The struggle for freedom and equality of the African American people is for generations and from one era of black leadership to the next. Throughout history, African American leadership has had many prominent men and women who make their mark and make a difference to black Americans. And that tradition continues to this day with modern black leaders like Barack Obama, The Reverend Al Sharpton, and Jessie Jackson.
Jessie Jackson organized her efforts to continue the human rights struggle in one of the most famous organizations in history that came to be known as the Rainbow Coalition. The organization represents the dreams and goals of Pastor Jackson, to be sure. But it also represents the combined efforts of black Americans across the country in the modern era to keep Martin Luther King's dream alive and moving forward.
In fact, the Rainbow Coalition was the result of a series of efforts and movements that began with the relationship between Rev. Jackson and Dr. King. It was Martin Luther King who asked Jessie Jackson to lead an organization called Operation Breadbasket, a program aimed at boosting the economy of black communities across the country, especially in the city center. Operation Breadbasket eventually evolved into a powerful human rights organization known as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
As these organizations began to make a real difference in the lives of African Americans in the United States, another step was the development of Operation PUSH, which represented People United to Save Humanity. This influential organization has been the foundation for promoting human rights and social justice for the African American people over the past two decades.
In these various programs and successes, they have seen that the Rainbow Coalition was born to provide entrepreneurs with economic opportunity and to encourage Fortune 500 companies to employ fewer people and expand their involvement in growing and developing a black community for the benefit of all.
The naming of "The Rainbow Coalition" is the basis for Rev. Jackson's vision of a human rights organization. He did not see them as the only black people working for the development of black society. Instead, inspired by Martin Luther King's dream of equality and brotherhood of all races, the coalition would be a coalition of all races, white communities, and other equal rights groups for equal opportunity for all American citizens.
The crucial stand that the Rainbow Coalition brought to black and American society was the view that civil rights were not just a matter for black people. It emphasized that the entire United States could not be left to the poorest half of the population and lacked the benefits of a good education and job opportunities. The result is that the pride of black people created by important people in black history like Mohammed Ali, Spike Lee and other powerful elements like Malcolm X and the Black Panthers can now be used to promote real equality in society. In doing so, Jackson and other black leaders of the time taught that African American society not only became but must emphasize the full and complete blackness of America in its American cultural context.
Finally, the Rainbow Coalition stressed that civil rights are not just political issues. Emphasis is placed on all aspects of American life, including economic equality, social opportunities, and even equal representation of the media and entertainment. In order to truly be represented as an integral part of American culture, black Americans must have equal opportunities everywhere.
This is a message of the times that Pastor Jackson and the rainbow federation have brought and are not bringing to the national stage. And it is an important message that has touched the past human rights campaigns in the country and brings the latest information about the new century.
You must be logged in to post a comment.