By: E. Faye Williams
The Philadelphia Tribune
https://www.phillytrib.com/
As we mourn the heavenly departure of Rev. Jesse Jackson, so many of us have reason to celebrate him. As President of The Black Educators in Los Angeles years ago, I met Jesse Jackson. Both of us were young at that time, and I was among his greatest admirers. My friends and I first met him at our regular Saturday meetings, where representatives from many Black organizations were in attendance. Few national leaders missed our meetings since before coming to Los Angeles, they knew we were a serious group working for civil and human rights, as they were from back East and down South. We were blessed to have the leader of Operation Breadbasket, Operation Push, US and ultimately the Rainbow Coalition as friends.
After moving to Atlanta, going overseas and to Michigan, I moved to Washington, D.C., to attend Howard University School of Law. When Rev. Jackson began his run for president of the United States, I was ready to spend my last dime supporting his campaign — and every time his campaign requested a donation, I sent it. Ultimately, a close friend told me, “You don’t have to send money every time a candidate asks.” I was still in law school, but I thought his campaign depended on my little donations! When he was speaking anywhere, I tried to be in the crowd! He was speaking everywhere!
E. Faye Williams is a civil and human rights activist, attorney, entrepreneur, former president and CEO of the National Congress of Black Women and founder/president of the Dick Gregory Society. She is also host of WPFW-FM’s “Wake Up and Stay Woke!”
