Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17, 2026, left behind a legacy of firsts.  A civil rights leader who broke boundaries and forced change, he ran for president of the United States twice. He didn't get the nomination either time, but when the photo of Jackson with tears running down his face after Barack Obama was first elected became public, it became an iconic symbol of how much that moment meant to Jackson and those for whom he'd fought. 

Jackson was a flawed human being. So are we. But perhaps his greatest legacy is that throughout his life, he insisted that America meant everyone, not a select few.  He set the tone for what it means to be American throughout his life and taught us how to incorporate those ideals into a political ideology that put social justice at the forefront.

Again, our country is in a struggle with what it means to be American. As a nation of immigrants, most of us are appalled by what's happening right now. Jesse Jackson is gone, but we need to stand up and continue fighting for the marginalized, the disadvantaged, and all of the people in our country who are part of this quilt we call America.

Thank you for your service, Rev. Jesse Jackson. May you rest in peace. 

Resources:
Robert Reich: What you can do now
The ACLU: How to fight back on abuses of power
The RPC: The Rainbow PUSH Coalition: The international human and civil rights organization founded by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. RPC seeks to empower people through the effective use of grassroots advocacy, issue orientation, and connections between the greater community and the disenfranchised.

The murder of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis sent shockwaves around the world.

Murdered just a few blocks from where George Floyd breathed his last breath crying for his mother in 2020, Good was a young white woman, a mother, a wife, and an activist who was appalled by what was happening in her community.

In what has essentially become a government militia, US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents use violent and aggressive tactics. Kidnappings, beatings, violence and cruelty are the norm. There is no apparent oversight.

Large numbers of ICE agents descended on Minneapolis at the direction of the current regime, terrorizing local immigrant communities, and causing chaos. 

Renee Good was, along with hundreds of other people in Minneapolis, exercising her constitutional right to peacefully protest. For that, she was murdered by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Ross has not been charged with a crime. In fact, he is under the protection of the government despite the massive numbers of videos proving she was shot without provocation as she attempted to drive away. 

Over and over again, I heard white Americans talk about how unsafe they felt now. If an officer can murder a white woman and get away with it, then everyone's at risk. That's true.

The very people who think they are safe in a fascist regime, which is where the US is headed if no one in power stands against it, is that even those who think they are safe are not. If you are deemed a threat or expendable, you become a target no matter what color your skin.

 "Now you know how we feel. Every single day." 

Black people in the US live with this fear every day. It's nothing new to them. It is new to white Americans, though. And, maybe, just maybe, this is where white America stands up.

According to the Police Violence Report for 2025, Black people were more likely to be killed by police, and more likely to be unarmed and less likely to be threatening someone when killed. In addition, the report says, "Police disproportionately kill Black people, year after year."

Black leaders immediately condemned the murder of Renee Nicole Good.  Black Lives Matter Minnesota founders came together and demanded accountability. They know what the fight for justice entails. George Floyd's murderer was found guilty, and is serving time for it. But, that is not always the case. Or even usually the case. 

The Police Violence Report states that, "Each year, fewer than 3% of killings by police result in officers being charged with a crime" and that "Most unarmed people killed by police were people of color."

Black people have lived with the fear that many white Americans now feel every day of their lives. 

If there was ever a time to pull together for change, it is now. 

Note from Kristine: Alex Pretti was murdered by border patrol officers after I wrote the above. He was an ICU nurse at a VA hospital. He was 37 years old. 

Resources:
Black Lives Matter Minneapolis leaders call for justice for Renee Good
Police Violence Report: Statistical database of police killings including demographics and circumstances 

The election on November 4, 2025, was the first test of how voters feel about the current regime's actions and policies since gaining power. In no uncertain terms, voters rejected the racism, sexism and run up to fascism of this administration.

Black women led the charge. They voted for women, Black and white, they voted for progress, and they voted for change. They voted in large numbers. And they made history. 

Detroit voters not only elected their first female mayor, but Mary Sheffield, mayor-elect, is the youngest Black woman ever elected as mayor in a major city. Meanwhile, Syracuse, New York elected its first Black mayor, Sharon Owens. Dorcey Applyrs became Albany's next mayor in a landslide. Black women were also instrumental in electing the first female governors in both Virginia and New Jersey. 

In one of the most polarizing elections of 2025, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim and of South Asian descent, won a stunning victory against the "establishment" to become New York City's mayor. 

