JESSE LOUIS JACKSON
In my hour of need he was there
Jesse Jackson outside Florida Supreme Court during 2000 election electoral vote recount, photo by Village Square, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.1
It has been a week of remembrance of great Americans, who are no longer with us. I was planning to write in memory of Congressman John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020), Frederick Douglass (February 14, 1818 – February 20, 1895), and Susan B. Anthony (February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906).
But fate intervened, as the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson passed away on Tuesday, February 17th .
Jesse Jackson touched my life.
He touched my life when I became one of over 5,600 Enron employees terminated on Monday, December 3, 2001. On Friday, November 30, Enron’s Ken Lay had encouraged us to not resign because we were “Enron’s strongest assets”. But now, from the humblest employee to the executive ranks, we were all out on the street with no pay, no medical benefits, and only the then worthless Enron stock— if you had it. Of course, there were executive insiders who had bailed out in anticipation of the mass dismissal that affected 99.9% of the employees.
Aside from the sudden drying up of family cash flows, some laid off employees were close to retirement, others had dependents in the hospital, or away at college. Enron Human Resources Department was clueless about answering our questions.
We were left dependent on the relatively meager unemployment benefit provided by the State of Texas— after a waiting period and only for so long, of course.
I was determined to make finding employment my new job and set off to contact everyone I ever knew in my field. Some Enron colleagues were out of luck, due to age or infirmity. It took me a few months to regain my financial balance. My wife and I did not suffer as others did, as she had a good job.
In the days following the collapse of Enron, Jesse Jackson flew into Houston and sat down to negotiate severance benefits on our behalf with the judge administering the disposition of the remaining Enron assets. Jesse Jackson was of true and meaningful assistance to me and my colleagues. The severance package that he extracted on our behalf from the remaining Enron assets restored our salaries for a few weeks.
I will never forget what this great man, the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, did on behalf of thousands of Enron employees of every race, ethnicity, creed, political affiliation.
In the early morning hours of February 17, 2026, the world lost a great human being, imperfect as we all are, yet a constant defender of the oppressed, the disadvantaged.
This week, many will write volumes on the life of this public figure. Talking heads in the media will press people to opine on the perceived strengths and weaknesses of this towering figure in America.
I am contributing this post in Jesse Jackson’s memory, based on his selfless act and impact on my life.
May we remember him forever and follow his compassionate example.
In Jesse Jackson words, “Keep Hope Alive!”.
It takes a very special person to take up a battle like that. Not many have the desire or ability. Employees rank very far behind other creditors when employers go bankrupt. (To add insult to injury, former employees can be on the hook for payroll withholdings the employer spent.) Thanks for sharing that memory.
A great tribute and thank you for sharing this personal story.