AME Bishop Reginald Jackson, a stalwart civil and social justice advocate, dies at 71 – AFRO American Newspapers

Report on the Life and Legacy of Bishop Reginald T. Jackson in Relation to the Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report documents the passing of Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, a prelate of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, on November 25 at the age of 71. It analyzes his five-decade career as a religious and civic leader, contextualizing his extensive work within the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His efforts significantly contributed to advancing goals related to education, justice, and equality.

Commitment to Quality Education (SDG 4)

Bishop Jackson’s career demonstrated a profound commitment to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities. His actions directly supported the targets of SDG 4.

• He served on the Orange Public Schools Board of Education for 16 years, including 12 years as its president, influencing educational policy at the local level.
• He served for 13 years on the Essex County College Board of Trustees, with 10 years as president, contributing to accessible higher education.
• As chairman of the board for Morris Brown College, he led the Sixth Episcopal District in paying off the institution’s debts, a critical step that facilitated its reaccreditation and secured its future as an educational institution for the community.

Advocacy for Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16)

A significant portion of Bishop Jackson’s work focused on promoting a just, peaceful, and inclusive society, aligning with the core principles of SDG 16. He actively worked to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

1. Voting Rights: He was an outspoken advocate for voting rights, collaborating with organizations like the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) to combat voter suppression laws in Georgia. His voter registration and mobilization efforts were recognized for their impact on ensuring representative decision-making.
2. Legislative Reform: He was instrumental in pushing the state of Georgia to enact hate crimes legislation, which became law in 2020, strengthening legal frameworks to protect vulnerable communities.
3. Institutional Accountability: Bishop Jackson consistently challenged political leadership to address systemic issues, including white-collar crime and a lack of moral character in public office, advocating for more accountable governance.

Efforts to Reduce Inequalities (SDG 10) and Promote Well-being (SDG 3)

Bishop Jackson dedicated his ministry to reducing inequality within and among communities by addressing social and economic disparities affecting underserved populations.

• As president of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey from 1994 to 2012, he represented over 600 churches, organizing community action on key social issues.
• His advocacy centered on achieving equity in:
  • Healthcare access
  • Criminal justice outcomes
  • Economic opportunity
• Rev. Al Sharpton noted his lifelong devotion to justice and the empowerment of people, highlighting his work on battles for economic equality.

Global and Local Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

Bishop Jackson’s leadership exemplified the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable development. He effectively mobilized faith-based communities and civil society organizations to work towards common goals.

1. International Service: His appointment as prelate of the 20th Episcopal District included oversight of churches in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Uganda, reflecting a commitment to global development and partnership.
2. Civil Society Collaboration: He worked closely with national civil rights organizations, including the National Action Network and the LDF, leveraging his moral authority to advance shared objectives in justice and equality.
3. Community Mobilization: He embodied the ethos of the Black Church as a powerful agent for social change, empowering communities and encouraging collective action to challenge injustice and build a more equitable society.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • The article highlights Bishop Jackson’s commitment to education through his long service on educational boards. This demonstrates a direct connection to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Bishop Jackson’s life’s work focused on fighting for social and economic equality for Black communities. His advocacy against voter suppression and for economic empowerment directly addresses the goal of reducing inequalities within and among countries.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • This goal is central to the article. Bishop Jackson’s efforts in civil rights, criminal justice reform, promoting voting rights, and pushing for hate crimes legislation are all fundamental to building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies with accountable institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.5: “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable…” The article mentions Jackson’s work on raising “awareness on social issues such as equity in schools” and his leadership roles on the Orange Public Schools Board of Education and Essex County College Board of Trustees, which directly relate to ensuring equal access to education for underserved populations.
2. Under SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity…” This target is addressed through Jackson’s work as a “towering faith leader who devoted his life to justice, service, and the empowerment of our people,” specifically in the areas of “voting rights to economic equality.”
   • Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices…” This is evident in the article’s description of his work with the Legal Defense Fund in “battling Georgia’s voter suppression laws” and his push to “enact hate crimes legislation.”
3. Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.” Bishop Jackson’s critique of political leaders, stating “We have too many people in D.C. with positions of power but who lack character,” and his call to address “the rise in white collar crime… even in the White House,” points directly to the need for accountable institutions.
   • Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” This target is clearly connected to his advocacy for voting rights. The article states his “voter registration mobilization helped flip the state of Georgia,” demonstrating a direct impact on ensuring representative decision-making.
   • Target 16.b: “Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.” The article provides a concrete example of this when it notes that Jackson “pushed the state to enact hate crimes legislation, which became law in 2020.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

While the article does not cite official SDG indicators, it mentions or implies several concrete outcomes that can serve as indicators of progress:

1. For SDG 4 (Quality Education):
   • An implied indicator is the successful accreditation and financial stability of educational institutions serving Black communities. The article notes that under Jackson’s leadership, Morris Brown College was “accredited” and the “Sixth District paid off all of its debts.”
2. For SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • An indicator for political inclusion is the rate of voter participation among marginalized groups. The article explicitly points to this by stating, “His voter registration mobilization helped flip the state of Georgia and put the rest of the nation on notice.”
3. For SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions):
   • A direct indicator for promoting non-discriminatory laws (Target 16.b) is the enactment of specific legislation. The article provides a clear example: “he pushed the state to enact hate crimes legislation, which became law in 2020.”
   • An indicator for ensuring representative decision-making (Target 16.7) is the outcome of legal challenges against discriminatory practices. The article mentions his work with the Legal Defense Fund in “battling Georgia’s voter suppression laws” to “protect the fundamental right to vote for countless Black Georgians.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: afro.com