Vantage Point Vignettes
Comments and Commentary by Dr. Ron Daniels
We received the news a few weeks ago that the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee was diagnosed with the dread and deadly disease pancreatic cancer. I immediately added the esteemed Congresswoman to my daily Prayer List, certain that thousands of concerned friends, acquaintances, supporters, constituents and admiring citizens from around the nation and the world would form a prayer chain of hope and healing. We were collectively praying for a miracle. But it was not to be. Late last night the world received the “Breaking News” that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was called home to glory to the Ancestor Realm.
I had the honor of working with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee for decades, most recently as she firmly grasped the baton from the venerable, Honorable John Conyers, Jr. as the Lead Sponsor on HR-40, the bill that will create a Federal Commission to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans. She rapidly emerged as a visionary, courageous and uncompromising educator, advocate and strategist, vigorously promoting HR-40. Working collaboratively with a broad coalition of reparations advocates and mobilizing and organizing around the theme “Why We Can’t Wait,” which she lifted from the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Under Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s indefatigable leadership, HR-40 has amassed an unprecedented degree of support.
As a result, HR-40 is on the brink of becoming a reality, awaiting decision by President Biden to rise to the occasion and have an “Emancipation Proclamation” moment by creating the HR-40 Commission by Executive Order. Now, perhaps in memory of Congressman John Conyers, Jr. and Congresswoman Jackson Lee, Biden will finally act.
No matter whether Biden acts on HR-40 or not, the legacy of the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee is secure as the Barbara Jordan of this era. Barbara Jordan was the first African American Congresswoman elected from the South. She served on the House Judiciary Committee where she was a powerful advocate for civil rights and the rights of women and one of the most powerful orators of her time. Congresswoman Jackson Lee followed in Barbara Jordan’s footsteps as her successor representing the 18th Congressional District in Houston for 30 years.
Congresswoman Jackson lee was the driving force behind the adoption of Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday and a leading proponent of criminal justice reform, women’s rights, policies affecting the lives of children and a highly respected advocate for democracy and human rights on the global stage. Like Barbara Jordan, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a bold, visionary, courageous, eloquent and persuasive voice in defense of righteousness, justice, equality and dignity for people of African descent and marginalized people in America and the world; one of the greatest champions of freedom of our time!
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee will be sorely missed, but we must and will carry on, keep on keeping on as we shout out her name during Libations, calling on her spirit and power to be present, to be with us as we continue the victorious struggle! Rest in Peace and Power in the Ancestor Realm our beloved Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee. #RIP&PSJL
Featured image: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. (Sheila Jackson Lee, Flickr).
