by Pa Rock
Retired Missouri Teacher
The Reverend Jesse Jackson, an icon of the American civil rights movement, passed away at his home in Chicago earlier today from a malady related to Parkinson's Disease, He had been in poor health for several years and unable to speak during the last few weeks of his life, a tragic circumstance for one of the great orators of his time. He was 84 at the time of his death.
Jesse Jackson was born to an unwed mother in South Carolina on October 8, 1941, and went on to become a football star at his segregated high school, and a college graduate. By the time he reached his early twenties he was working as a close aide to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and was standing just a few feet away from the great man when he was gunned down in front of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis in 1968. Jackson went on to be a leader in the civil rights and peace movement, and he twice ran for the Democratic nomination or President of the United States in the 1980's.
My family an I crossed paths with Reverend Jackson one time, and it happened to be on October 8, 1981, a Thursday, on the occasion of his 40th birthday. He was a keynote speaker with the Missouri National Education Association (MNEA) conference in Springfield, Missouri, an event that was held in the same venue and in conjunction with the larger Missouri State Teachers' Association conference. Schools across the state closed that Thursday and Friday in order for their teachers to attend the big statewide gathering.
My wife and I were both Missouri teachers at the time with the Mountain View-Brich Tree R-III School District, and we attended that conference with our three small children in tow: Nick (aged 8), Molly (4), and Tim (2. - barely!). I think we only stayed for the morning session, to hear Rev. Jackson's speech, and then went out and had some fun - perhaps heading over to the Springfield Zoo, one of our favorite places.
I remember telling the kids to pay attention at the man speaking because someday he might be President. It will be interesting to see if any of them: a. read this blog posting, or b. actually do remember hearing Jesse Jackson speak that day. But we were there - and were part of the several hundred who sang "Happy Birthday" to him that morning long ago.
Jesse Jackson had a good run at life and will long be remembered as a person of peace and action who did much to improve the lives of the masses, and particularly the voiceless and oppressed. It was an honor and a privilege just to have been in the same room with him - and especially on the day he turned forty!
Rest in peace, Reverend Jackson, and thank you for your seervice to the world.
1 comment:
I also remember that same convention, where I was a young teacher from West Plains, Missouri. I don't remember singing "Happy Birthday" to him. You have a good memory.
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