Even in small elections, such as those for school board's across the country, Democrats took seats in large numbers. Clearly, voters rejected the current regime's agenda, and the smack down was due in large part to Black women voters. 

Sources:

• Black Women Lead Historic Democratic Sweep in 2025 Election
• Mary Sheffield Makes History
• Black voters are architects of Democratic victories

Dear Readers:

Grandfather's Gift began as a way to tell the true story of Nancy Jean's great-grandmother, Nancy Kendall, and her experiences as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Since then, we have expanded our focus to include much of the history of racial discrimination throughout the years, down to the present day. 

It's no secret that this project is written and administered by two white women. We've done our best to talk about difficult issues of racial discrimination, but we have no illusions that we know what it's like to be Black in America. 

We don't know what it feels like to fear for our lives during a routine traffic stop. We don't know what it means to be sitting in our own homes and then shot. We don't know what it means to be a Black mental health professional who goes to the aid of a white patient, and then is shot by police. It's unfathomable to most of us white Americans, but a fact of life for Black and brown people in this country. 

We can't truly know what it's like for people of color to have to hide in their homes because they fear being pulled into police custody and deported, or watch as their families are ripped apart. We sit in privilege. 

History was made on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The No Kings rally became the largest mass protest ever in the U.S. People protested for a host of different reasons, including the loss of voting and civil rights, the despicable treatment of immigrants, loss of protections for LGBTQIA+ communities, and the undermining of women's autonomy as guardians over their own bodies. Peaceful marchers came out in mass to draw attention to and object to what is happening in America. 

What you did not see in the crowds on Saturday were a lot of people of color. And, with good reason. Black and brown people have targets on their backs. Coming together in large numbers is too risky. ICE is real, police brutality is real. It's one thing to protest and risk arrest if you are white. It's quite another for a person of color. 

So, white Americans - it's up to us. As long as our immigrant, Black and marginalized communities suffer, so do we. We have to stand up and take a stand. Our risk is marginal. We have to be there for others in our communities, and on the larger stage. 

​Here are a few ways to make our voices heard and help those targeted by this administration:
​

• Join marches & protests. Stay peaceful and do not engage with hecklers.
• Encourage others to vote in every single election, including midterms. Local elections are extremely important.
• Protect your neighbors. If you see the police engaging with a person of color, you have a First Amendment Right to record what is happening. Without endangering yourself, get close enough to the situation to hear what is going on. Use your phone to record the incident. If an officer asks what you are doing, tell them you are there to observe and lend support. A watched police encounter is less likely to become volatile, although, we know that's not a given. Several people recorded George Floyd's murder, screamed at the officer to stop, and tried to intervene to no avail. The police officer who murdered Floyd was convicted largely because of those witnesses and recordings, however.
• Place yard signs on your lawn. I have two right now. One says "Hands Off," the other says "No Kings." I live in a small, rural, very red town. People driving by have actually stopped and told me how much they appreciate me putting signs out. They are afraid to do it, but knowing someone else thinks like they do makes them feel less alone.
• Write letters to the editor. Use facts and concise, measured arguments.
• Boycott advertisers who support the current regime. As of this writing, a few examples of companies enabling this administration include Amazon, Home Depot, and Walmart.
• Be there for members of your community. Whatever their political views, when they need help after a job loss, or just to make ends meet, offer help either directly or through local food pantry groups. 
• Donate to groups like the ACLU, and civil rights group that do the legal work, as well as groups that feed the hungry and provide shelter and necessities for those in need.
• Be always ready to respectfully engage when talking to others about what is happening.
• Stay hopeful. And, joyful. If there was one thing about the protests on Saturday that stood out, it was the fact that they were filled with joy. Inflatable costumes - we had a penguin, a pink pig, a lot of bananas, a T. rex, a frog, and others at the event in Erie, PA  - displayed the playful spirit of protestors. There were songs, chants and lots of laughs. 
• Take care of yourself. Don't let the bad stuff take over. Enjoy game night, celebrate the birthdays, live, laugh, and love. 

​Together, we will get through this, and make our country a better place for everyone. 

Thank you for being here!

--Kristine & Nancy Jean

Resources: 
What Should We Do Now? - Robert Reich
10 effective things citizens can do to make change in addition to attending a protest - The Conversation

As the current administration seeks to erase Black history, gut civil rights, and dismantle life-saving services, Black women lawmakers and leaders are among the loudest voices in raising the alarm and holding the administration accountable.

