PARIS: WE'RE REMEMBERING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF ACTIVIST AND POLITICIAN JESSE JACKSON WHAT DIED AT 4.

HIS FAMILY SAID HE DIED PEACEFULLY TUESDAY AT HIS HOLD IN CHICAGO AFTER LIVING FOR YEARS WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND PROGRESS NEUROPALSY.

HE WAS MORE THAN A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER.

HE WAS A MOVEMENT IN MOTION.

A PROTEGE OF DR.

MARTIN KING JR JR., HE ACT VASED THROUGH THE 1960'S THROUGH THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED.

BORN IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA AND RAISED UNDER JIM CROATIAN HE GREW INTO A YOUNG ACTIVIST STUDENTS WHO FOUGHT INEQUALITY LONG BEFORE THE CAMERAS FOUND HIM.

HE WOULD GO ON TO FOUND OPERATION PUSH AND THE NATIONAL RAINBOW COALITION, ENGINES FOR BLACK POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC POWER AND LATER MERGED INTO THE RAINBOW PUSH COALITION WE KNOW TODAY AND OF COURSE, MANY REMEMBER WHEN HE TOOK TO THE NATIONAL STAGE TWICE, RUNNING HISTORIC CAMPAIGNS FOR PRESIDENT IN 1984 AND 1988.

MILLIONS OF VOTERS RALLIED BEHIND HIM, MANY VOTING FOR THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE JESSE JACKSON TOLD THEM THEY MATTERED, THAT THEY WERE SOMEBODY.

HIS VOICE, THAT BOOMING SOARING ORATORY CARRIED HOME INTO PLACE THAT IS FELT FORGOTTEN AND THE TRADES ARE ALREADY POURING IN, FROM FELLOW ACTIVISTS AND GLOBAL LEADERS TO THOSE HE MEANTOVERRED, PEOPLE LIKE REVEREND AL SHARPTON.

REVEREND JACKSON LEAVES BEHIND HIS WIFE JACKLIN AND SIX CHILDREN AS WELL AS A LEGACY BRAIDED INTO THE D.N.A.

OF THE MODERN CIVIL RIGHTS STRUGGLE.

VOTING RIGHTS, RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, GLOBAL DIPLOMACY, HIS FINGERPRINTS ARE EVERYWHERE.

AS WE SAY ON ROOTED, WE HONOR THE AN SAYS TORREYES BY CARRYING THE WORK FORWARD AND REVEREND JESSE JACKSON HAS JOINED THEM TODAY.

WE HONOR HIM TONIGHT WITH A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE, REMEMBERING HIS LASTING LEGACY THROUGH OUR ARCHIVES.

MAY WE KEEP HOPE ALIVE AND MAY HE REST IN POWER.

>> GOOD EVENING, I'M DARREN AND WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

TONIGHT WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST, THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON.

HOW YOU DOING REVEREND?

>> GOOD, GOOD TO WE WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> OUR ALWAYS ON SUCH A FAST, FAST PACE.

ARE YOU EVER GOING TO SLOW DOWN?

>> I HOPE NOT.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.

LIFE IS SO FULL OF CHALLENGES, PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

I WAKE UP AT MAYBE 5:00 EVERY MORNING, HAVE MY QUIET PRAYER AND THEN I REFLECT ON YESTERDAY AND BEGIN TO CHART MY COURSE FOR THAT DAY AND BEGIN TO CALL MEMBERS OF MY STAFF, TO LOOK AT THE DIRECTION OF OUR ORGANIZATION, LOOK AT THE CURRENT EVENTS THAT MAY BE FACING US THAT DAY.

IT MAY BE A CRISIS IN THE CONGO, IT MAY BE THE SHOOTING IN NEW YORK.

IT MAY BE -- BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF THAT DAY BUT AT THE SAME TIME KEEP SOME REAL FOCUS ON PUBLIC POLICY AND ETHICS.

EVERY DAY IS A REAL FULL DAY FOR ME AND FOR THE MOST PART EXCITING AND AROUND 9:00 OR 10:00, I'M VERY TIRED, TIME TO GO TO SLEEP.

