UK Politicians Honor Jesse Jackson as Civil Rights Icon
Diane Abbott has led heartfelt tributes from across the United Kingdom following the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson, the legendary African American civil rights leader who passed away at the age of 84. Abbott described Jackson as "a direct connection to the great era of civil rights," emphasizing his profound influence on both sides of the Atlantic.
A Lifelong Advocate for Racial Justice
Reverend Jackson's activism extended far beyond the United States, with decades of campaigning in the UK against institutional racism, economic disparities, health inequalities, and injustices within the criminal justice system. His message remains critically relevant today, as noted by Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, who warned of a troubling resurgence of racism that many had hoped was consigned to history.
Ribeiro-Addy highlighted Jackson's pan-African perspective, stating, "He stood on a tradition that we saw from the likes of Marcus Garvey and Kwame Nkrumah, that international solidarity was key to the liberation of peoples of African descent." This commitment to global unity was vividly demonstrated during Jackson's 2007 "Equanomics" tour, which visited nine UK cities including Manchester, Birmingham, and London.
Manchester Visit and Economic Justice
Jackson's visit to Manchester's Church of God of Prophecy in Moss Side commemorated the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, an industry that had historically fueled the city's wealth while inflicting deep scars on its Black residents. Throughout his tour, Jackson consistently framed economic, racial, and social justice as inseparable issues, drawing powerful connections between African descendant communities in the UK and America through their shared experiences as Black minorities in Western societies.
In Bristol, Jackson delivered a stirring address that resonated deeply with Black British audiences: "We as Africans are creditors, not debtors. Our energies fuelled the Industrial Revolution. We fought and died in World War One and World War Two. In Bristol, you are the creditors. You are owed. Have a new sense of yourselves." These words foreshadowed conversations about Black contributions to national history that would later gain mainstream attention in the UK following the death of George Floyd in the United States.
Support During Critical Moments
Throughout his life, Jackson consistently demonstrated solidarity with Black British communities during times of crisis, traveling from the US to stand alongside them after uprisings, killings, and systemic injustices. He also celebrated landmark achievements, meeting Diane Abbott when she became Britain's first Black woman MP. Abbott fondly remembers Jackson as "very smart, warm and hugely charismatic."
Two years before Abbott's historic election, Jackson joined her, Paul Boateng, Bernie Grant, and Ken Livingstone at a massive 120,000-person protest in Trafalgar Square, urging Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to withdraw UK support for apartheid in South Africa and demand Nelson Mandela's freedom.
Championing Black History and Political Participation
Jackson was a tireless advocate against the marginalization of Black history. He attended early events organized by pan-African activist Akyaaba Addai-Sebo that would eventually blossom into UK Black History Month, sharing platforms with influential figures including Angela Davis, Winnie Mandela, and musical legends like Ray Charles and Hugh Masekela.
Having grown up in the segregated American South and campaigned alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson remained a lifelong champion of democratic participation. In 2013, he traveled to the UK to support Operation Black Vote, an organization he had backed for years. Speaking to the BBC, Jackson reflected on the broader impact of civil rights victories: "When we got the right to vote in 1965, it was not just Blacks as was commonly thought; white women couldn't serve on juries, 18-year-olds couldn't vote... we had to learn to move from surviving separately to living together."
Enduring Legacy and Personal Connections
Operation Black Vote founder Lord Simon Woolley shared a deeply personal tribute, recalling Jackson as both a public figure and a mentor: "I was fortunate enough to know him not only as a public figure, but as a mentor and collaborator. Together, we worked to register tens of thousands of Black and Brown voters here in the UK. What began as inspiration grew into a friendship that lasted nearly 30 years."
Ribeiro-Addy remembered her own nervous excitement when meeting Jackson over fifteen years ago in Nottingham, where she had to be gently reminded to conclude her speech because she "really wanted to impress" the icon. She later worked with Diane Abbott and encountered Jackson multiple times during UK election campaigns, noting how he consistently emphasized the importance of political engagement.
"He had the inspirational audacity to run for president," Ribeiro-Addy reflected. "He showed us that while we are fewer in number in the UK, we could achieve something – and we did in terms of political representation, which he fought for in the UK by coming over and empowering people and showing them that if they could do it there, we could do it here. We saw those first four Black MPs being elected in 1987 – and I now sit as a member of parliament in the most diverse parliament this country's ever seen."
Jackson's legacy continues to inspire generations of activists and politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, reminding us that the struggle for racial equality and justice remains an ongoing, interconnected global endeavor.
