alive: Sermons and Talks by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.

Jackson ran again in 1988 to secure the Democratic Party nomination, but failed to win enough delegates to secure the nomination.

“His 1988 campaign attracted over two million new voters, won over seven million for himself, and put hundreds of elected officials in office at the local, regional, state, and federal levels,” the same text states.

Historian Lionel Kimble noted that Jackson’s efforts were crucial in preparing the United States for a black presidential candidate.

“Even though he didn’t win the nominations, it was important that he gave a voice to people who were so far from the political center that we needed,” said Kimble, an associate professor of history at Chicago State University.

“He made people think about poverty and racism on a national level. That was especially important for black people, but I think for all of us. If it hadn’t been for Jesse, I don’t know if people would have been ready for an Obama. I don’t think people would have been ready if Harris had run and won,” he said.