The Reverend Jesse Jackson was no stranger to Erie. On visits here he packed Second Baptist Church with his powerful messages of hope.
Urban Erie Development Corporation Director Gary Horton who met Jackson many times, in Erie and at national political conventions, even using a photo with him on his own campaign poster for a school board seat, said Jackson’s speech was a natural gift. “Jesse had it naturally, the themes the rhythm, down with dope up with hope, stop the violence save the children.”
It was speech that stirred Erie and the world to action. “There was spirit and life in his walk, there was spirit and life in his talk,” Horton said.
Tyrone Clark, tapped to direct Jackson’s regional campaign for President in 1988, remembers his humility. “He didn’t bring his austerity, he didn’t bring his intellect to the stage he brought a commonality, and that’s what I remember most about him,” Clark said.
And he remembers how when he campaigned in Erie, from the airport to Perry Square, he ran straight for the people. “Ran down the aisle of the plan, ran down the stairs, he didn’t step down the stairs, he saw the crowd of people behind the ropes and went right to the rope line, we were already 20 minutes behind schedule and he stayed in that line until he shook almost everybody’s hand,” Clark added.
Denise Horton first met the Rev. Jackson when he spoke at her commencement at what was then Cheney State College. He talked with Denise and other students after the speech about their career plans, telling them success begins with the right attitude, that leads to aptitude, and leads to altitude.
Denise posed for a more recent photo with Jesse Jackson when he and his son campaigned for Kamala Harris in her presidential bid. Denise said he was no longer speaking except with his eyes, but he squeezed her hand, and she said he seemed happy to be here. She says it’s his “I am somebody” mantra that will resonate through the generations. “Your station in life, where you’re born, you know what neighborhood you come from that doesn’t determine who you can become…that you are somebody,” she said.