WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.359 Welcome to Truth Time with doctor Cornell West and Nina Turner. 2 00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:07.679 We counted all joy per usual to be together with 3 00:00:07.719 --> 00:00:11.599 you today. We appreciate you tuning in to our show. 4 00:00:12.039 --> 00:00:16.280 This is our teaching Thursday, which is absolutely the best 5 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:19.039 day of the week for doctor West and myself with 6 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:24.320 regards to Truth Time, because we get the opportunity and 7 00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:29.199 it is indeed an opportunity to talk about historic luminaries, 8 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:32.799 both those who have gone on to the ancestral plane 9 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:36.320 and those who are still right with us. Today we 10 00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:39.679 get to talk about them, deconstruct some of the things 11 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:42.960 that they've done throughout their life and the impact that 12 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:47.759 these people still have on us today. On this day, 13 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:50.960 we are talking about somebody who is still here with us, 14 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:58.119 which is so so exciting, and that is Reverend Jesse Jackson. 15 00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:02.920 Now Reverend Jackson was born on October eighth, nineteen forty 16 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:09.040 one in Green Greenville, South Carolina, and there is no 17 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:13.680 dash doc because he is still right here with us. 18 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:19.640 I know for many people, Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, civil 19 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:26.519 rights leader, a minister in the Christian Black Liberation theology tradition, 20 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:31.560 came up through many of the luminary civil rights leaders 21 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:34.680 like Reverend doctor Martin Luther King Jr. And so many others, 22 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:37.799 The type of exposure that he was able to have 23 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:42.319 to those leaders, being a son of the South, developing 24 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:45.959 his oratory skills. He is a great orator. When people 25 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:50.480 talk about people who can rhyme and string the words together, baby, 26 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:54.840 you always got to think of Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson 27 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:59.159 being able to do that, most famous for most known 28 00:01:59.480 --> 00:02:03.519 for running for President of the United States of America 29 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:06.959 not once but twice in the eighties. When we think 30 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:16.400 about modern day twentieth century type progressivism, you cannot talk 31 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:21.800 about that without lifting up Reverend Jackson and the whole 32 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:26.000 notion of bringing a rainbow coalition together, and that when 33 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:28.599 I think about the rainbow coalition, also got to take 34 00:02:28.639 --> 00:02:32.599 it back to Chairman Fred Hampton, who has a quote 35 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:35.639 about a rainbow coalition. We're seeing how all of this 36 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:40.000 is in the it's in the zeigeist like nobody, no 37 00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:43.719 one person thought of these things. They come together, and 38 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:46.599 I think different people at different times they pick up 39 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:51.280 the justice mantle, and certainly Reverend Jesse Jackson is one 40 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:56.199 of those. His wife, Jacqueline, is a phenomenal woman his 41 00:02:56.520 --> 00:03:01.919 children magnificent. I am the closest. I am the the 42 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:08.039 closest to Uh Jesse Jackson Junior, who is a colleague 43 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:13.319 with us on UH on this network, and UH and 44 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:16.759 and and and his and his and his sister who 45 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:19.639 I love, Santita, who I call well, she and I 46 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:23.639 really are the closest, but Santita, who I affectionately call 47 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:28.159 s j. But the family, from Jonathan who's in Congress, 48 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:34.199 to usup who runs the Rainbow Push, I mean just 49 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:37.360 all of his children are absolutely gifted and fantastic and 50 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:40.960 grew up in that civil rights got to give Back tradition. 51 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:44.719 It is in their blood. It started with their parents, 52 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:50.280 and that is Jacqueline and Reverend Jesse Jackson. So we 53 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:53.680 thought it was fitting to lift him up, to give 54 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:56.719 him his flowers while he is yet alive, and to 55 00:03:56.840 --> 00:03:59.759 remind people that although he has not talked about a 56 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:06.080 lot in the tradition of progressivism and in his reflection 57 00:04:06.439 --> 00:04:09.479 of he was a physical embodiment of that coming from 58 00:04:09.479 --> 00:04:14.759 the black liberation theology tradition, and how he transformed the 59 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:18.199 Democratic Party and had it held to his principles, would 60 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:23.600 be a better party today. How fitting as Democrats are 61 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:25.279 trying to figure out who they are, what they are, 62 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:28.079 who they stand for. Then to talk about the one 63 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:31.600 and only Reverend Jesse Lewis. 64 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:36.519 Jackson, Oh ooh, that's so real. You hitting all kind 65 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:44.759 of nails on the head. Jesse Jackson Jr. The world 66 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:51.600 historical figure. He's a rhetorical genius. He's what I would 67 00:04:51.639 --> 00:04:56.399 call an always their activists, which is to say that 68 00:04:56.680 --> 00:05:03.079 any time black folk are catching hair, he's all ways there. 