Family, former presidents and a Hall of Famer give Rev. Jesse Jackson a final sendoff

""I am! Somebody!" the crowd chanted in the House of Hope megachurch, repeating Jackson's belief that every person matters, no matter their race or economic standing."

""He paved the road," former President Barack Obama said. He noted that Jackson brought social change, and also proved, in the 1980s, that a Black presidential candidate could be taken seriously."

""I intend to die with my shoes on," Yusef Jackson said, quoting his father's refusal to let health problems stop him from aspiring to help people in war-torn Ukraine, and Americans struggling with food insecurity."

""His voice called on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope, to step forward and say, 'Send me,'" Obama said. "Wherever we have a chance to make an impact, whether it's in our schools, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our cities.""

Rev. Jesse Jackson's funeral service in Chicago brought together family members and three former U.S. presidents to celebrate his life and contributions. Jackson's core message, "I am! Somebody!" emphasized that every person has inherent value regardless of their circumstances. Former President Barack Obama highlighted Jackson's role in advancing social change and demonstrating that a Black presidential candidate could be taken seriously in the 1980s. Jackson's son Yusef detailed his father's unwavering commitment to helping vulnerable populations, including those in war-torn regions and Americans facing food insecurity, while maintaining strong family bonds. Throughout the service, speakers emphasized Jackson's message of hope and unity, contrasting it with divisive contemporary political rhetoric.

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