>> REVEREND, DOES YOUR FAMILY GET TIRED BECAUSE YOU ARE BASICALLY EVERYWHERE.

HOW DOES THE FAMILY TAKE IT?

>> MY FAMILY WAS BORN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS STRUGGLE AND CRISIS AND JACKIE AND I MET IN NORTH CAROLINA N.T.

WE WERE BOTH INVOLVED IN THE STRUGGLE.

I WAS A SOPHOMORE AND SHE WAS A FRESHMAN AND SHE WAS WRITING A FRESHMAN PAPER ON THE INDIA-CHINA BORDER CONFLICT.

THAT WAS BEYOND ME -- YOU KNOW, I WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT.

I DIDN'T.

THAT WAS BEYOND MY LIMITS.

SHE WAS INTO THAT THEN IN THE SENSE OF THE GLOBAL.

JACKIE MET WITH ARAFAT AND THE P.L.O.

FIRST AND SHE WENT TO RUSSIA.

SHE MET WITH THE NICARAGUANS AND THE SANDINISTAS SO SHE HAS A SENSE OF THE WORLD VIEW.

BOTH OF US WERE MARCHING IN NORTH CAROLINA TO END RACIAL SEGREGATION AS A MATTER OF LAW.

THE LAWS OF APARTHEID IN THIS COUNTRY.

IN THAT SITUATION, WE SAW DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

AND JIM FARMER AND FLOYD MCKISSIC SO OUR CHILDREN ARE BRED IN THAT SENSE OF STRUGGLE AND I HOPE WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

>> DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT WHAT CHARGES BEING THE SON OF DAUGHTER OR JESSE JACKSON, A CHILD OF YOURS MIGHT FACE WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL?

YOUR FATHER IS JESSE JACKSON.

DO THEY TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT?

>> YES, BUT THEN WE'RE JUST OUR ENVIRONMENT SOMEWHAT.

FOR EXAMPLE, FOR MANY YEARS, I REMEMBER ONE TIME SENTE WAS GOING TO BUTT ME ON HIGH SCHOOL IN CHILLING.

SHE SAID IS JESSE JACKSON YOUR FATHER?

SHE SAID YES, SHE SAID YOU'RE LYING.

HE'S MY FATHER.

SHE COULD GO THROUGH ALMOST ALL OF HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT BEING KNOWN AS MY DAUGHTER AND SHE JUST DID HER WORK.

ON THE OTHER HAND JESSE JACKSON JR.

CARRIED THE NAME AND THEREFORE THE SLINGS AND ARROWS WHO PARENTS WOULD NOT SHOOT AT ME.

THEY SHOT AT HIM SO HE INHERITED MY FRIENDS AND ENEMIES AND HE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THAT.

HE BECAME PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO THE JESSE JACKSON FACTOR IN HIS LIFE.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT YOU?

WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM OR WHAT EMOTIONS WERE GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND AT THAT TIME KNOWING THAT HE HAD TO FACE THAT?

>> WELL, THAT YOU HAVE TO EARN FRIENDS AND YOU EARN FRIENDS BY SHOWING YOURSELF TO BE FRIENDLY.

IF YOU DO YOUR WORK WELL AND YOU EARN HONOR AMONGST YOUR FRIENDS YOU'LL BE REWARDED.

SO THE NIGHT HE BECAME ELECTED TO THE U.S.

CONGRESS, IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

IT SAID A LOT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME IN THE CAMPAIGN -- >> JESSE JACKSON JR.

WAS ELECTED IN CHICAGO.

WHEN WAS HE ELECTED?

>> 1995.

I WAS JESSE, YOU SHOULD LEARN TO SPEAK DANIELLE SANTOSSISH.

HE SAID WHY?

I SAID CHANCES ARE YOU'LL HAVE A LOT OF SPANISH SPEAKING FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES.

IT WILL HELP YOU.

2/3 OF THIS HEMISPHERE SPEAKS SPANISH.

ENGLISH IS A MINORITY LANGUAGE IN THIS HEMISPHERE SO LEARN IT.

HE LEARNED IT BECAUSE HE WAS BEING STUDIOUS.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THAT CAMPAIGN, THE FACT THAT HE WAS BILINGUAL AND COULD REACH OUT FURTHER GAVE HIM AN EXTRA EDGE.

