How Jesse Jackson s Rainbow Coalition Championed Diversity
In his 1984 presidential run, Jackson sought to unite a multiracial, multicultural group of Americans.
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In his 1984 presidential run, Jackson sought to unite a multiracial, multicultural group of Americans.
In November 1983, Rev. Jesse Jackson announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, becoming only the second Black presidential candidate (after Shirley Chisholm in 1972) to compete at the national level. In doing so, he claimed to be fighting for the rights of a “Rainbow Coalition” of diverse Americans including Blacks, whites, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans; men and women; straight and LGBTQ.
An ordained Baptist minister and longtime civil rights activist who had served as a close aide to Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackson would try and fail twice to win the Democratic nomination, but drew a historic level of support, including nearly 7 million votes in 1988. Though not
THE STANDARD By
David Kigochi |
January 15th 2021 at 13:40:30 GMT +0300
The hint by President Uhuru Kenyatta (
pictured) that he might champion calls for Kikuyus and Kalenjins not to field presidential candidates in 2022 elections since their members have ruled the country since independence raises fundamental issues that need serious interrogation.
Firstly, ODM leader Raila Odinga, who is eyeing the presidency in 2022, has backed the president’s call. The two leaders are also opposed to the hustler-versus-dynasty politics advocated by Deputy President William Ruto.
Those backing them are drawing parallels from Switzerland and Nigeria which have similar political arrangements. In Switzerland for instance, the seven-strong Federal Council is guided by the unwritten principle of collégialité or consensus where members pick one to sit as president for a one-year term.
THE STANDARD
Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang ata (left), flanked by some MPs, speaks after receiving copies of BBI report on October 22, 2020. [File, Standard]
Jubilee Party members in Mt Kenya have been discussing possible changes to its parliamentary leadership after the explosive letter by Senate Chief Whip Irungu Kang’ata advising a rethink of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
On Tuesday, what was said to be a high-level think tank of the mainstream JP in Mt Kenya region held a four-hour meeting at a hotel in Nairobi to brainstorm on the bleeding triggered by “Kang’ata’s letter.”
The meeting, attended by about 15 people, was chaired by National Assembly deputy Chief Whip Maoka Maore (Igembe North) and saw intense discussions centred around salvaging the BBI in the region.
THE STANDARD By
Peter Theuri |
December 20th 2020 at 00:00:00 GMT +0300
Vimal Shah during an interview at his office in Gigiri, Nairobi. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
At 60, Vimal Shah, the chairman of Bidco Africa is not about to slow down or hang up his hat. A believer in the power of intuition, he shares his top life and entrepreneurship lessons, writes Peter Theuri.
If you expect Vimal Shah to be suited up on a random, slow Wednesday afternoon, spotting his usual sharp look in a collarless shirt and sitting in front of his laptop, winding up a meeting and readying for another, then you are not in for any particular shock.