'This Is The Dream': Jesse Jackson Visits Plainfield, Bolingbrook Schools

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Rev. Jesse Jackson marked the 63rd anniversary of the historic Brown v. the Board of Education ruling with stops at Bolingbrook High School and District 202's John F. Kennedy Middle School, where he discussed the Civil Rights movement and held a Q&A with eighth-grade language arts students. "To see the children here, this is the dream," Jackson told Patch after the visit. "They're learning not only by reading but by association ... Multi-cultural association gives you multi-cultural appreciation."

His visit came at the request of JFK student Kayla Austin, who recently wrote a research paper on the depiction of the Civil Rights movement in the media for teacher Jennifer Gruca's class. Austin's mother works with Jackson through her consulting firm, District 202 Community Relations Director Tom Hernandez said.

Austin read from her research paper before Jackson addressed students and fielded their questions.

Before Jackson's visit ended, Austin presented him with a lapel combining the flags of the United States and South Africa. In turn, Jackson gave teacher Gruca a pin bearing the emblem of his organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

In Bolingbrook, Jackson donned a Raiders T-shirt, courtesy of two BHS seniors.

Top photo: The Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks to students at John F. Kennedy Middle School on Wednesday, May 17, 2017/Shannon Antinori