In honor of the 40th anniversary of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, Eddie Wong, former national field director for Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign, joins Steve and Sharline to reminisce on the alliance that transcended boundaries of race, gender, and socio-economic status to create a powerful force for change. 

Steve, Sharline, and Eddie delve into the strategies, challenges, and triumphs that marked the coalition's journey, as well as its influence on shaping today's movements for social justice and equity.

Original coalition members also share personal anecdotes, insights, and reflections on how the Rainbow Coalition ignited a transformative movement that redefined the landscape of social and political activism, and the impact of Reverend Jackson’s visionary leadership in their own lives.

REFERENCES: 

Eddie Wong - https://newday.com/filmmakers/eddie-wong

Jesse Jackson 1984 Democratic National Convention Speech - https://c-span.org/video/?c4787461/user-clip-jesse-jackson-1984-democratic-national-convention-speech-complete

Rainbow Coalition Recordings:
Dr. Amanda Kemp - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZHJ9qu8_-3gQjaJ_X5SyXk6duNaMjGd4/view?usp=drive_link
Pierre Barolette - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TP5hgKZrWVIHJOkzN9y0SLfcieTp6niu/view?usp=drive_link
Theresa Montaño - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fvpzpFZXkNKTCZek8GUF_mQ8ViWiHaAZ/view?usp=drive_link
Ellen Spears -
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ORKqlWd1IfIKwYkUehiZ-Eba-xM3biFy/view?usp=drive_link

40 Years of the Rainbow Coalition

A color-conscious political podcast, hosted by Steve Phillips, that releases episodes every other Thursday. While grassroots organizations raised voters of color turnout to historic levels, securing Democratic victories in 2020 and 2021, there remain strong differences of opinion about the right strategy for winning in a racially-polarized electoral landscape.

 “Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips” offers candid and data-driven analysis on how progressives can win. Join Steve for a conversation that is unafraid and unapologetic about grappling with some of the toughest issues in politics today. 

Special guests have included: Stacey Abrams, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Rep. Beto O’Rourke.