Jesse Jackson 1

"THE LINE OF SLAVERY IS NOT BROKEN": JACKSON

24-08-2007

"The line of slavery" has not been broken. Those are the chilling words of US civil rights campaigner Jesse Jackson who was in Handsworth last night launching a new pressure group designed to bring economic equality to Britain's ethnic minorities.

Jackson gave an electrifying address to a congregation of more than 600 people at the Canon Street Baptist Church which, despite its name, is in Soho Road.

The Stirrer was the only journalist given access to the former Presidential candidate's tour bus after the show, where he expanded on themes which he had earlier delivered in a call-and-response style to his enthralled audience.

Jackson's argument is that although slavery was abolished, black people still had much to strive for.

"We have to renew our spirit" he said.

"It's not enough to be free. You must also be equal. The struggle never ended. There's no such thing as 'back in the day'.

"Freedom was never an end in itself. Freedom was just a means to the end -which is equality."

After slavery, he says, came colonialism; and after colonialism came apartheid - all of which subjugated black people, and were supported by Britain and the United States.

Now, maintaining that thread, we have the institutionalised racism that leaves black people and other minorities on both sides of the Atlantic mired in educational under-achievement, relative poverty and high crime.

His words for the predominantly African-Caribbean audience were challenging and empowering.

He said: "You have the power to change your situation, but you must believe. Don't worry about what you don't have. Use what you've got."

Jackson's powerful address complemented comments made by Lee Jasper, the Equalities Advisor to London Mayor Ken Livingstone, who outlined the principles of "Equanomics" - a new political group designed to use the power of the black pound to ensure fair recruitment policies.

Jasper vowed: "We will pull together the biggest consumer boycott/ shareholder action this country has ever seen".

It was a call backed by Jackson who demanded affirmative action by government and big business: "We buy their clothes, we eat their fast food. They need us, we need them. Which means we have power and they have power. So let's cut a deal."

Speaking privately to The Stirrer, Jackson also demanded that Birmingham apologise for slavery; earlier that day, Ken Livingston had said sorry for London's role in the transatlantic trade of African people.

As one speaker commented: "Birmingham made the chains. Birmingham made the guns."

Is it true that "the line of slavery is unbroken"? Should Birmingham apologise for its role in the trade?And can "Equanomics" help members of ethnic minorities get a better deal? Leave a comment on the Message Board.