Power is not loud by default.

It is built through presence, persistence, and the courage to speak when silence is expected.

Rev. Jesse Jackson understood power as something shared, not held alone, but strengthened through community. From the pulpit to the protest line, he reminded people of their worth and their right to be seen.

“I am somebody” was not just a call and response.

It was a declaration that was repeated until belief took root.

Power lives in organizing, in naming injustice, and in refusing to accept diminished expectations. It grows when people recognize their collective strength and act together.

Today, we honor a life that helped generations understand that power begins with dignity, and expands when voices rise in unison.