Jesse Jackson to return to The Meadows
Rev Jackson, who walked with Dr Martin Luther King Jr long before he shed tears for Barack Obama, will be at The Pilgrim Church, The Meadows, on Sunday evening.
It is his second visit to the church in two years – he was there in August 2007.
The Rev Christian Weaver of the Pilgrim Church said: "We'd been working on various social economic things with him, mainly to help local people to realise that they can help themselves economically as well."
In particular, Rev Jackson's visit is in support of Equanomics UK, an organisation which says it aims to readdress "the poverty of wage inequality, international trade policy, credit, loan and debt distribution amongst ethnic minorities, and the consequent repercussions on education, employment, heath and housing, and general quality of life".
He will give a sermon in the church about "contemporary things," said Mr Weaver "what's happening in the here and now."
It comes at a time when "what's happening in the here and now" looks fairly extraordinary. The coming inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th US President marks a triumphant moment for the longtime civil rights leader, who has himself sought the highest office in the US several times.
Today, much of Rev Jackson's time is spent on political and social change issues, largely through the RainbowPUSH Coalition, the organisation he founded and serves as president.
While economic well-being and personal development may be on the agenda when Rev Jackson speaks in The Meadows, Mr Weaver doubts the evening will pass without mention of the stunning scenes from early November.
"It was really a scene, wasn't it," he said.
"I'm sure he is going to make mention of his joy and the joy of the American people."
Rev Jackson's visit to the church, in Queens Walk, is part of a whistle-stop tour of the Midlands – earlier in the day, he's scheduled to appear in Birmingham and Leicester.
His talk will start at 6pm, but people are being urged to arrive in plenty of time.
Mr Weaver, remembering the 2007 visit, said: "Come early enough to get a seat. The last time the whole place was packed out, and even outside people were standing around."
erik.petersen@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
The Rev Jesse Jackson on his last visit to Nottingham
Comment on this story