February 18, 2026
When Jesse Jackson implored us to "Keep Hope Alive", he wasn't referring to some childish hope that a magical force would suddenly bring about peace on earth and equality for all. Jesse understood that there are too many forces acting on the present and the future that are driven by hate, greed, and ignorance for goodness to come about by chance.
No, what Jesse was telling us was that no matter how dark the world gets, don't allow it to extinguish the goodness that lives within you. "Keeping Hope Alive" is a way of saying "no matter what, keep trying to make the world a better place".
James Baldwin also tells us any hope for a better world begins with recognizing that you cannot control others, but you are the sole driver of your own life. Baldwin tells us that the hope of the world lies in what we demand of ourselves.
Use the passing of Jesse Jackson as a reminder that we must keep hope alive within ourselves to become a force for good while we are on this earth.
