Thanks for Listening: Voices - Meeting Jesse Jackson
- William Leroy Kennedy
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 4
When I was the Equal Employment Opportunity Manager at Martin Marietta Aerospace in Orlando, FL, we learned that Jesse Jackson was coming to town to serve as the keynote speaker at the Florida Education Association Conference.
Personnel associate Mike Johnson and I decided to see if we could offer the company limousine for his party’s transportation. Upon approval, I contacted the Association with our offer. After explaining that the offer was legitimate, they approved.
Jesse came in on a Learjet on the private side of the airport with a white guy and a Black guy. Everyone was so in awe of Jesse that I had him all to myself. During the ride to the Hyatt Hotel, I was able to explain to him the article about him in the past week's Parade Magazine. Then we discussed the status of racial matters in Central Florida.
Upon arrival at the hotel, Jesse went directly into a press conference. His assistant instructed us to pick them up in three days. On the day of the scheduled pickup, I kept the limo driver until 6 PM, but there was no call. So I went home, where my phone number was unlisted.
Later, I received a call from them at home. Bob Billingsley, a Disney Vice President, had given them my home number. I explained that because I hadn't heard from them, I had let the limo driver go. They insisted that I use my personal vehicle to take them to the airport, and I acquiesced.
A Black woman and a white man accompanied Jesse. He said, “We have time to go to the restaurant for a snack.” As a result, I went with them. In the restaurant, they would raise a current issue, weigh the pros and cons, and take a position. On a scale of one to ten, the lady was a fourteen or more. I believe this strategy of listening to prolific communicators like Dr. King and this woman allowed Jesse to hone his skills.
I believe Jesse's listening strategy enabled him to become, as Phil Donahue called him, one of the best communicators in the world.
Jesse and the man took commercial flights to Chicago, and the woman flew to Kansas City.
Thanks for listening!
William Leroy Kennedy
Former Financial Services Professional at Kennedy Group, Ltd. – Financial/Motivation
Studied Architectural Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. Giving a strong recommendation: Khan Academy for educational success
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