Civil rights leader Jesse L. Jackson died at the age of 84, his son announced Tuesday morning. Jackson was the leader and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH coalition, worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, and dedicated his life to advocating for change while reminding people that “I am somebody.”
Jackson’s life and career intersected with Michigan State University; he visited the campus five times, repeatedly emphasizing the power of unity and change.
Jackson first visited MSU on Feb. 9, 1970, as a top officer in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, speaking at a press conference about the four main targets of the civil rights group: hunger, health, political power, and Black economic power.
His next visit to the campus wouldn’t happen until March 12, 1988, when he addressed graduates at the Winter Commencement ceremony. Jackson also received an honorary Doctor of Humanities from then-MSU President John A. DiBiaggio.
“And with his strong anti-drug message and resounding cry, 'I am somebody,’ he has inspired thousands of school children across this country,” DiBiaggio said during the ceremony.
During this time, Jackson was a presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. He congratulated graduates while also challenging them to tackle the issues of their time.
“I come not merely to congratulate you but to challenge you,” Jackson said. “In the world in which we live, we are the custodians of the great superpower, the United States of America.”
Jackson’s next visit was in 1992, during a two-day visit to Lansing to speak about hunger, poverty, unemployment, and homelessness in Michigan. Speaking at the MSU Union, he spoke about the importance of voting and memories of his friend and colleague Martin Luther King Jr.
His next visit was on Sept. 15, 2002, where he spoke to a crowd of 2,000 people at the Breslin Center shortly after the one-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Joined by students and religious leaders, Jackson spoke about the importance of peace and finding alternatives to violence.
“Remove the fears and embrace hope,” Jackson said during his remarks. “We stand to gain when the walls come down and bridges are built.”
