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drbobcornwall's review against another edition
4.0
Jesse Jackson has been on the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement for five decades. I remember him running for President in the 1980s, seeking to bring together a Rainbow Coalition long before such was imagined possible. Once a young aid to Martin Luther King, today he is a senior statesman, whose work and message are rooted in his faith. He is a minister and activist who has made forays into the political realm. But who is he and what is his message? Might we hear this message in his own words, or at least read his words? That question is answered in "Keeping Hope Alive," this newly published collection of sermons and speeches edited by [a:Grace Ji-Sun Kim|732138|Grace Ji-Sun Kim|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1531841783p2/732138.jpg].
Grace Kim is a theologian teaching at Earlham School of Religion, who has made intersectional theology a major focus. This is an expression of that focus. She has put together a collection of six sermons, which were preached between 2003 and 2013. She notes that Jackson rarely used a manuscript and most of his sermons were not recorded. Thus, there wasn't a lot to work with. Nevertheless, these sermons give us a sense of Jackson's theology, his passion, and his style. They are punctuated by his commitment to social justice, especially racial justice.
In addition to the six sermons there are nineteen speeches. As Kim notes, these speeches are in themselves sermons. Whether he's speaking to a political convention or a rally, faith is central to the message. Of interest are the two convention speeches from 1984 and 1988. These political speeches defined his vision for the nation in ways that continue to speak. There are speeches honoring Dr. King and Nelso Mandela. In fact, these two men stand at the center of his vision of the common good. There is, as one expect overlap from speech to speech, for the emphases remain present even when the context changes. He wishes to build a coalition that would bring justice to all, thus, keeping hope alive.
Besides the sermons and speeches, Grace Kim offers her own introduction to the book, giving us a sense of Jackson's life and a context for the sermons and speeches. She has also brought in the Rev. Otis Moss Jr. to provide the foreword. Moss is a long-time minister and partner with Jackson in his work. Thus, he knows Jackson well. The book concludes with an afterword by historian Eddie Glaude Jr, who provides a final context for these sermons and speeches, which address major concerns in the Black community and beyond.
This is a worthy contribution to the ongoing conversation about racial justice and the common good.
Grace Kim is a theologian teaching at Earlham School of Religion, who has made intersectional theology a major focus. This is an expression of that focus. She has put together a collection of six sermons, which were preached between 2003 and 2013. She notes that Jackson rarely used a manuscript and most of his sermons were not recorded. Thus, there wasn't a lot to work with. Nevertheless, these sermons give us a sense of Jackson's theology, his passion, and his style. They are punctuated by his commitment to social justice, especially racial justice.
In addition to the six sermons there are nineteen speeches. As Kim notes, these speeches are in themselves sermons. Whether he's speaking to a political convention or a rally, faith is central to the message. Of interest are the two convention speeches from 1984 and 1988. These political speeches defined his vision for the nation in ways that continue to speak. There are speeches honoring Dr. King and Nelso Mandela. In fact, these two men stand at the center of his vision of the common good. There is, as one expect overlap from speech to speech, for the emphases remain present even when the context changes. He wishes to build a coalition that would bring justice to all, thus, keeping hope alive.
Besides the sermons and speeches, Grace Kim offers her own introduction to the book, giving us a sense of Jackson's life and a context for the sermons and speeches. She has also brought in the Rev. Otis Moss Jr. to provide the foreword. Moss is a long-time minister and partner with Jackson in his work. Thus, he knows Jackson well. The book concludes with an afterword by historian Eddie Glaude Jr, who provides a final context for these sermons and speeches, which address major concerns in the Black community and beyond.
This is a worthy contribution to the ongoing conversation about racial justice and the common good.
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