40 Years of the Rainbow Coalition (Rerelease)
From Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips by Democracy in Color
February 19, 2026 · 57 min
About this episode
The episode reflects on the 40th anniversary of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, featuring discussions on its impact and legacy.
This is a rerelease of an episode from 2023 with a new intro from our founder, Steve Phillips. 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 Jesse Jackson 1984 Democratic National Convention Speech Rainbow Coalition Recordings:Dr. Amanda KempPierre BaroletteTheresa MontañoEllen Spears
People in this episode
Host: Steve Phillips
Guest: Eddie Wong
Topics covered
- Rainbow Coalition
- social justice
- political activism
- Jesse Jackson
- historical movements
Keywords
- Rainbow Coalition
- Jesse Jackson
- Eddie Wong
- social justice
- political activism
- historical movements
- equity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Rainbow Coalition
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