Keeping Hope Alive: A Vision of a Better America
For the first time since the Great Depression, most Americans do not believe that their children will be better off than they are. Jesse Jackson thinks the country’s slide can be halted and reversed. In this inspiring presentation, he offers a program of new priorities that he contends will realize greater economic and social justice.
Recorded at the Kennedy School at Harvard.
Speaker
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson was a giant of the civil rights movement, an icon of the struggle for justice and equality. He worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. An ordained minister his charismatic speaking style enthralled audiences. He was twice a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. He was the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He proudly proclaimed, “My constituency is the desperate, the damned, the disrespected and the despised.” In his long life of activism, he kept hope alive. Reverend Jackson passed away on February 17, 2026 at the age of 84.
Ellen Kane –
To me this speech by Jesse Jackson given in 1992 is a masterpiece of intelligent reasoning, weaving justice and humor into a bold plan for action. Sadly, our nation missed a crucial opportunity to have this articulate, intelligent and justice-loving leader as our president. Imagine how different our nation would be today had we elected Jessie Jackson to the office of the presidency back in the 1980s. This speech of his should be taught and listened to today by the youth of our nation, to inspire the dream of a better world for all. RIP Jessie Jackson.