Challenging executive orders, and standing firm, these outspoken Black women include the following:

Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA): Representative Simon delivered a rebuttal to the current regime leader's speech in early 2025, where she warned that the mass firings and shut down of critical services would make the nation both "sicker" and "poorer."

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-CA): An outspoken activist who not only fights back verbally, but shows up at rallies, as well as prison camps, to draw attention to civil rights violations.

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY): As chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Clarke is loud and clear about her commitment to opposing current policies and confronting the administration whether it's "in the chambers of the House of Representatives or on the streets of America."

Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA): After the disappointment of the election, Lee urged Black women in Congress to continue to fight, remembering they aren't just fighting for themselves, but for the future. 

Aimee Allison, She the People Founder: Citing Rep. Simon and Rep. Crockett as role models, Allison pointed out that after the election, Democrats were in a tailspin, but Black women in Congress were ready to meet the moment. “It’s the role that we have played historically, and we’re meeting the moment in a way a lot of other people won’t or can’t,” Allison said.

Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: Serving in a conservative Supreme Court, Associate Justice Jackson's dissent of a court decision to allow the administration to drastically reduce the size of the federal government was a scathing rebuke both to the court, and the regime. Unafraid to confront the powers that be, Jackson recently stated, that "the state of our democracy" is what keeps her up at night. "I'm not afraid to use my voice," she said.

Large scale country-wide protests, such as the "Hands Off" and "No Kings" rallies were attended by largely white crowds, but Black activists have continued to work behind the scenes in other ways. Using boycotts, "State of the People" around the nation tours, and similar activities, Black activists are, like everyone else, still figuring out ways to resist the regime in these unprecedented times. 

According to Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Black women’s roles now must be “very targeted, very pinpointed, because we are in a crisis unlike anything we have seen in modern history for Black women.”

After the April 5, 2025, "Hands-off" protest, a long-time friend and I chatted via text about the next scheduled rally. My friend is an American citizen, but came to the US as a child with her mother and brother from Central America. 

We texted back and forth about rallies and marches, and how exciting it was to be a part of a group of like-minded people, even for an introvert like me. We looked for the next protests in her area, and I told her she'd be so glad she went. 

Then she said, "But, you look white." And, that's when it hit me. No one would ever mistake me for a person of color. I have red hair, albeit much faded red hair these days, and freckles. Maybe I am not blonde and blue-eyed, but I'm about as white as they come. ICE would never arrest me with a throng of other people, and send me off to a hellhole prison in another country without due process. 

But, it could happen to her. 

To my utter dismay, that possibility had not even occurred to me. It's happening to people every day. Families are being torn apart, people have been deported "by mistake," with no recourse. American citizens as young as 2-years-old, and at least one child, an American, in the middle of cancer treatments have been taken. 

When I was at the April 5 rally, I remember noticing that nearly everyone there was white. It didn't make sense to me then, but it does now. Black people, and people of color, are targets. I'd always considered myself "woke," but there is no denying that my whiteness blinded me to one of the realities of so many in this country. 

My friend, if you're reading this - and I know you are - thank you. Thank you for giving me permission to talk about this moment, and for pointing out your truth. I love you.  

So, where does that leave us? To me, it means that those of us in this privileged class need to take on the greatest responsibility. It's up to us to keep protesting, writing letters, making calls, taking stands, and donating - whatever we can do within our personal circumstances.

It's up to us because we will never face the consequences that someone of color might face for standing up for what is right. 

Find Your Power Amidst the Chaos: A List of Resources

This is not the first time our country has been in crisis mode. It won't be the last. But, for many, this is unfamiliar territory. It feels overwhelming. As our rights erode, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking one person can't do anything. But, that's not true. We just need to find our voice.

Our skills, personalities, and individual circumstances are different. Not everyone can do everything. But, there is something on this resource list everyone can do. 

It's time to get in some "good trouble."

People's Veto Day, April 5: Sponsored by 50501: 50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement, the Women's March, and Hands Off, this nationwide protest is being held in locations around the country. Find your local protest here. 

Indivisible: Find local, virtual, and various protest campaigns, including telephone banking, petition signings, and postcard mailings. 

Blue Wave Postcard Movement: Participate in postcard campaigns to protest and inform. 

5 Calls: Call your representatives and tell them what you think. 5 Calls is an app for Android and iPhone which makes it easy. They even give you a script, so stage fright is no excuse!

