Remembering Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.: A Legacy of Advocacy and Inspiration
As students hustled to their morning classes at North Carolina A&T State University, the memory of a prominent alumnus, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., loomed large. Known as a civil rights icon, Jackson’s presidential campaigns are often credited with paving the way for the nation’s first Black president. His contributions to both civil rights and his alma mater have left an indelible mark.
Three students from the university took a moment to reflect on Jackson’s profound impact. Jasiyah Msomi remarked, “Jesse Jackson, he paved the way for a lot of us students, him being alumni here, you know. He really set the tone for us to be advocating for something that’s great, something that’s bigger than just, you know, a degree, a salary.”
Another student, Madison Pinckney, highlighted the importance of Jackson’s role during the civil rights era, stating, “Just how important he was in the civil rights era, and how he used his voice. You know, that’s one of the things that is taught upon Aggies, is to use your voice and speak out for our people.”
Josephine Katta expressed hope that Jackson knew the extent of his legacy, saying, “I just hope that he knows that even in his death, that he left legacy, and that even today, the A&T that we do have, he’s a part of that. He helped build that. So, yeah, honestly, it is sad, but it’s also kind of happy that he’s able to be laid to rest and lived a peaceful life knowing that he actually did something important in this country.”
