I Am Somebody - by David Masciotra (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

There are few figures and leaders of recent American history of greater social and political consequence than Jesse Jackson, and few more relevant for America's current political climate. In the 1960s, Jackson served as a close aide to Dr. Martin Luther King, meeting him on the notorious march to legitimate the American democratic system in Selma. He was there on the day of King's assassination, and continued his political legacy, inspiring a generation of Black and Latino politicians and activists, founding the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and helping to make the Democratic Party more multicultural and progressive with his historic runs for the presidency in the 1980s.

In I Am Somebody, David Masciotra argues that Jackson's legacy must be rehabilitated in the history of American politics. Masciotra has had personal access to Jackson for several years, conducting over one hundred interviews with the man himself, as well as interviews with a wide variety of elected officials and activists who Jackson has inspired and influenced. It also takes readers inside Jackson's negotiations for the release of hostages and political prisoners in Cuba, Iraq, and several other countries. As Democratic politics sees a return to radicalism and the rise of a new generation committed to racial and economic justice, this is a critical book for understanding where America in the 21st Century has come from and where it is going.

Featuring a foreword by Michael Eric Dyson.

Review Quotes

I Am Somebody is a book for anyone interested in presidential politics, Black American political history, and the link between the civil rights movement and modern political uprisings. Jesse Jackson has served as a consistent voice for economic freedom and racial equality, and David Masciotraintricately lays out the contributions of Jackson as we continue to fight for democracy, religious and economic freedom, racial equity, and the promise of the American dream. His analysis introduces us to a multifaceted and holistic Jackson, not a hagiographic retelling of Jackson's life and accomplishments. Jackson's concern was for the liberation and emancipation of people, at home and abroad, Black and non-Black, and it is this lifelong work that has solidified Jackson and his work into the moral fabric of this country. There is no Barack Obama, Black Lives Matter, or modern day poor people's movement without Jesse Jackson. A must read for anyone interested in race, protest politics, electoral politics, the Civil Rights Movement, leadership, and the power of one man to continue a civil rights legacy across generations to change the course of electoral history in America.
Christina M. Greer, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science at Fordham University, New York, USA. Author of Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream

Jesse Jackson is one of the most influential American leaders of the last half century, and historically one of the giants of the African American freedom struggle. In his paean to Jackson, I Am Somebody, David Masciotra, based on research, and extensive first-hand observations and multiple interviews with Jackson, presents a sprightly analysis of why Jackson matters in the African American freedom movement, human rights and the quest for a more just, equalitarian and inclusive American democracy. Although a sympathetic portrayal, Masciotra carefully balances admiration and detachment in his assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the man and his work. The book is an important addition to the literature on Post-Civil Era American politics.
Robert C. Smith, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, San Francisco State University, USA

My relationship with Jesse Jackson began in high school when he played quarterback at Sterling High School in Greenville, SC and I played quarterback at Lincoln High School in Sumter, SC. He attended A & T State University where he played quarterback and I quarterbacked at Clark Atlanta University. We both pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and served on its national board of directors. We were born to teenage mothers and both of them became beauticians and good friends. I know Jesse Jackson. I spent two years, 1980-82, as his executive vice president of Operation PUSH and served as the chief negotiator for signing covenants with major corporations. I know Jesse Jackson. Many books and articles have been written about "the Country Preacher", however, in this book, David Masciotra, has written the most comprehensive and balanced work on the life of this civil rights icon. It should be in every home, library and public place. Jesse Jackson is a citizen of the world.
James L. Felder, Author and Former Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, USA

About the Author

David Masciotra is a cultural critic, political commentator, and public lecturer. He is the author of Mellencamp: American Troubadour and Working On a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen. He writes regularly for Salon and AlterNet. He has also written for the Washington Post, Atlantic, and Los Angeles Review of Books.