69 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:05.879 That's something that really Brother Al Sharpton learned from Jesse 70 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:11.240 as a student. It makes the difference to be there 71 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:18.279 and then to be able to provide both word and witness. 72 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:24.560 And Jesse Jackson Jr. Has been the grandest exemplar of 73 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:28.279 what it means to be always there and using one's 74 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:34.279 rhetorical talent and institutional aspiration that cast a light on 75 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:37.519 first and foremost black people catching hair. Hell, but you're 76 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.959 right about the Rainbow Coalition, Tiede Fred Hampton and others. 77 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:44.959 He's been concerned about indigenous People's concerned about poor whites. 78 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:48.839 He's been concerned about working people. He's been concerned about Palestinians. 79 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:53.240 He's been concerned about Syrians. He's been concerned about Africans. 80 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:57.399 When you look over his life, you see that kind 81 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:03.279 of localism and into nationalism, into Wolfing. And you're absolutely 82 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:06.639 right that he comes out of the legacy of Martin King, 83 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:09.199 but he is much more tied to the urban North, 84 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:12.680 even though he comes out of Springfield Baptist Church in Greenville, 85 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:16.959 South Carolina. And he was also hipped. You know, he 86 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:23.720 made the almost with canball addle country preacher. He had 87 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:29.519 a style and a charisma that resonated with a lot 88 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:34.000 of young black folk in the north and in the cities. 89 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:36.680 That was very different than Martin King. There's no doubt 90 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:41.319 about that, very very different. And when I think the 91 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:46.800 history books are written correctly that he will be viewed 92 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:51.000 as one of the great legats of Martin King, but 93 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:54.879 at the same time he will have his own distinctive stamp. 94 00:06:56.040 --> 00:06:58.680 Given the fact that he emerges at a moment in 95 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:04.879 which America goes right wing across the board, exemplified by Reagan. 96 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:08.839 He's running in the Reagan era. And then of course, 97 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:11.120 you know he's now at the end of his life, 98 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:16.839 God blessing with the Parking Parkinson's disease, and he's experiencing 99 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:20.920 another you know, neo fascist moment, another swing to the 100 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:26.279 right in the American political untexting. 101 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:30.240 Yeah, no, he really is. I mean he is quite amazing. 102 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:32.959 He is a force. You're listening to Truth Time with 103 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:35.920 doctor Cornell West and Nina Turner. This is our teacher 104 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:39.480 in Thursday, and we are highlighting the life and the 105 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:44.360 continuously building of a legacy for the one and only 106 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:49.279 Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson. When we come forward, will continue 107 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:51.360 this discussion. Thank you for joining us. This is a 108 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:54.439 Truth Time with doctor Cornell West and Nina Turner. This 109 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:59.160 is our fabulous teach in Thursday and this Thursday, we 110 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:02.759 are talking about the life and continuously a building the 111 00:08:02.920 --> 00:08:08.000 legacy of the one and only Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, Junior, 112 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:13.079 who made history running for president of these United States 113 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:16.839 of America in the eighties. It was nineteen eighty four 114 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:22.279 and nineteen eighty eight. He forever changed a complexion and 115 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:26.839 I mean that literally and figuratively of the body politic 116 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:31.000 in this country for having the audacity to run and 117 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:35.120 to run with a commitment to build a rainbow coalition 118 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:40.279 coming out of a strong a Black liberation theology tradition. 119 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:44.200 Him and his family put a lot on the line 120 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:47.600 because they were different, that they were very much ahead 121 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:50.320 of their time. I know that we both know doctor 122 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:54.840 James Zogby of the Arib American Institute, and I can't 123 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:59.759 help but reflect on the stories that doctor Zogby told 124 00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:04.279 me and continues to tell me about his relationship with 125 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:09.519 Reverend Jackson, and that Reverend Jackson was the first politician 126 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:16.600 to actively engage in the light, not behind the scenes, 127 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:21.840 in the light the air of American community and placing 128 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:27.799 doctor James zog would be very prominently in his cabinet, 129 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:31.200 if you will, the people who were on his campaign, 130 00:09:32.159 --> 00:09:37.120 when very few politicians, if any, especially running on the 131 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:42.919 presidential level, would even acknowledge that the Arab American community existed, 132 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:46.679 as doctor Zogi tells the story, they wouldn't even take 133 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:51.679 money from the Air of American community. And Reverend Jackson 134 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:56.960 had the intestinal fortitude and the moral clarity to say, 135 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:02.039 oh no, I have this relationship. Oh yeah, Ari of 136 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:05.039 Americans matter too, and I'm not going to run and 137 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.559 hide from that just because I'm running for president of 138 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:08.919 the United States of America. 