Melba Moore Remembers Reverend Jesse Jackson's Legacy

Tony Award-winning R&B-pop legend reflects on touring with civil rights leader to rally support for MLK holiday.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Melba Moore, the Tony Award-winning R&B-pop legend, has shared her memories of touring with the Reverend Jesse Jackson to rally support for making Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. Moore often opened these events by performing her version of 'Lift Every Voice And Sing', with Reverend Jackson providing the narration. She described him as an 'outspoken humanitarian, especially for marginalized communities' and hopes that everyone will carry on his legacy of 'keeping hope alive'.

Why it matters

Melba Moore's reflections provide a unique perspective on Reverend Jesse Jackson's civil rights advocacy work and his collaboration with artists to amplify important social causes. As a prominent figure in both the music and social justice spheres, Moore's tribute sheds light on Reverend Jackson's lasting impact.

The details

During their joint tour, Melba Moore would open rallies by performing her rendition of the iconic song 'Lift Every Voice And Sing', with Reverend Jesse Jackson providing the narration at the beginning. Moore described this as Reverend Jackson's way of connecting the song's message of perseverance and hope to his own rallying cry of 'Keep Hope Alive'.

  • Melba Moore and Reverend Jesse Jackson toured together in the 1980s to rally support for making Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday.
  • Reverend Jackson narrated Moore's recording of 'Lift Every Voice And Sing'.

The players

Melba Moore

A Tony Award-winning R&B-pop legend who often opened rallies with Reverend Jesse Jackson by performing her version of 'Lift Every Voice And Sing'.

Reverend Jesse Jackson

A civil rights leader and humanitarian who collaborated with Melba Moore to advocate for making Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday.

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What they’re saying

“I'm so privileged to be able to say that I was on tour with the Reverend Jesse Jackson to several cities with large Black populations rallying to make Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday. I usually opened the rally with my version of 'Lift Every Voice And Sing'- ending with the long high note. He said it was comparable to his now legendary slogan, Keep Hope Alive.”

— Melba Moore, R&B-pop legend (The Toledo Journal)

The takeaway

Melba Moore's reflections on her collaboration with Reverend Jesse Jackson highlight the powerful intersection of music, civil rights advocacy, and the ongoing effort to cement Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. Their joint work to rally support for a national holiday serves as an inspiring example of how artists and activists can come together to drive meaningful social change.