Jesse Jackson will speak at Colgate on Feb. 23

Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson is coming to speak at Colgate University on Feb. 23. And for the student group organizing the event ‘ The Brothers ‘ his appearance couldn’t come at a better time.

A presidential candidate in 1984 and 1988, Jackson comes to campus as the Democratic primary season is in full swing. The candidates’ views on affirmative action ‘ which recently has been debated in the courts and on campuses have led to a flurry of newspaper headlines. And this year marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling that determined separate-but-equal schools for white and black students were unconstitutional.

Plus, says Antwone Porter ’04,  Jackson’s speech titled ‘Keep Hope Alive’ should resonate not only with The Brothers, which looks to address issues of importance to men of color, but with the campus at large.

‘He’ll be a good speaker to represent our group as brothers,’ said Porter. ‘But our group’s interest is to benefit the broader campus community at large.’

He said Jackson is expected to touch on current events as well as on efforts to help make the ‘American dream’ a reality for people living in the United States and to improve human rights conditions around the world. 

Mark Edwards, assistant dean of multicultural affairs who serves as adviser to The Brothers, said Jackson will speak at the Memorial Chapel, which holds about 900 people. Edwards urged those interested in attending to arrive early, saying the ‘first people in get the seats.’

He said there is an effort to coordinate appearances such as Jackson’s with other campus organizations so they are more inclusive. He is hoping to stage roundtable discussions focusing on Jackson’s visit with the College Republicans, College Democrats and other groups.

Porter, who just recently turned over his leadership role in The Brothers to John Paschal ’05, said the group has grown significantly since its inception five years ago.

He said the group looks at political, social, and economic issues that men of color face along with the ‘struggle aspects’ they might confront in their everyday lives.

‘We talk about some challenges we face as men of color, here at Colgate or in our communities.’

Porter said participants in the group want to redefine the role of minority men and examine how they can become better leaders, promote brotherhood, achieve academic excellence, and provide meaningful community service.

At the group’s weekly meetings, members also talk about what they are currently involved in and any personal accomplishments in academics or athletics.

The group ‘ which has about 25 active members holds a weeklong charity event each spring that has been very successful, said Edwards.

Funds from the event have gone to the Dunbar Center in Syracuse and to provide Thanksgiving baskets for families in need and to ‘adopt’ families at Christmas.

Last year, The Brothers worked with a local agency that identified 10 charities in the Hamilton area, and the group gave each $100.

Porter said members of the group also have conducted book readings and helped with Halloween activities for children at the Colgate Bookstore. He said it’s a good way to expose local kids to men of color.

In years past, The Brothers brought film director Spike Lee and political activist Al Sharpton to campus. Attorney Johnnie Cochran was scheduled last year, but he was forced to cancel and a new date could not be rescheduled.

Porter said he is eager to have Jackson appear on campus. The charismatic speaker is founder and president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, an organization striving for social change for minorities.

Jackson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 and has received more than 40 honorary doctoral degrees. His weekly opinion columns appear in several major newspapers.