139 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:13.159 That's exactly right. And of course, I mean, you had 140 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:19.480 Stokely Carmichael and Cleveland Sellers and James Bevel and others 141 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:24.879 in Snick who had already put strong pressures on Martin 142 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:28.000 King to come out not just against Vietnam, but to 143 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:33.000 be critical of the Israeli occupation. And so Jesse again 144 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:35.759 as a younger brother. So Jesse born in forty one, 145 00:10:35.879 --> 00:10:39.879 kingborn in twenty nine, nineteen twenty nine, so twelve years 146 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:44.440 between them. You got a generational shift that was taking place. 147 00:10:45.080 --> 00:10:49.360 And Jesse of course was deeply, deeply shaped not just 148 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:52.639 by the civil rights movement coming out of the Prophetic 149 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:56.480 Black Church, but also what was happening on the street 150 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:59.559 with activists like Stokely Carmichael and the others. Of course, 151 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:02.240 Black Place as a party League of revolutionary Black workers 152 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:05.399 and others were out there with strong critiques of the 153 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:09.799 Israeli occupation and support of Palestinians struggling. And so Jesse 154 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:13.480 does pick pick that up. But Jesse always keeps a 155 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:19.559 foot in the Democratic Party. It's a fascinating tap dance 156 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:23.360 that he's able to maintain. You go back to Gary 157 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:27.159 in nineteen seventy two, that made that historic convention of 158 00:11:27.240 --> 00:11:30.519 Black activist and you got you know, Mary Baraka. He's 159 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:34.039 still a black nationalist. You got leftists there, You've got 160 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:37.759 liberals there, You've got progressive there. You got black preachers 161 00:11:38.279 --> 00:11:41.600 often patriarchal of course when it comes to the women 162 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:45.080 and what have you, let alone homophobic and transphobic. But 163 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:50.720 he's able to maintain himself. And this is part of 164 00:11:50.759 --> 00:11:54.320 his genius. I mean, I consider the Jackson family family 165 00:11:54.360 --> 00:12:00.360 of nobility. There's no Jesse without you. Jackie Jackson get 166 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:03.960 her due when the history is written. Santita, as you mentioned, 167 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:09.279 she is a major fors Yes, she is ex and junior. 168 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:13.799 Thank god. He follows our show on tabs in eighty 169 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:18.120 radio talk that and and Jonathan doing his thing in 170 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:21.679 Congress as a member of Democratic Party two and Yusuf. 171 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.840 We said, we were just together with Yusuf with a 172 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:27.080 tribute to Jesse and Democratic National Convention now in August 173 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:30.519 in Chicago. So that that's a family of of of 174 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:35.279 of spiritual nobility. But the fact that Jesse wanted to 175 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:41.919 be true to his universalism, and you negate and undercut 176 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:46.200 universalism if you don't have the courage to stand with 177 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:51.360 Palestinians or any other people abandoned and view this taboo 178 00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:54.200 in American political discourse. 179 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:59.519 Yeah, amen to that, and this, this, this, there's a 180 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:02.720 theme here that you and I often visit in our 181 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:09.480 shows as we confront and wrestle with a contingency within 182 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:16.279 the Black American community. Understandably, so, who say why we 183 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:19.919 worried about them when we got our own troubles while 184 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:23.360 we worried about them when they don't worry about us? 185 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:27.360 When a lot of times in the fight for racial justice, 186 00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:31.639 social justice and against anti blackness, which is a specific 187 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:38.039 set an overwhelming hatred for Black people that leads to 188 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:41.600 hatred of other marginalized people, the black community does have 189 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:44.000 a right to ask the air of American community or 190 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:48.399 any other community where yet when it comes to our struggle, 191 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:53.240 because our struggle has liberated you in your struggle globally, 192 00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:57.360 and so you and I we talk about that often 193 00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:02.679 that when we look at some of our greatest social 194 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:08.320 justice racial justice that pure humanitarian type leaders, they all 195 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:13.960 at some point have either recognized the Palestinian struggles specifically, 196 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:19.240 and or the struggle of other marginalized and oppressed people 197 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:23.639 around the world. That has been our tradition. I think 198 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:28.080 that is part of the strength of our blackness. Sometimes 199 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:30.840 I understand strength can be a weakness, but it does 200 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:35.480 set us apart from many other groups because we have 201 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:39.879 been so deeply rooted in trying to get our own 202 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:43.440 liberation and freedom that it makes us a little more sensitive. 