02/18/2026
Today, our nation pauses to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the ongoing struggle for justice, dignity, and opportunity for all.
As a candidate for North Carolina House District 60, and as a woman deeply rooted in faith, family, and community, I stand with the Jackson family and with a grieving nation as we reflect on the impact of a man who refused to be silent in the face of injustice.
Jesse Jackson was more than a civil rights leader. He was a bridge-builder. From standing alongside Dr. King in the movement for civil rights, to founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, to running historic presidential campaigns that expanded the imagination of what was politically possible, he challenged America to live up to its highest ideals. He gave voice to the marginalized, hope to the forgotten, and courage to a generation who dared to believe that change was not only necessary but achievable.
His life reminds us that progress requires persistence. That justice requires sacrifice. That faith without works is empty.
In moments when the road seemed long and the opposition strong, Reverend Jackson declared, “Keep hope alive.” That was not just a slogan, it was a strategy. A spiritual discipline. A call to collective action.
As we reflect during this season, especially in this historic era of ongoing civic engagement, we remember that leaders like Jesse Jackson paved pathways that many of us now walk. Because of his courage, more doors were opened. Because of his conviction, more voices were heard. Because of his faith, more people believed that their vote, their voice, and their presence mattered.
Today, I pray for comfort for his family, strength for those who marched with him, and renewed commitment for those of us who continue the work.
May we honor his legacy not only with words, but with action.
May we keep hope alive, not as a memory, but as a mandate.
With reverence and resolve,
Dr. Angie Williams-McMichael
Candidate, NC House District 60