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SAVANNAH, Ga. — The world mourns the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson, a trailblazer in the civil rights movement and twice a contender for the U.S. presidency. Jackson, who passed away at the age of 84 on Tuesday, leaves behind a legacy of inspiration and advocacy that resonated from Savannah to global audiences.
For long-time Savannah resident Benjamin Polote, who cherished a friendship with Jackson spanning nearly fifty years, the loss feels intensely personal.
“If given the chance to speak to him one last time, I would simply say what I’ve always told him: I love you, my brother. I love you,” Polote shared, his voice filled with emotion.
Recalling his last moments with Jackson, Polote spoke about the profound experience and the emotional journey he underwent upon hearing the news.
“What struck me first this morning was remembering my conversation with his wife just this past Sunday,” Polote reflected, as he grappled with the bittersweet memories of his final interaction with the iconic leader.
He told he was grateful to God that he made a decision to go and spend some quality time with him in January.
“I went up and spent three days with him, and I had time to be with him during his transition,” Polote said. “And so, this morning was not a surprise to me. This morning was hurt and joy altogether. Life has a strange way sometimes of appearing to people and death is not always a bad thing. And the way I saw Jesse suffering when I was there, I’m just grateful that God ended his suffering, and I know that he’s at peace.”
Polote described Jackson as a teacher and changemaker, someone who didn’t just shape history, but shaped the hearts of those closest to him.
“He was really a teacher because I had time to travel around with him for different corporate American companies and see how he opened the doors for others, but not necessarily for himself,” Polote said. “It just gave me a really outlook on life. We used to talk all the time and his whole thing was about serving. If you serve and look for nothing in return, something will come to you just because. And so, it was just a great lesson for me to be around him and follow him and thank God that that he passed my way.”
Their friendship began in Savannah in the mid-1970s, though Polote had first seen Jackson during a march in the 1960s. Polote said Jackson’s dream was always to uplift lives, and that his message of “keep hope alive” has left a lasting legacy.
“He started off to me just as a mover and shaker for the community and then for just a group,” Polote said. “When I first saw him and started to get to know him, I felt like it was just a movement for African Americans. Then as I grew to know him, I find the real Jesse Jackson. And he was about change.”
Polote also reflected on Jackson’s work in Savannah. He noted that Jackson frequently returned to the city for his national campaigns and was deeply involved in the community.
Polote said that while Jackson’s bluntness sometimes led people to misunderstand him, his sacrifices opened doors for countless elected officials and future leaders.
Even now, Polote said he hears Jackson’s voice in the country’s struggles.
“I only wish that he was still up and around and personally things that feel like things would be so much better,” he said. “I believe that people need a leader, and Jesse Jackson was a true leader. And I think if he was still around and still active, he would really lead these people on a different path in life would be a lot different from what it is right now. We would not be going through some of the things that we’re going through because he could galvanize people. He had a way of galvanizing people and just giving them hope and speaking vision into their lives. And I think if he was able and around to do that, this whole world would be a better place to live in because he just wasn’t a change in the United States, but he made a difference on the international market as well.”