Formed in the Fire: Remembering Jesse Jackson

I was only an observer when the Reverend founded the Rainbow Coalition in 1984, but I witnessed his presence across countless struggles for justice — especially those confronting African Americans in the 1980s. He was not a distant figure on television; he was there, moving from cause to cause, lending his voice, his body, and his moral authority.

I was aware of Jesse Jackson’s quest for the highest office in America in 1984 — but I became mentally and emotionally present when he ran for President of the United States in 1988. My family rooted for him then. We believed. And he delivered a powerful showing, finishing a strong second in the Democratic primaries. For many of us, it wasn’t just a campaign — it was validation that our aspirations belonged on the national stage.

Later, while still living in Los Angeles, I vividly remember the Rodney King crisis in 1992. When the verdict came down and the city trembled, word spread quickly: “Jesse Jackson is coming.” And with that announcement came a shift. I remember the phrase — “spontaneous combustion” — capturing the raw eruption of pain and rage that followed the trial. In that moment, his presence mattered. He wasn’t just reacting to history; he was helping to hold it together.

It was after all of this—after seeing the reach of his influence and the weight he carried—that I read more deeply about him. That’s when I learned he had been part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, working alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s—and that he was present in Memphis when King was assassinated.

That knowledge reframed everything.

Jesse Jackson wasn’t just a man.

He was formed in the fire.

He carried the lineage.

He had something rare burning within him.

Conviction.

Courage.

Calling.

Long live the Reverend.

Reverend Jesse Jackson.

Dr. Leo Gilling is a criminologist, educator, and diaspora policy advocate. He writes The Gilling Papers, where he examines policing, public safety, governance, and community-based solutions in Jamaica and across the African diaspora. Send feedback to editorial@oldharbournews.com