>> THAT MUCH MADE YOU PROUD.

>> IT WAS A GREAT SENSE OF JOY TO WATCH HIM TAKE HIS WORK SO SERIOUSLY.

>> THERE WAS ONE POINT IN YOUR LIFE.

I THINK WHEN YOU WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE YOU TOOK FOREIGN LANGUAGE BUT YOU WEREN'T THAT SERIOUS ABOUT IT BUT THERE WAS A POINT IN YOUR CAREER YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH SOME FOLKS WHO SPOKE FRENCH.

>> I WAS EMBARRASSED.

I OFTEN TEACH YOUTH IN SCHOOL.

PEOPLE INTRODUCE YOUR HIGH POINTS.

YOU CAME FROM HERE AND YOU WENT HERE, YOU ACHIEVED THIS AND TRAVELED HERE.

TEACH PITFALLS, TEACH FAILURES.

TEACH MISSED OPPORTUNITIES SO AS TO SAY TO OUR YOUTH, DON'T GO THERE, GO HERE.

THERE'S A SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS REMOVE NOT THE ANCIENT LANDMARKS WHICH OUR MOTHERS AND FATHERS HAVE SENT.

>> IN GIVING THE LANDMARKS TOUGH POWER, THE GIFT, TO MOVE PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLD PEOPLE ALIKE.

IS THAT WHAT DRIVES YOU?

I'VE SEEN YOU IN SO MANY SITUATIONS -- >> YEAH, BUT UNTO MYSELF, I AM AN ORDINARY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY BLESSED AND I WORK REAL HARD.

FOR THE MOST PART I'M NOT LUCKY, I'M BLESSED AND I WORK HARD BUT I ALSO HAVE TO TRY TO DEAL WITH MY FAILURES AND WEAKNESSES FOR MY OWN STRENGTH BUT ALSO TO TEAM.

SO I SAY TO YOUNG AMERICA, DON'T LOOK FOR A BALAD OF GRASS TO LIE ON, DO YOUR BEST AGAINST YOUR ODDS.

LEARNING IS NEVER LOST.

LEARNING IS NEVER LOST.

>> WHEN YOU GO TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND MENTION STORIES LIKE YOU JUST TOLD ME, WHAT IS YOUR HOPE THAT YOU GET FROM AT LEAST ONE CHILD IF NOT ALL OF THEM?

SOMETHING YOU HOPE THEY'LL CARRY ON.

>> TO GIVE THEM A SENSE OF HISTORY AND A SENSE OF HOPE.

A SENSE OF HOPE.

JESUS PUT IT THIS WAY IN THE PRAYER OF THE SOWER.

YOU SOW SEEDS.

SOME WILL HIT THE ROCK, SOME WILL HIT THE WIND AND SOME WILL GERMINATE AND THE ONES THAT GERMINATE ARE WORTH IT ALL.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE BECAUSE I KNOW SOMEONE, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET THE POINT SO I FEEL A SENSE OF JOHN: AND NOW AT MY AGE, I'VE TRAVELED AROUND THE COUNTRY, RECORDAROUND THE WORLD I SEE ONE OR TWO GENERATIONS OF HIGH STUDENTS THAT SAY YOU SPOKE AT MY HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THERE'S THAT SENSE OF JOY, THE GERMINATION AND BEARING THAT FRUIT BUT OUR YOUTH MUST HAVE A SENSE OF HISTORY IN ORDER TO HAVE A SENSE OF HOPE.

>> AND DO YOU FIND IT'S YOUR PASSION AND YOUR MISSION TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD, WHETHER BLACK OR WHITE, KNOW THAT HISTORY, OUR HISTORY?

>> THERE'S A SENSE OF THAT BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT ACROSS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME AND DISTANCE AND SPACE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF THIS THEN THE BIBLE SAYS YOU WILL THEN BEGIN TO WORSHIP AND IDOL THE FALSE GODS.

IF IT DRIES UP AND IT DOES NOT RAIN, THE FLOWERS WON'T BLOSSOM.

