Carrying the torch of history into the digital age, the Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) is launching an oral history project featuring the iconic Civil Rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson. According to interviews conducted by CTS, this project encapsulates a pivotal period in Chicago's fight for equality, documenting firsthand accounts from those who stood alongside Jackson in his formative years. In partnership with the Chicago History Museum, the seminary is set to share these narratives with the public, threading past activism with contemporary social justice efforts.
Aided by funding from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the oral history project seeks not just to preserve but also to educate. Focusing on Rev. Jackson's tenure as a student at the seminary, which coincided with his leadership of Chicago's chapter of Operation Breadbasket, the project reveals the fabric of a movement that redefined the city's socio-political landscape. In a statement obtained by the Chicago Tribune, Rev. Brian Smith, director of community relations and strategic partnerships at CTS, said, "The archive shows how the seminary acted as an incubator for the movement’s early leaders."
Full of voices from the era, the project's six interviews include prominent figures such as the Rev. David Wallace and Rev. Janette Wilson, advisor to Jackson and director of PUSH Excel. Notably, Hermene Hartman, founder of N’DIGO Studio and publications, and Betty Massoni, widow of Chicago activist Rev. Gary Massoni, also contribute to the archival tapestry. The Chicago Defender reports that these interviews "are a window into a past that informs our present," serving as an indispensable resource for understanding the Civil Rights Movement's Chicago chapter.
The full collection of memories and anecdotes will be hosted online by CTS and featured in an online exhibition scheduled for spring 2024. With free admission but mandatory registration, the project will be officially unveiled at the Chicago History Museum on February 8. Sharing a glimpse of the movement's diversity—it's men and women, Black and white—the Rev. Kim Schultz, coordinator of creative initiatives at CTS, told the Chicago Tribune, "We are hearing stories from these people that maybe haven’t been shared before, and certainly not in this context — the relationships, the memories, the work done, how it was done, who did it, what they came against."
As Rev. Jackson steps back from his role at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition amid health challenges, his legacy continues to inspire new generations. Even in his 80s, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease for nearly a decade, his story and those of his peers still stir motivation among activists—their lives a testament to unwavering commitment to equity and justice. A celebration of their enduring spirit, the Jackson Oral History Project honors those who, stepping onto the streets of Chicago, transformed a city and a nation.
