Derrick Foward Reflects on the Legacy and Leadership of Rev. Jesse Jackson

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder of Rainbow PUSH Coalition

Dayton NAACP President Derrick Foward recently reflected on the national and local impact of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the modern era.

Rev. Jackson, founder of Rainbow PUSH Coalition and two-time presidential candidate, has long been recognized for expanding the civil rights movement into economic justice, voting rights, and corporate accountability. His leadership helped normalize the idea of Black presidential candidacies long before they became politically viable.

Foward emphasized that Jackson’s work laid the foundation for broader political representation, opening doors that many leaders walk through today. He noted that Jackson’s presidential campaigns were not symbolic gestures but strategic efforts to demand inclusion at the highest levels of American politics.

“Rev. Jackson changed what was possible,” Foward shared. “He challenged systems, built coalitions, and forced conversations around equity that continue today.”

Beyond national politics, Foward highlighted Jackson’s ability to mobilize communities at the grassroots level. From economic boycotts to voter registration drives, Jackson’s organizing strategy focused on empowering everyday people.

Foward encouraged the Dayton community to study leaders like Jackson—not just to honor them—but to understand the strategy, discipline, and courage required to sustain long-term change.

As civil rights conversations evolve in 2026, Foward noted that the lessons from Jackson’s leadership remain relevant: persistence, coalition-building, economic leverage, and civic engagement.

“History isn’t something we just celebrate,” Foward added. “It’s something we build on.”