In 1962, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) launched Operation Breadbasket in Atlanta, Georgia. Four years later, in 1966, a young, enthusiastic, smart, and militant Jesse Lewis Jackson began to lead the Operation Breadbasket program in Chicago. In 1971, he launched his own economic empowerment organization called Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity later changed to People United to Serve Humanity).
In 1984, Reverend Jesse Jackson. ran as a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for president of the United States. He ran a second time in 1988. This was a notable occurrence in American history and a significant milestone in African American political representation. Although Reverend Jackson ultimately did not secure the Democratic nomination, his campaign left a lasting impact on American politics. He helped raise awareness of critical issues affecting minority communities and inspired a new generation of activists and leaders. His presidential run marked an important milestone in the pursuit of equal representation for all Americans. His campaign, with the slogan “Our Time Has Come,” focused on civil rights, social justice, and economic equality.
A great deal of Reverend Jackson’s support came from Black voters; however, Black Americans were not the only individuals who supported Reverend Jackson’s candidacy. Many of those who supported him were much more diverse than one would have expected in a country so divided by race. For instance, with the support of then Mayor Bernie Sanders, Reverend Jackson won the majority-white state of Vermont. His supporters were comprised of divergent genders, races, and nationalities, including Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, and many others. Much like a rainbow.
In 1984, following his first presidential campaign, Reverend Jackson launched the National Rainbow Coalition, which sought equal rights for all Americans. A central thrust of the Coalition was the demand for social programs, voting rights, and affirmative action for minority groups left out by “Reaganomics.” Ronald Reagan had introduced policies for reducing domestic spending by the government. Those policies were strongly opposed by the National Rain bow Coalition. In addition, Reagan’s policies opposed inner cities, where there were large Black populations, and encouraged economic investment outside of inner cities.
The result of this racist move was high unemployment among minority communities and many social problems.
In 1996, the National Rainbow Coalition and Operation PUSH merged to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, with international headquarters in Chicago. The mission of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition was to protect, defend, and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields, and to promote peace and justice around the world.
Today, the Coalition continues to protect and promote the civil rights of African Americans, while also addressing social and economic issues affecting marginalized communities.
Under Reverend Jackson’s leadership, the Coalition focuses on a range of issues, including voting rights, economic justice, education, affordable housing, and healthcare access. The organization advocates for policies that promote equality, fairness, and social justice related to civil rights and economic empowerment, and engages in public policy advocacy, corporate accountability campaigns, and other issues that will bring about positive change.
The Coalition continues to bring attention to the problems and issues facing these marginalized communities through local and national media and through sharing and discussinginformation. Their aim is not only to gain an understanding of the causes, but also to work with professionals developing resolutions and designing solutions. The platform for achieving an understanding of the causes, develooping resolutions and designing solutions is the Annual PUSH Convention. Each year in July leaders from Chicagoas well as national and world-wide have come to Chicago for three days of workshops and panels, focusing on wealth building, health inequities, business, leadership, and more.
This highly anticipated convention, organized under Reverend Jackson’s leadership is considered the largest of its kind in the nation. It provides the only major platform for activists, community leaders, policymakers, and individuals from various backgrounds to come together and address issues and solutions that affect and will enhance the lives of African Americans.
This year, the Rainbow PUSH International Coalition will host its Annual Convention with the theme, “The Perilous Journey from Freedom to Equality.”
For ticket information contact: 773-FREEDOM (773-3446) or visit: www.rainbowpushcoalition.org
