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Bill Moyers & Rev. Jesse Jackson

Just emerged from a talk by Bill Moyers about how big media control about what we know about government, news ,world affairs and each other. Moyers discussed his vision for the future – his fantasy, as he called it – where Democracy Now! Is carried by PBS stations across America as a matter of policy for fair and balanced reporting, so that everyone with PBS on their TVs can get the news that is covered (or-uncovered) by Amy Goodman every day on DN! Moyers urged the audience of over 3000 at the Cook Convention Center here in Memphis to work in their local communities to bring the real news, not the corporate voice, to the people.

The city of Memphis, on April 3, 1968 saw the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King at the Lorraine Hotel, just blocks from where I’m staying. Dr. King may have been shot, but his death did anything but stop a revolution. It galvanized a nation that had already been forged and steeled by a history of inequality going back to 1492. Glover cited that struggle and spoke of an economic inequality that persists today, in other words, who has access to media outlets and who does not.

Waiting in line for lunch, I watched as Rev. Jesse Jackson walked by. Since arriving yesterday I have learned how much Rev. Jackson was involved in the Civil Rights struggle in the 50s and 60s. Rev. Jackson stood beside Dr. King on many occasions, marched with him numerous times and stood by him when he was shot. I toured the Lorraine Motel, now the National Civil Right Museum. Yesterday, I looked out the window on the spot on the balcony where Dr. King was standing when he was gunned down by a sniper from a bathroom window on the building across the street. From that day in 1968 continually through today a wreath has been hung on the railing at that spot.

Later, Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke to us about relating the struggles of the Civil Rights movement to the struggles of today. Listening to him speak was a little like hearing Dr. King himself. He eloquently raised the public energy, using humor and appealing to basic human rights. As I listened to Jackson I closed my eyes and tried to imagine him in a Dr. King sort of role. I could almost hear the tenor and accent of King’s voice, saying his almost-final words, “I have been to the mountaintop….”

This plenary was hosted by actor/activist Danny Glover.