By Carla Brailey, Ph.D.
Imagine a sweltering Houston afternoon in 1992 at Texas Southern University. Four titans of our city’s political landscape converge. Barbara Jordan delivers a thunderous keynote, Mickey Leland’s protégés showcase their community projects, Pastor Bill Lawson leads an interfaith prayer and a young Sheila Jackson Lee organizes student voters.
While this exact gathering never occurred, it encapsulates the spirit and impact these leaders had on our city. This imagined moment foreshadows what I now call our “Celestial Caucus” – a powerful force guiding us through one of America’s most challenging eras.
Today, as we stand at a crossroads in our nation’s journey, these fallen giants – Jordan, Lawson, Leland, and now Jackson Lee – have transcended the earthly realm to become beacons lighting our path forward.
Congresswoman Barbara Jordan’s legacy is our constitutional North Star. During the Watergate hearings, she nearly single-handedly catalyzed Richard Nixon’s downfall, declaring, “My faith in the Constitution is whole; it is complete; it is total. And I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator of the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution.”
As we face unprecedented challenges to our democratic norms, Jordan’s words call us to action. We must scrutinize legislation, engage in civil discourse and hold our leaders accountable to constitutional principles.
Congressman Mickey Leland’s impact continues to ripple through time, shaping Houston’s leadership. “I’m not a professional politician. I’m a professional agitator. I’m a professional troublemaker. I’m a professional agent of change,” Leland once said. This ethos lives on in initiatives addressing food insecurity and global humanitarian efforts. To honor Leland, we must speak truth to power, mentor young leaders, and extend our concern beyond our borders.
Pastor Bill Lawson’s wisdom and interfaith initiatives have woven an unbreakable tapestry of unity across Houston’s diverse communities. His words resonate now more than ever: “We’ve got to learn to live together as brothers and sisters or we’re going to perish together as fools.” In our era of deepening divisions, we can embody Lawson’s legacy by engaging in interfaith dialogues, supporting cross-cultural community initiatives, and standing united against discrimination in all its forms.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, the newest member, was a force of nature until her last breath.
“Real leaders stand up and take responsibility for their actions. They don’t hide behind excuses,” she often said. To honor Jackson Lee, we must be present in our communities, vociferous in our advocacy, and relentless in our pursuit of justice.
As we approach the 2024 election, with some claiming Vice President Kamala Harris “can’t win” the presidency, we must channel the spirit of our Celestial Caucus. These leaders all faced moments when victory seemed impossible, yet they persevered. Their legacy calls us to action.
The challenges we face – voter suppression, disinformation, economic inequality – may seem insurmountable. But our Celestial Caucus faced similar odds and prevailed. Their collective wisdom guides us towards a more perfect union, reminding us that true power lies not in the odds, but in the righteousness of our cause.
CONCRETE ACTIONS
Here in Houston, home of the Celestial Caucus, we can embody their principles through concrete actions. Join the Houston Area Urban League’s voter registration drives. Participate in the NAACP Houston Branch’s community forums. Support the Houston Food Bank’s efforts to combat hunger. Engage with the Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston to build bridges across communities. Champion a cause for humanity. Fight in good faith for the marginalized. Make a donation to change someone’s life.
Whatever you do, uphold the legacy of the Celestial Caucus by getting into good trouble and checking off your efforts to save the soul of our nation. Do something, just as the Celestial Caucus and the late congresswoman did the good work. She told us the formula, “I do the work in this office. I do it quietly and consistently, and I check off the boxes of who’s being helped and who’s [still]in need.” Houston, we still have problems, so let’s not lose focus or hope.
As we move forward, let us feel the presence of our Celestial Caucus. Let Jordan’s eloquence inspire our words, Leland’s compassion drives our actions, Lawson’s unity strengthens our resolve and Jackson Lee’s tenacity fuels our persistence.
The 2024 election is more than a political contest: it’s a battle for America’s soul. It’s our opportunity to prove that the work of Jordan, Lawson, Leland and Jackson Lee was not in vain. The power to shape our destiny lies not just in the halls of power, but in our collective will to fight for what’s right.
Imagine the Houston – and America – that our Celestial Caucus envisioned. These leaders were working toward a place where the Constitution is revered and upheld, where hunger and poverty are relentlessly confronted, where our diversity is our strength and where justice is pursued without fear or favor. This is the future our Celestial Caucus envisioned. Now, it’s our turn to transform their heavenly chorus into earthly action.
Our Celestial Caucus has shown us the way, and we felt their force even more profoundly after Congresswoman Jackson Lee’s ascension. Her entrance coincided with President Biden’s decision to pass the torch to Vice President Harris. Let us rise to the occasion, as Houston always has, and become the force that saves democracy and moves America forward. The future they dreamed of is in our hands. Let us now make it a reality. The time is now! The force of the Celestial Caucus gives us the power within us to live out their legacies.
Let their spirit ignite our resolve, galvanize our efforts, and inspire us to act with courage and conviction. The torch has been passed to us. Let us honor their memory by forging a path to a brighter, more just future. The power to transform their vision into reality lies within each of us. Together, we can become the force that propels our nation forward, guided by the light of our Celestial Caucus. The time is now. The future is ours to shape. It’s 2024, and we have work to do to save the soul of our nation!
Carla Brailey is a Houston political strategist and assistant professor at Texas Southern University.
