I saw Reverend Jesse Jackson...
and I am somebody ~by divadavoo on 28. Jun, 2009 | No Comments
Performer: Reverend Jesse Jackson Venue: Portland State University Year: 1996 City: Portland State: OR Country: USA
I love Jesse Jackson ~ he is an amazing speaker and an inspiration to me. He has a way of bringing his history into the room, keep you focused on the here and now and motivate you to do more in the future. ”I am somebody” he had the crowd saying. ”I am somebody”. In America, some times we need to be reminded that we are this nation.
I lived in Portland, going to graduate school for Social Work, and always a political person ~ I got very excited to see Mr. Jackson speak at my school.
It was Jesse Jackson motivating people to vote in the 1996 election. For me personally, Bill Clinton was the obvious choice over Bob Dole, but for Jesse Jackson it was about more than just voting. It was about participating, about being heard, about change and about Being Somebody.
That day in 1996 I was able to shake hands with Jesse Jackson and get a hug! I have seen him speak since and I have never been disappointed! I AM SOMEBODY!
Here is the original poem by Jesse Jackson.
Jesse Jackson in 1983 ~ from Wikipedia
I Am
Somebody
I Am
Somebody
I May Be Poor
But I Am
Somebody
I May Be Young
But I Am
Somebody
I May Be On Welfare
But I Am
Somebody
I May Be Small
But I Am
Somebody
I May Make A Mistake
But I Am
Somebody
My Clothes Are Different
My Face Is Different
My Hair Is Different
But I Am
Somebody
I Am Black
Brown
White
I Speak A Different Language
But I Must Be Respected
Protected
Never Rejected
I Am
God’s Child
I Am
Somebody
By Jesse Jackson