203 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:46.840 Not exclusively sensitive, but we tend to as a group 204 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:50.279 of people be more sensitive to other struggling people. Is 205 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:52.279 that a fair analysis? 206 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:56.120 Oh? I think I think it is. I think that 207 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.480 when you think of somebody like Martin King or Jesse 208 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:03.440 Jackson and who was willing to risk so much on 209 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:08.759 behalf of oppressed people outside of the Black community. See, 210 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:12.200 brother Martin got crucified in part because of his staying 211 00:15:12.279 --> 00:15:15.759 on Vietnam. He's in South Vietnamese. He didn't grow up 212 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:20.080 in no Vietnamese in at l a town. He gets 213 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:22.960 crucified in part because he's standing with poor white folk. 214 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:25.639 He didn't hang out with poor white folk growing up 215 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:30.159 in Atlanta, love with black people. But he's willing to 216 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:33.279 take a risk and even be crucified. Jesse Jackson had 217 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:36.320 the same challenge in regard to the Palestinian question. In 218 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:41.000 regard to going to Syria, Jesse ain't hanging out with 219 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:44.080 no Syrians growing up, and no Jim Crowton up kittting 220 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:48.679 not at all is hard enough dealing with the negroes 221 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:51.240 coming at him when he was growing up with sister 222 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:54.600 Hell and that brother knowing thinks, no, not at all. 223 00:15:54.840 --> 00:16:00.000 But he had a moral compass that embraced all oppressed 224 00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:03.879 people and he was willing to act on it. He 225 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:07.840 didn't just talk about it, which meant he was willing 226 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:13.080 to pay a cost and that need over and over 227 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:14.679 and over again. 228 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:24.039 So sacrifice is a theme in justice work. Everybody that 229 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:27.000 engages in it to some level is making some type 230 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:31.240 of sacrifice, and there is a consequence that we don't 231 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:36.559 often internalize verbally, I think just reminding people there is 232 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:40.240 a consequence for doing good. I mean, certainly we know 233 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:43.600 there's a consequence for doing bad. There's also a consequence 234 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:47.519 for doing good as well, both on the positive end 235 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:51.360 and the negative end. When you have those opposite forces 236 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:54.120 bumping up against you, trying to stop you, and in 237 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:57.879 some cases threatening your physical body, certainly threatening your livelihood. 238 00:16:58.519 --> 00:17:00.279 That has been the history of black people who will 239 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:03.440 fought for liberation in this country, that there's been a 240 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:07.480 backlash against those people, both people who are known and unknown. 241 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:10.119 I mean, when you have black people telling stories about 242 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:13.319 when they wanted to go and vote and being called 243 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:17.119 into the office of their bosses telling them one either 244 00:17:17.160 --> 00:17:19.640 who to vote for, or don't get caught up, don't 245 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:24.119 stir up, no trouble, or else. People are actually losing 246 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:27.480 their livelihoods. And we might not be able to talk 247 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:29.440 about each and every one of those individuals because there's 248 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:33.319 been so many of them. But the threat, the ever 249 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:38.319 present danger, Doctor West, that Black people face on a 250 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:43.680 regular basis, both on the micro and macro level, only 251 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:46.319 for the simple fact I want our audience to wrap 252 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:48.319 their minds around us. I want them to pick up 253 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:52.240 the phone, to call somebody, to text somebody, only for 254 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:54.960 the simple fact that we're fighting to be. 255 00:17:54.960 --> 00:18:02.640 Free, absolute and preserve our dignity, our honor. 256 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:05.960 Our creativity, all of that. 257 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:12.920 Absolute, our humanity. You're absolutely right, and Brother Jesse's always 258 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:16.920 understood that. But in the end, I think it is 259 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:21.319 the roots in the Black church and family that has 260 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:25.480 sustained Brother Jesse, that goes from his mother Helen all 261 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:29.680 the way to his wife Jackie and precious children. He's 262 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:32.880 had very close friends. He's had air ad friends like 263 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:37.119 brothers Agby, He's had vanilla friends by it like brother 264 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:43.200 jack Or. He's had a number of course black friends, 265 00:18:43.319 --> 00:18:46.319 Dwight McKee and the whole host of others that's been 266 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:50.799 by him. But also when we think about Jesse, you 267 00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:56.400 do have to think about his drive. He's had an 268 00:18:56.599 --> 00:19:01.720 ambition that separates him from King. You see, really hadn't 269 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:06.000 planned to be in you know, they asked him and 270 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:08.279 almost begged him to join. He said, if you think 271 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:12.799 I can be of service, fine, but I don't. That's 272 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:15.720 not my ambition. I just want to be a good pastor. 