by Johnesha Harris —
The students of Booker T. Washington High School chanted “I am somebody” along with Jesse Jackson Monday afternoon in their school’s auditorium. The chant symbolized a promise that he wanted students to make to themselves to graduate and remain involved in their community.
The civil rights leader and founder of Rainbow PUSH Coalition stopped at the school to mainly talk to students about the importance of education and voting. He also spoke at LeMoyne-Owen College that morning about the same goals.
“These students have a path made for them,” Jackson said. “Dr. Martin Luther King (Jr.) marched and died for the right to vote, among other things. Malcolm X stressed the importance of all people having a voice.”
After a few more words and the chant, Jackson handed out voter registration forms. Memphis City Councilwoman Jamita Swearengen took possession of the forms with the commitment to have them filed at the Shelby County Election Commission.
Jackson pointed out to the Booker T. Washington students that Dr. King graduated from a high school of the same name in Atlanta at the age of 15. Jamiah Irby, a 17-year-old senior, was among those who picked up on the value of the message.
“This is a big deal for all of us,” Irby said after filling out her voter registration form. “It felt good to feel chosen and finally have a say in something that goes on.”
In Memphis over the weekend, Jackson made several stops, weighing in on the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville, Va. tragedy, next steps for dealing with racism in the U.S. and the ongoing protests by NFL players.