YOUR NEIGHBORS WON'T BLOSSOM IF THERE'S NOT A SENSE OF HISTORY.

AND HISTORY HAVE HOPE HAS HEALING POWER.

AS I GO TO SCHOOLS TO ME IT'S ABOUT HISTORY AND THE HOPE -- IF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HISTORY, IF YOU KNOW HOW FAR WE HAVE COME, WE ALMOST HAVE BRAGGING RIGHTS.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'VE COME FROM, YOU CAN GET VERY DEPRESSED.

WHEN YOU LOOK UP AND SEE THE WILLIAMS SISTERS IN THE OPEN.

YOU KNOW ALTHEA GIBSON -- TIGER WOODS IS THE NUMBER ONE GOLFER.

LOOK AT SAMMY SOSA, HANK AARON.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF HISTORY YOU'LL LOOK AT THE NEWSPAPER AND HAVE A ONE-DIMENSIONAL VIEW AND STAY HAS BEEN A CENTURY AGAINST GREAT ODDS OF SCARS, BATTLES AND VICTORS.

WE HAVE BEEN WINNERS THIS CENTURY.

WE BEGAN IN CENTURY ORGANIZING BLACKS AND JEWS TOGETHER TO FORM DOUBLE-A TO MAKE LYNCHING A FEDERAL CRIME, WHICH IS A HUGE ISSUE.

YOU THINK ABOUT MAKING LYNCHING A CRIMINAL CRIME, WHICH WAS A POLITICAL TERROR AT THE TIME.

WOMEN DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE OR ORGANIZE.

APARTHEID WAS LEGAL.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS WERE CANNON FODDER IN THE WAR.

EVERY AFRICAN COUNTRY COMPETE ETHIOPIA AND -- IN COLONIAL CRITICISM.

THIS CENTURY WITHOUT DROPPING A SINGLE BOMB WEST COAST WINNERS AGAINST AWESOME ODDS.

THAT'S WHY HISTORY, HOPE AND HEALING MEAN SO MUCH TO ME.

>> IF IN TALKING TO PEOPLE AROUND THIS COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.

YOU HAVE THIS PASSION, THIS FEELING BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE HISTORY AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW IT.

>> I STUDY, I READ, I REFLECT.

I DETECTIVE.

I LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAKE SENSE AND I PICK UP THE ORAL TRADITION.

STRONG MINDS BREAK STRONG CHANGES SO I LOOK AT SITUATIONS AND I TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO MAKE SENSE OF THAT?

HOW DO I TRANSMIT THAT THOUGHT WHEN I PREACH?

TEACH AND WRITE.

>> YOU SAID STRONG MINDS BREAK STRONG CHAINS.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN DOING FOR AMERICANS FOR A LONG TIME IS SECURING HOSTAGES' AND PRISONERS' RELEASE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT WITH KIDS?

>> FOR MOST OF MY LIFE I WAS A HOSTAGE IN THE TRADITION OF EX-SLAVES.

I MUST SAY THIS TO YOU QUICKLY.

IF, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND UP SOME AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS SITTING HERE AND SOME HISPANICS HERE AND WHITES HERE AND JEWS AND ASIANS.

KIND OF HAVING IN-GROUP CONVERSATION, KIND OF ETHNIC TRIBAL CELEBRATIONS OF SORTS.

SOMEONE SAYS THEY STILL HAVE SEPARATION -- NO SEPARATION IS WHEN YOU CAN'T GET BY THE RECOMMENDATION STAR, YOU CAN'T GET IN.

WHEN YOU GET IN, YOU MAY DO NUT CULTURAL, MULTIRACIAL LIKING.

YOUR PATCH MY COME OUT IN A DIFFERENT PLACE ON THE QUIT BUT AT LEAST YOUR PATCH IS ON THE QUIT.

MY SENSE IS THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO SAY THAT WE HAVE OVERCOME MUCH.

>> WHEN YOU GO OVERSEAS TO HELP A FAMILY BRING THEIR KIDS BACK AND YOU KNOW THEIR HEFT.

DO YOU KNOW UP FRONT THAT I'M GOING TO KOSOVO AND SYRIA AND I'M GOING TO BRING THESE KIDS BACK.

