July 17th 2023.
The incomparable Rev. Jesse Jackson has taken a momentous step in the world of social justice and human rights. On Friday, July 15, 2023, he officially announced his retirement and his successor, Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, social justice pastor and senior pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas.
For more than fifty years, Rev. Jackson has worked to promote and amplify employment opportunities for Black communities across the United States. In 1971, he established Operation PUSH and in 1984, he launched the National Rainbow Coalition with the goal of protecting, defending, and gaining equal rights for all Americans. In 1996, these two organizations merged to become the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
When Rev. Jackson officially announced his retirement, Dr. Haynes expressed his admiration for the civil rights leader’s work. “Rev. Jesse Jackson has made the world a better place, breaking down barriers, opening previously locked doors of opportunity, fighting for justice, and refusing to take “no” for an answer on behalf of those who have no voice,” said Haynes.
The leadership transition took place on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s national convention at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn. Vice President Kamala Harris was in attendance and spoke at the event, praising Haynes for his lifelong commitment to justice and human rights.
Well-known for advocacy of marginalized communities, Haynes has rightfully earned the title of “the drum major for justice”. He has been awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award in Community Service in 2022 and was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in 2016.
Haynes continues to create positive and lasting change in the community with the Friendship-West Baptist Church. He leads protests and demonstrations, serves as a voting super center, and provides food to those in need. He also teaches college courses and workshops at Paul Quinn College, Texas Christian University, McCormick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and other institutions of higher learning.
When asked about his role as the new President and CEO of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Haynes said, “Sadly, justice and human rights are under attack in the nation and around the world. The work of Rainbow PUSH is as necessary as ever and I am committed to standing on the shoulders of Rev. Jackson and continuing the fight for freedom, peace, equity, justice, and human rights.”
It is undeniable that Rev. Jesse Jackson has left a lasting legacy in the world of social justice and human rights. His vision for a brighter future will live on in the work of Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
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