The late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who passed away last week at the age of 84, had many Cleveland connections and was a frequent visitor to our city. He was a longtime friend of the Rev. Otis Moss Jr., Pastor Emeritus of the Olivet Baptist Church. Both men developed their ministries under the tutelage of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The young Jesse Jackson, who was serving as a driver for Dr. King at the time, was standing next to Dr. King on the balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee, when he was assassinated in 1968.
In addition, Rev. Jackson was closely aligned with the Rev. E. T. Caviness, of the Greater Abyssinia Church. When I spoke with Rev. Caviness today, he tearfully reflected that Rev. Jackson “… was a man for the ages whose life was dedicated to the welfare and wellbeing of the least of our brothers and our sisters. His heart bore no ill will to anyone, and his life’s commitment was for the dignity of all human mankind. His Rainbow Coalition looked beyond the color of one’s skin and embraced the character of one’s heart and soul.” Rev. Caviness has been the pastor of the Historic Great Abyssinia Baptist Church for 65 years. He is also the President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference — Cleveland Chapter and on the board chair of the National Action Network — Greater Cleveland Chapter. Rev. Jackson was a frequent guest in his pulpit.
Rev. Jackson was also close friends with the late publisher and banker, Attorney John H. Bustamonte, who passed away in 2010. Bustamante was Jackson’s personal lawyer and was instrumental in bringing the National Push Convention to Cleveland in 1979.
When Jackson ran for President in 1984, he chose insurance agent and local politico, Arnold Pinkney, to be his national campaign manager. Pinkney had served as a deputy director for Hubert H. Humphrey’s 1972 presidential campaign.
I got to know Rev. Jackson while volunteering with Operation Push and through my friendship with John Bustamonte. In the early 1980s I attended a convention for female judges in Washington DC. During the convention, I happened to be in the lobby of the hotel when Rev. Jackson and John Bustamonte came through. They greeted me with hugs and handshakes and spent some time in conversation. The other judges were totally impressed that I knew Rev. Jackson. I felt like a superstar!
Jackson’s last visit to Cleveland was in 2022 when he met with community leaders regarding the massive construction projects undertaken by Sherwin-Williams in downtown Cleveland and Brecksville. He voiced the concerns of many in the community about the lack of minority contractors involved in the project. Even though his health was declining, he continued to speak up for a cause that he believed in.
Earlier this year, CNN anchor Abby Philllips published a new book on the life and times of Rev. Jackson: A Dream Deferred – Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power (Flatiron Books: New York 2026). I ordered a copy as soon as I heard about it. The theme of the book is consistent with Jackson’s legacy — that he opened the political door and laid the groundwork for the election of Barack Obama.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson was and is an icon of the Civil Rights Movement. He not only opened the door for Barack Obama, but for virtually every Black politician elected in late 20th and 21’st century. His footprint is writ large in not only African-American history but the history of our nation. And it is also writ large in the history of Cleveland, where he helped register voters and made African-American voters politically conscious. Young politicians like Mayor Justin Bibb may not realize it, but they stand on the shoulders of Rev. Jesse Jackson. His legacy will not soon be forgotten, and Cleveland is a better place because of him.
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she is a former member of the Board of the Ohio History Connection, and past president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table, and is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.
4 Responses to “Clevelanders Mourn Rev. Jesse Jackson by C. Ellen Connally”
joanne Rassie
Ellen you ARE a superstar. Enjoyed the article.
Mel Maurer
Thanks Ellen. He did a lot of good.
Sandra Long
Great remembrance of Jesse Jackson and the impact he had on Black Americans and our country.
Tom Simiele
Beautiful and informative article. I had no idea that you were so close to Jesse. He was a great man who will be missed by those who truely care for all the people of the United States.