273 00:19:16.279 --> 00:19:20.480 Whereas Jesse was never really pastor the church. Now. Of course, 274 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:22.319 he went to North Carolina and t that's where he 275 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:25.039 met sister Jackie had gone to University of Illinois first 276 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:28.240 and wanted to be a black black quarterback, and they 277 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:32.240 didn't put up with that. He met Sam Proctor was 278 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:36.839 president of North Carolina. At graduated there, president there, and 279 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:39.400 then it goes to Chicago Theological Seminary, but it's never 280 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:42.400 really pastored the church like Martin, and he's had an 281 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:48.519 ambition to be a black leader. Sometimes that ambition can 282 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.920 get you in trouble and generate the whole kind of 283 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:55.680 controversy with other leaders, of course, but there is that 284 00:19:55.960 --> 00:20:02.720 sense of a drive and Jesse Chah, I am somebody. 285 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:07.359 He's talking to himself as much as talking to us. 286 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:12.640 He said I am somebody. As it was a power 287 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:16.599 and intensity, and you're thinking like, dang, I think this 288 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:20.720 is a personal story as well as a larger social 289 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.799 analysis going on. 290 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:29.240 Yeah, it's an anthem, you know. And it's something powerful 291 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:33.359 about that declaration. You know, in the Christian Bible with 292 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:38.440 Moses as God, as the story goes, who should I say? 293 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.160 Sent me? 294 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.119 You know? 295 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:45.599 And as the story is recorded, you guys said, you 296 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:51.079 tell him I am since you something. Yeah, it's something 297 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:57.599 spiritually powerful and EDI fine about saying I am. And 298 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:01.359 since we are creations of a higher mean, a higher 299 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:07.160 energy force that resonates with us too, I am somebody. 300 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:09.039 No matter what's in my bank account or not in 301 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:12.599 my bank account, I am somebody. I'm saying loud. I'm black, 302 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:16.160 and I'm proud I am somebody. I'm among the working class. 303 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:19.319 You know, just gonna put it on in there. We are, 304 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:21.720 we all are somebody. I am. But it's something that 305 00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:26.160 declar that declaration of I am is a powerful. 306 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:30.759 It's it's energy, it's a beautiful thing. It's a powerful thing. 307 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:34.599 But there's a sense in which you see Louis Armstrong, 308 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:38.759 John Coltrane, sarahvon They never really had to say I 309 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:42.279 am somebody. It was so presupposed to who they were. 310 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:47.599 Mm hmm doe what I mean they yeah, already know 311 00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:50.079 you somebody. You don't really have to declare it. 312 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.000 Hmmm. 313 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:59.960 No, that's not at all. But everybody knows he's somebody 314 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.440 that you don't have to say a word. 315 00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:04.720 Come on, God, come on. 316 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:06.160 On the state. She don't have to say a word, 317 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:08.480 but I am somebody. Just look at it and say, 318 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:11.079 oh good, look at that grace, look at that dignity. 319 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:13.240 You know she's somebody. She don't even need to say that. 320 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.640 You didn't. 321 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:19.640 No, definitely required, it is presupposed, it is assumed. Now. 322 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:23.640 Of course everybody ain't John Cole Dreane, everybody ain't needed 323 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:27.519 some home, right, all of us cousins. We need to 324 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:30.480 wrestle with I am somebody. 325 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:33.079 We definitely need it, and we had not the create 326 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:36.720 of the universe that we got to wrestle daily. Oh 327 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:40.079 my god, this is so good. Some of Brotherend Jackson's quotes. 328 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:42.920 Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him. 329 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.119 Up. 330 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:48.279 Amen. If you fall behind, run faster, never give up, 331 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:52.039 never surrender, and rise up against the odds. That is 332 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:55.960 the story of Jesse Lewis Jackson. At the end of 333 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:58.880 the day, we must go forward with hope and not 334 00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:03.559 backwards by fear and division, which that is happening right now, Doc, 335 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:06.559 in our time. This is a word for us today. 