51吃瓜黑料 Presents 鈥楰eep Hope Alive: A Gospel Celebration Honoring the Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson鈥�

April 29, 2026

51吃瓜黑料 invites the community to enjoy 鈥淜eep Hope Alive: A Gospel Celebration Honoring the Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson.鈥�

51吃瓜黑料 invites the community to enjoy 鈥淜eep Hope Alive: A Gospel Celebration Honoring the Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson.鈥� The event will take place Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the College鈥檚 Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, NJ. There is no charge for admission.

April 29, 2026, Jersey City, NJ 鈥� Ordained as a Baptist minister in 1968, Reverend Jesse Jackson extended his ministry beyond the pulpit. As 鈥渁 preacher without boundaries,鈥� he advocated for those who were poor, downtrodden, and forgotten. Most people know Reverend Jackson for fighting against segregation and voting restrictions, and championing affordable housing, minimum wage increases, and universal healthcare. His 鈥淜eep Hope Alive鈥� speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention roused the nation. Thousands gathered to celebrate Reverend Jackson鈥檚 life at his funeral in Chicago鈥檚 House of Hope. His legacy continues to inspire generations.

Reverend Jackson often used gospel music as a backdrop for his civil rights activism. His oratory style blended spoken word with music. In that spirit, Hudson County Community College (HCCC) invites the community to attend 鈥淜eep Hope Alive: A Gospel Celebration Honoring the Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson.鈥� This special event will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the HCCC Culinary Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City, NJ.

HCCC President Dr. Christopher Reber will welcome guests and Reverend Dr. Dorothy Patterson of the Wallace Temple A.M.E. Zionist Church in Bayonne will serve as the Mistress of Ceremonies. The program will include:

  • Introductory Remarks by Dr. Yeurys Pujols, HCCC Vice President for Institutional Engagement and Excellence;
  • Invocation delivered by Reverend Dr. Bertha Reels;
  • Tribute Reading for Reverend Jackson by HCCC student Cayla Rojas;
  • Performances by Rhudy Snelling, Jr., Helen White, Trinity Lutheran Church Choir Jersey City, and The Anointed Voices of Mt. Pisgah; and
  • Closing Remarks by Pamela Gardner, HCCC Trustee Emerita.

Influenced by ancestral African music, gospel music was sung a cappella, and featured a call-and-response style with rhythmic hand-clapping and foot-stomping. Born from traditional Christian hymns and songs, gospel music became symbolic of hope and resistance. In his book, The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. wrote that gospel music provided courage for enslaved people, enabling them to bide their time to fight for freedom. Faith, expressed through gospel music, unified people during civil rights marches. Gospel music is credited as the roots of blues, jazz, swing, R&B, and soul music.

鈥淜eep Hope Alive: A Gospel Celebration Honoring the Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson,鈥� is presented by the HCCC African American Outreach Committee. It is open 鈥� free of charge 鈥� to students, faculty, staff, and the community at large. Food and refreshments will be provided.

Registration is required.

More information may be obtained by contacting Mirta Sanchez at msanchezFREEHUDSONCOUNTYCOMMUNITYCOLLEGE.