Reverend Jesse Jackson, the civil rights icon, former US Presidential hopeful and Honorary Fellow of Homerton College, has passed on, aged 84.
Homerton Principal, Lord Simon Woolley, paid tribute to his friend and mentor, saying: "There are moments when words are hard to find - when you try to capture both the loss of a dear friend and the magnitude of a life that shaped history. That man is Homerton College’s Honorary Fellow, the global civil rights icon, Reverend Jesse Jackson. For many, he was a figure seen only on our screens: the trusted lieutenant of another giant, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.; the two-time presidential candidate with the unmistakable afro; the extraordinary call-and-response orator whose voice seemed to come from another planet, “Repeat after me: Keep hope alive,” and “I am somebody.”
Rev'd Jackson, who was sworn-in in December 2021, frequently drew the analogy between sports and politics / society, reminding his audiences that when the playing field is level, and the rules are clear, talent can flourish unencumbered by racism and prejudice.
Lord Woolley added: "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.
That relationship culminated in his final visit to the UK, when I had the privilege of bestowing upon him a Fellowship at Homerton College. It was a proud moment for both mentor and mentee, and a lasting legacy for the College."
"God bless you; brother, friend, and global icon. Reverend Jesse Jackson."
