POETS, PROPHETS, AND PREACHERS
Rev. Jesse Jackson & Robby Romero, Standing Rock 2016 | Photograph: April Mae Whitecrow
February 26, 2026 | Robby Romero
Some say Jesse was a civil rights activist who paved the way for the first Black president of the United States. Some say he was a gifted negotiator who liberated hostages worldwide. Some perceive him as a controversial transformative figure. I say Jesse was a natural man, a champion of movements, and a preacher too. He was somebody!
Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. (1941-2026) began his professional journey as a student, and continued on this path with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Keeping hope alive, he founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC), an international human and civil rights organization. Throughout his career, he has been a vocal advocate for peace and justice, championing people of color and the Indigenous cause.
I was within the sacred territory of Očhéthi Šakówin, when I met Jesse Jackson. Dennis Banks and I were at the National Congress of American Indians convention. Jesse was scheduled to address the congress on his second presidential campaign. It was 1988. I was there to perform with Mitch Walking Elk and assist Dennis Banks with AIM ’s business at hand. Jackson’s demeanor was calm, kind, and gracious. He possessed an extraordinary presence and a profound comprehension of U.S. political affairs and policies affecting Native Peoples. His handshake exuded a powerful yet soft and tender energy. I experienced this type of handshake with Dennis Banks and Nelson Mandela. My grandfather also had that same handshake, the kind that made me feel safe and assured...everything would be alright.
Later that year, on the West Coast, Dennis asked that I, on behalf of AIM, accompany Jesse on a few more of his campaign stops during his historic presidential run. Over the years, I would encounter Jesse in various places, such as Hogs On The Hill in Washington, D.C., a soulful BBQ favorite of the movement. He would exclaim, “Red Thunder,” and I would respond, “Ahô Jackson!” On a cold, blustery day at our 1851 Treaty camp at Standing Rock, Jesse came to lend his support and advocate on behalf of the people. Following his address to water protectors and allies gathered on the frontlines of the youth-led non-violent resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), he asked how he could provide meaningful assistance. I suggested that he contact President Obama and encourage him to halt the pipeline’s construction before it reached the sacred waters of the Missouri River. Surrounded by roadblocks, local and federal law enforcement agencies, and DAPL paramilitary security forces, he executed this request. Indeed, President Obama halted the pipeline. "The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and all of Indian Country will be forever grateful to the Obama Administration for this historic decision," said Chairman Dave Archambault II. However, the celebration was brief. Upon leaving office, Obama’s decision was reversed.
Jesse and I saw each other again in the Windy City, Chicago. I was performing at a Sacred Music concert, where Jessie was being honored for a lifetime of service and devotion. The cherished moments spent backstage with Jessie, his daughter, and family will forever remain etched in my memory.
On the seventeenth day of February 2026, the charismatic, faithful, and influential leader walked on. My deepest condolences extend to the family, friends, and associates of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. We’ll meet again in the spirit world, my brother. Until then, may you rest in peace and power, Ahô Jackson!