>> I'M GOING BY FAITH.

THERE'S NO GUARANTEE I CAN DO IT EXCEPT FAITH.

>> THERE'S NO PRESSURE.

ONCE YOU MAKE THAT STEP THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE, ISN'T THERE?

>> FAITH CHALLENGES ONE TO MAKE ONE SELF-VULNERABLE.

THEY'RE GOD'S OPPORTUNITIES.

FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE THINGS HOPE FOR AND EVIDENCE OF THINGS UNSEEN.

WE WERE DOWN IN MEMPHIS AND WE HEARD THAT ROBERT GOOD LOW WAS IN SYRIA AND REAGAN HAD BEEN RUNNING AGAINST CARTER SAYING YOU SPENT TOO MUCH TIME TRYING TO GET THE AMERICAN HOSTAGES OUT OF IRAN, SO IF HE WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE THE AMERICAN HOSTAGES IN IRAN YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN SYRIA.

I HAD A SENSE -- C.I.

SAYS IN THE MIRROR AND WE SEE ALMOST A DIMINISHED PERSON.

WE SEE OURSELVES AS A MINORITY AND WE BEGIN TO THINK MINORITY WITH MINORITY DREAMS AND HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS.

SOMETIMES WE PRAY TO A MINORITY JOB BUT WE CAN BE BIGGER THAN THAT.

DON'T LOOK AT THE MIRROR BUT LOOK AT THE WINDOWPANE WHERE THE OBJECTIVE WORLD IS.

SO WE WERE SEEN IN THE WORLD NOT ON A MAP BUT ON A GLOBE.

A BARBERSHOP A BLOCK DOWN THE STREET AND GOD HAS DONE HIS JOB AS THE BELLMAN.

THE BARBER WENT DOWN THE STREET TO THE RECRUITMENT OFFICE AND HAD MY FATHER SENT TO THE ARMY FOR BEING DISOBEDIENT WITH A SON AND APPARELING WIFE.

HE SENT HIM INTO THE ARMY TO DIE.

AGAINST?

THOSE ODDS, MY FATHER AND HIS BROTHER WENT TO THE WAR.

THEY CAME BACK AND THEY GOT INTO NEW YORK AND WHITE AND BLACK ALIKE, THEY WON THE WAR.

THEY WENT TO NEW YORK.

WHITES ONE PLACE, BLACKS ANOTHER.

THEY GO TO UNION STATION IN NEW YORK, BLACK AND WHITE SOLDIERS, THEY WERE HAPPY BUT THEN THEY STOPPED THE TRAIN AND SAID NOW YOU MUST GET OFF BECAUSE WE'RE GOING SOUTH OF WASHINGTON.

YOU MUST SIT BEHIND THE GERMAN NAZI PRISONERS OF WAR.

THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIERS HAD FEWER RIGHT THAN THE GERMAN NAZI PRISONERS OF WAR.

BUT THEN HE SAID DON'T LET THEM BREAK YOUR SPIRIT.

TAKING ADVICE OF A FATHER WHO WAS SOMEHOW SPEAK AGAINST THESE ODDS BUT IN TIME, ONE DAY, 1995, I SAT IN THAT SAME CAPITOL, MY WIFE AND I UP IN THE BALCONY LOOK DOWN WITH JESSE JR.

WITH ONE HAND POINTING TO THE HEAVEN AND THE OTHER HAND ON THE BIBLE BEING SWORN INTO THE U.S.

CONGRESS BY NEWT GINGRICH.

IN THE SAME CAPITOL THAT ADMIRAL POWELL COULDN'T GET HIS HAIRCUT IN AS A CAPTAIN.

I WAS SITTING IN UNION STATION IN THE SAME SPOT WHERE MY FATHER GOT OFF THAT TRAIN IN HUMILIATION AND LET THOSE NAZIS SIT IN FRONT OF HIM TO DISGRACE HIM.

MY SON WAS ABOUT TO BECOME A U.S.

CONGRESSMAN.

IT WAS THAT KIND OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.

FAITH, SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, EVIDENCE OF SCENES UNSEEN.

THAT'S A GREAT SOURCE OF HISTORY, HOPE AND HEALING.