Boycotts Work: While not as dramatic as newsworthy protests, economic boycotts have a history of sparking change. Goods Unite Us and Open Secrets give full details about which political organizations and issues a company or individual supports. Boycotting those you do not agree with is a quiet, yet powerful way to use your dollars to protest. 

Use Your Voice: On social media, with friends, family, and community - voice your outrage. In a kind way, of course. 

Find Your People: Your family, close friends, and in your community - there are like-minded people within your reach. 

Be Kind to Others: It's easy to turn outrage into hate. How can people be so cruel, we wonder. It's a good question, but we can't let the actions of others change our caring and compassionate hearts. 

Be Kind to Yourself: The chaos is exhausting. It's important to take a step back every once in a while. Get out in nature, read a book, listen to music, or whatever you need to do to stay healthy in mind and body.

And, never forget to hope. It's our greatest asset. 

"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." - John Lewis

How are you handling the chaos? Comment below, or email Kristine at [email protected] and let us know!

When All We Have Left is Ourselves
Guest post by Kristine Schwartzman

The irony of celebrating Martin Luther King's life and legacy, and the inauguration of a president who exemplifies division and hate on the same day is not lost on many Americans.

Like many of you, I hoped that Americans would choose a woman of color as Commander in Chief. An exemplary leader, Kamala Harris promised to be a president for everyone. But, that is not what happened.  

We cannot stop what is coming. This will be a time of great hardship for so many. The question now is where do we go from here when it all seems so futile?

Martin Luther King, Jr. faced enormous obstacles, hurdles and setbacks. We only need to look to him for inspiration. After all, it's his day. And, he knew a little something about courage. 

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl; but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward."

"Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles."
​

Guest Post by Kristine Schwartzman

Voter suppression is nothing new. Even after Black men attained the right to vote in 1869, laws, threats, long distances to polling places, and unattainable qualifications kept many from exercising that right.

Grandfather's Gift posted about this very issue in a September 2, 2020, feature about Otis Moss, Sr., who in the Jim Crow south in 1946, was turned away from polling place after polling place, until time was up. The polls closed. Otis Moss, Sr. never got the chance to cast his vote. Voter suppression never stopped.  Instead, it became much more sophisticated over the years.

An election looms. Voter suppression laws and tactics threaten the fairness of each and every race. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, studies about the effect of laws and suppression tactics, such as strict voter ID requirements, voting restrictions on Sundays, longer wait lines at polling places for people of color, the closures of many polling places in neighborhoods where people of color reside, and higher rejection rates for mail-in ballot votes cast by Black and Latina voters than those cast by white people, show that time after time, eligible voters are denied the opportunity to make their voices heard. 

Voter suppression laws undermine our democracy. It's up to each one of us to fight against voter suppression and keep our elections fair.  What can we do?

Volunteer:
Protect the Vote: If you agree that every eligible voter deserves to have their voice count, you can take action from home or in person by serving as a nonpartisan Election Protection volunteer.

Donate to any of the following organizations that use legal means to fight voter suppression:
The ACLU
League of Women Voters
The Legal Defense Fund

Vote for Candidates Who Believe That Every Eligible Voter Deserves a Voice:
Check Your Registration
Check Your State's Voting Requirements
Mail-in Ballot Requirements by State
Find Your Polling Place
Personalized Ballot Info About Candidates and Issues

ABOUT THE WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT
Introduction by Sally Roesch Wagner
Edited by Sally Roesch Wagner
Foreword by Gloria Steinem

An intersectional anthology of works by the known and unknown women that shaped and established the suffrage movement...

Comprised of historical texts spanning two centuries, The Women’s Suffrage Movement is a comprehensive and singular volume with a distinctive focus on incorporating race, class, and gender, and illuminating minority voices.

This one-of-a-kind intersectional anthology features the writings of the most well-known suffragists, such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, alongside accounts of those often overlooked because of their race, from Native American women to African American suffragists like Ida B. Wells and the three Forten sisters.

At a time of enormous political and social upheaval, there could be no more important book than one that recognizes a group of exemplary women–in their own words–as they paved the way for future generations.

The editor and introducer, Sally Roesch Wagner, is a pre-eminent scholar of the diverse backbone of the women’s suffrage movement, the founding director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation, and serves on the New York State Women’s Suffrage Commission.

-- Penguin Random House