Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Politics of Hunger

Rev. Jesse Jackson spent decades fighting for civil rights and economic justice. As a child watching him on television, I didn't understand policy. I understood his voice. After news of his death on February 17, 2026, I found myself revisiting what his work meant, not just the speeches or the presidential campaigns, but the deeper question at the center of it all: who gets access, who gets dignity, and who gets to eat. In this episode of Better Said Than Written, I reflect on the roots of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the link between school lunch and economic justice, and what hunger teaches you when survival is not theoretical. This episode is personal. It's about what I didn't understand as a child, and what I understand now. What's your fondest memory of Rev. Jesse Jackson? Feel free to send your thoughts through the link below. https://www.tamikacody.com/contact