IT'S A GREAT MOTIVATOR.

>> AT SOME POINT, REVEREND, THOUGH, DOES REVEREND JACKSON STOP WANTING TO BE THE ROWEDDER IN SOME CASES?

WHAT I MEAN IS YOU'RE ON THE OUTSIDE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN ON THE INSIDE ALL THE TIME.

YOUR SON MADE IT TO U.S.

CONGRESS.

YOU RUN FOR PRESIDENT TWICE AND IN BOTH INSTANCES, ESPECIALLY THE SECOND, I WOULD IMAGINE, THE PARTY, AS MUCH AS YOU'VE DONE FOR THE PARTY, YOU'VE REGISTERED ALL THESE VOTERS, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID YOU DIDN'T GET THE RESPECT.

EVEN YOUR WIFE MENTIONED HE DID NOT GET THE RESPECT YOU SHOULD HAVE FROM THIS MATTER YOU DEDICATED THESE YEARS TO.

>> THE PEOPLE THAT I RAN AGAINST AT THAT TIME, HISTORY HAS REDUCED THEM TO THE MARGINS.

THE LITTLE THINGS THEY DID TO ME HERE AND THERE DIDN'T MATTER IN THE BIGGER SCHEME OF THINGS.

THAT WAS A HIGHER PURPOSE AND PLANE.

THEY WERE REACTING TO EVERY DUST PARTICLE.

YOU HAVE TO SET YOUR SIGHTS HIGH AND DRIVE ON AND TO THAT EXTENT, I SEEK TO PUT INTO SOME CONTEXT OR STAGES OF GOT -- DEVELOPMENT AND I KEEP GETTING HOPE FROM MY VICTORS.

SUNDAY MORNINGS AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER I REMEMBER GETTING UP WITHOUT ANY PAIN AND WE LOST THE DAY BEFORE, ASK THAT'S THE FAN.

I LIMPEDDED INTO THE DO I REMEMBER BUT WE WON.

I WOULD RATHER LIMP WITH PAIN THAN WALKING UPRIGHT WITH DEFEAT AND WE ARE WINNERS.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT, ARE YOU EVER GOING TO TAKE THE MANTLE AND TRY THIS RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AGAIN?

>> I DO NOT KNOW.

THAT'S NOT MY PRESENT PLAN.

MY FOCUS NOW IS AS THIS CENTURY ENDS TO PUT IN SOME CONTEXT WHERE WE ARE NOW FOR THIS GENERATION AND ITS CHALLENGE.

>> SO JESSE JACKSON DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PRESIDENT THEN, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?

>> INDEED.

AND THE GREAT CHANGE AGENT -- THERE COMES A TIME WHERE POLITICS, AND I EMBRACE IT AS A SIGN OF LAWMAKERS BUT POLITICS LEGENDS ITSELF TO CONVERGENCE TO -- HOW CAN I SAY IT -- IT LEGENDS ITSELF TO CONSENSUS AND THERE'S ANOTHER SELF TO CONSCIOUS KIND OF BREAK DOWN AND I'VE KIND OF DONE BOTH AND THE THING ABOUT THE GREAT CHANGE AGENTS OF OUR TIME, THEY WERE NOT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

THIS IDEA OF MAKING A FEDERAL LAW AGAINST LYNCHING.

THAT CAME FROM OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE.

THE IDEA OF WOMEN GETTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE CAME FROM THE OUTSIDE.

THE BILL ON THE JENIVITA PARTY CAME FROM THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

I'M IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING THE MARES AND REPRESENTATIVES BUT THE CHANGE IS OFTEN OUTSIDE THAT MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

>> IF YOU HAD THE POWER, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE JESSE JACKSON TO BE JUDGED?

IF YOU SAID I WANT MY LEGACY TO BE -- WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> IT'S SERVICE.

I GAVE IT ALL I HAD.

IT'S MY SERMON.

WHEN I SERVE AS MY SERMON.

WHEN I TEACH CHILDREN, IT'S MY SERMON.