336 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:11.000 We cannot go backwards by fear and division. Oh, and 337 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:15.200 this is one of my favorites. Both tears and sweat 338 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:20.720 are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will 339 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:29.000 get you sympathy. Sweat will get you changed. Whoa oh man. 340 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:33.000 And both are necessary because sometimes you got to cry, 341 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:38.759 you know. But sweat, Oh, Reverend Jackson says, sweat will 342 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:42.000 get you change. Hold that thought, Doc, Hold that thought. 343 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:44.480 You are listening to Truth Time with doctor Cornell West 344 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:48.240 and Anina Turner today today, today, on our teaching on Thursday, 345 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:52.480 we are lifting up the life and continuing legacy of 346 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:57.000 the one and only Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, a civil 347 00:23:57.119 --> 00:24:01.160 rights leader, humanitarian, a man who's still making his imprint 348 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:05.519 on the world. When we come forward, will continue this teaching. 349 00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:08.759 Oh my goodness, if you are here, if you are 350 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:11.880 just not joining us on truth Time. You are definitely 351 00:24:11.880 --> 00:24:14.960 gonna want to go back to the beginning of this teach. 352 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:18.759 In Thursday episode, we are highlighting the life and the 353 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:23.839 continuous legacy of Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson, who was born 354 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:28.960 in nineteen forty one in South Carolina. He is still 355 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:32.480 doing the thagone things, still making his imprint on this world. 356 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:35.480 He's probably most best known for running for president in 357 00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:43.119 the eighties, also the Rainbow Coalition. His lyrical genius like 358 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:45.279 a rapper. You know he was a poet. He is 359 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:48.599 a poet and he does know it. I am somebody. 360 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.079 And the way that Reverend Jackson can string the words 361 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:56.319 together just on the willmen's it's just really in him, 362 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:59.759 is innately in him. And the fact that he has 363 00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:02.720 been able to this point to be able to use 364 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:06.079 his incredible gifts for good. Doc As we were coming forward, 365 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:09.960 we were just laying out some of the reverends quote. 366 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:13.160 Some are more known well known, others not as much. 367 00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:17.160 But the one we were that we come forward on 368 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:19.839 because I know you had a comment. Both tears and 369 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:24.240 sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears 370 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:27.039 will get you sympathy sweat will get you change. 371 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:35.920 That's part of his rhetorical genius. Are rhetorical genius full 372 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:41.559 of deep and profound insight, rhythmic and presentation, and almost 373 00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:48.759 kind of syncipation in the ways in which he's able 374 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:51.920 to connect sound with sense. 375 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.240 Mm hmm. 376 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:58.599 But that's Jesse, that's Jesse. I think one of the 377 00:25:58.680 --> 00:26:03.119 most powerful things ever. Jesse's spoke at the funeral Samuel 378 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:07.160 Proctor in Abysinnian Baptist Church under the leadership of Calvin 379 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:10.920 Butts at that time, Guard the Taylor was given the eulogy, 380 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:15.759 but Jesse got up there and with tears, talked about 381 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:19.519 how Samuel Proctor had allowed him to gain access to 382 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:23.559 enrollment and line of A and T without any kind 383 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:28.720 of application, exam or nothing, just based on an interview, saying, 384 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:31.720 I think you have a special kind of annointment. It 385 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:34.759 would be wonderful to have you in this school. And 386 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:38.400 he ends up student by the president, of course, deeply influenced, 387 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:43.279 meets the magnificent Jacket Brown, who becomes his wife, and 388 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:46.599 the rest is history. But it was that moment a 389 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:51.000 turning point in Jesse. Oh his language just soword and 390 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:55.400 he broke down any cried yeah, broke down any cried 391 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:57.440 right in the pool. 392 00:26:57.480 --> 00:27:03.000 Pen isn't it amazing? And how people can be a 393 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:08.400 blessing in your life because you only need one. That's true, 394 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:10.480 one person could change your entire life. 395 00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:15.279 One your whole, turn the corner, turn your upside down 396 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:18.920 it and you see he's a young brother, he's yeah twenty, 397 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:22.599 he put in two years University of Illinois. Oh yeah, 398 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:25.599 half or so, so you think it's about twenty nineteen, 399 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:31.960 twenty years old. And Samuel Proctor, that great figure from Norfolk, Virginia. 400 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:37.240 Yeah, yeah, the power one, Oh my god, never doubt 401 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:41.519