Diaspora salutes late US Congresswoman Jackson Lee
Granddaughter of J’can immigrants dies after 30 years of service in House
Published:Monday | July 22, 2024 | 12:06 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
NEW YORK:
Jamaican political and community leaders in the United States have paid tribute to late longtime Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who died on Friday at age 74.
Jackson Lee, whose grandparents were Jamaicans, died from pancreatic cancer a month after publicly disclosing that she was battling the disease and undergoing treatment.
The Democrat had been serving in the House for 15 terms spanning three decades.
Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, whose parents are Jamaicans, said Jackson Lee dedicated her life to the people of Texas and sought throughout her political career to uplift members of the black community.
“Sheila was a fierce advocate and legislator, who always rose for the causes and communities close to her heart. She was a mentor to me, as she was to many others, and a visionary who was relentless in her pursuit of justice,” said Clarke.
“Congresswoman Jackson Lee would call out and correct any and all injustices that she perceived. No matter the subject of debate, there she stood, in the gap, making certain that her district, and by extension, all of us would benefit. Truly, she worked with a transformative and singular focus on legislating policy that achieved essential progress for the oppressed,” she added.
Clarke noted that Jackson Lee, the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, was raised in Queens, NY, giving them a common background and shared ideals.
“She and I were connected on so many levels. I will miss my sister colleague dearly,” Clarke said.
Former Broward County legislator Dale Holness said that Jackson Lee lived a life of excellence, no doubt rooted in her Jamaican heritage.
“Her life showed that people of Jamaican heritage dedicate their lives to the ideal of excellence, and I am sure that her Jamaican heritage played a significant part in how she lived her life,” he said.
Holness added that Jackson Lee led the way for the inclusion of all communities, but especially the black community, to partake in the economic life of the United States.
Retired New York City Council member Una Clarke recalled working with Jackson Lee to assist the Black River Hospital in an ongoing effort up to the time of her death.
She described Jackson Lee as a friend and said that the loss will be immeasurable.
New York State Senator Leroy Comrie, who also has Jamaican roots, said that while he had not personally met Jackson Lee, her work on behalf of the Caribbean community was well known.
He said that he hopes that others will follow in her footsteps.
“She falls in the category as someone who lived a well-defined life of service, not only to her congressional district, but to the wider black and Caribbean communities,” said Comrie.
The Congressional Black Caucus also paid tribute to the late Congresswoman, describing her as a fierce advocate for social and economic justice.
“Representative Jackson Lee was a titan and stalwart member of Congress, who served the Houston area and our country honourably for nearly 30 years in the US Congress. From the Houston City Council to the US Congress, Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a fierce advocate for social and economic justice, national and homeland security, energy independence, and children and working families,” the caucus said in a statement.
“... Jackson Lee was a devoted and active member of our caucus, who championed many causes, including racial equity and improving policing and community safety in America – most recently reintroducing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in May 2024.”
Last month, when Jackson Lee announced that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she acknowledged that “the road ahead will not be easy” and said she had faith that God would strengthen her.
Her family remembered her as “a fierce champion of the people”, saying that “she was affectionately and simply known as ‘Congresswoman’ by her constituents in recognition of her near-ubiquitous presence and service to their daily lives for more than 30 years.”
Born on January 12, 1950, in Queens, New York, Jackson Lee was among the first women to graduate from Yale University and served as a Houston municipal judge and a city councilwoman before she was first elected to represent Texas’ 18th Congressional District in 1994, unseating a Democratic incumbent in the primary for the Houston-area seat.
During her congressional tenure, Jackson Lee was an outspoken advocate for progressive interests and black Americans. She was one of the sponsors of legislation to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday, frequently spoke out against police brutality, and advocated federal legislation to prosecute police misconduct.