WHEN I GO TO YUGOSLAVIA AND CHALLENGE THE LEADER AND ABLE TO PRAY WITH HIM AND CONQUER THOSE ODDS AND BRING OUR SOLDIERS BACK HOME, IT'S MY SERMON SO IN SOME SENSE, WITH ALL MY OWN INFIRMITYS AND WEAKNESSES AND PRIVATE PAIN, THROUGH IT ALL, I WAS BORNE MY CROSS IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.

I HAVE NOT FAINTED AND I WILL KEEP HOPE ALIVE.

>> REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, I'VE ENJOYED THE CONVERSATION.

>> I HAVE A WALL OF PHOTOGRAPHS IN MY HOME, AN ECLECTIC MIX OF PORTRAITS OF ICONS AND ORDINARY PEOPLE.

EVERY DAY I PASS BY A PHOTO OF REVEREND JESSE JACKSON JR.

HE'S NEAR A HEAVILY DRAPED WINDOW WITH A SHAFT OF LIFE ILLUMINATING HIS FACE.

IT WAS A QUIET MOMENT CAPTURED ON THE 1984 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TRAIL WHEN HE RAN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

THE PHOTOGRAPH, TAKE BY ONE OF THE DOZENS OF BLACK PHOTOGRAPHERS AND JOURNALISTS WHO COVERED THE CAMPAIGN, UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORIC IMPORTANCE OF A BLACK AMERICAN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

AS NEWS OF REVEREND JACKSON'S PASSING WAS ANNOUNCED.

MARK MARIEL, THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CRYSTALIZED THE IMPACT OF REVEREND JACKSON'S CAMPAIGN, SAYING REVEREND JESSE JACKSON MADE ET POSSIBLE FOR BARACK OBAMA.

HE TOOK THE LESSONS HE LEARNED AS ONE OF THE REVEREND DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING'S LIEUTENANTS AND USED IT AS AN OR OR TO BUILD COALITIONS ACROSS RACE AND CLAPS I-GREW UP LISTENING TO THE WEEKLY MEETINGS OF HIS RAINBOW PUSH COALITION.

I CAN STILL HEAR THE CROWD SHOUTING HIS SIGNATURE MANTRAS.

I AM SOMEBODY AND KEEP HOPE ALIVE.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THEN THAT REVEREND JACKSON WAS BLAZING TRAILS THAT OPENED UP DOORS FOR BLACK JOURNALISTS LIKE ME AND BLACK AMERICANS IN GENERAL SO I'M FEELS RIGHT THAT REVEREND JACKSON DIED DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK HISTORY.

RIGHT WHAT ONE OF THE LAST LIONS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WHO WAS ON THE BALCONY IN MEMPHIS WHEN KING WAS ASSASSINATED SHOULD TAKE HIS LAST BLACK DURING THE TIME WHEN BLACK HISTORY IS UNDER THREAT OF ERASE CHEW.

RIGHT THAT HE NEVER STOPPED WORKING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, AS A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, A HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR, A PREACHER AND PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL.

HE SAID I AM A PUBLIC SERVANT DOING MY BEST AGAINST THE ODDS.

DURING MY CAREER I'VE HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BE IN ROOMS NEAR OR AROUND REVERENDS JACKSON.

HE NEVER FAILED TO STAY ON MEN.

AMERICA CAN DO BETTER AND WE THE PEOPLE CAN WIN.

I INTERVIEWED HIM FOR THE FORUM AT BOSTON'S JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM SOME YEARS AGO.

THE SUBJECT WAS STRATEGY AND TACTICS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

EVEN WHILE DISCUSSING SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STRUGGLES, HE EMPHASIZED THE NEED TO HAVE HOPE, TELLING THE AUDIENCE WHEN IT'S REAL DARK, A LITTLE LIKE OF LIGHT GOES A LONG WAY.

EVENT JESSE JACKSON JR., CIVIL RIGHT LEADER AND HISTORIC PATH BREAKER.

HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS EMBEDDED IN THE PAGES OF AMERICAN HISTORY AND IN THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF BLACK COMMUNITIES.

SENDING HIM OFF TO JOIN THE ANCESTORS WITH WORDS THAT WOULD BE FAMILIAR TO HIM FROM MATTHEW 2 A 5:21.

WELL DONE, T