By Alliance President Terry Gips
I had the great fortune to grow up with Rev. Jesse Jackson as my hero. My Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf developed a close relationship with Rev. Jackson as they went to Selma to protest. Consequently, Rev. Jackson raised the roof to thunderous applause when he came to speak at Congregation Solel, my synagogue in Highland Park, IL. I spent time tutoring with Rev. Jackson’s Operation Push on the Southside of Chicago.
Later, he was my candidate for President and my incredible canine companion of 18 years was given his name. And I had the chance to meet and talk with him again when he came to speak about economic development with the Social Venture Network.
I was deeply affected by his powerful, unforgettable affirmation, “I am somebody!”, which all of us – Blacks, Browns, Whites, Jews, Christian, poor and wealthy, old and young – called out together repeatedly, as if we were in church instead of a rally. And I saw his Rainbow Coalition become a powerful, inclusive and first-ever force for justice that overcame all sorts of racial, ethnic and class divides to welcome LGBTQ+ and other disparaged groups.
Jesse and his movement gave me hope as they fundamentally opened up and transformed the Democratic Party. And his teachings and organizing became the founding DNA for the Alliance for Sustainability 42 years ago. It is embodied in our definition of sustainability: ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just and humane, embodying our highest values in terms of how we treat people, animals and the planet.
This definition and our work continue to embody Rev. Jesse Jackson and echo the teachings of his mentor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Jesse is now with Martin, and their lives will continue to take us to higher and higher places while bending the arc of justice. We stand on their shoulders as we celebrate Black History Month. Rest in Rainbow.