Honoring Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., Epstein Files Trauma, and the SAVE Act’s Voter Suppression Threat (with Rev. Mark Thompson & Afua Atta-Mensah)

This week on TMI, Tamika D. Mallory and Mysonne Lennon reflect on the passing of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., sharing personal memories and underscoring the importance of preserving our elders’ stories and photographs. They explore Reverend Jackson’s enduring legacy—from economic justice campaigns and strategic boycotts to voter registration efforts—and the personal sacrifices borne by his family.

Tamika opens up about the spiritual toll of researching the Epstein files, describing how reading witness accounts deeply disturbed her spirit and even affected her dreams, The conversation turns to the SAVE Act, which Tamika argues is a modern-day poll tax designed to disenfranchise voters by requiring passports or birth certificates to register or update voter information—placing disproportionate burdens on Black Americans, married women with name changes, and elderly people without access to documentation.

Reverend Mark Thompson joins the show to honor Reverend Jackson, recounting a mentorship that began in 1983 and reflecting on Jackson’s measurable impact on corporate accountability, DEI, and voter registration, while calling for unity and maturity in movement leadership.

The episode also features Afua Atta-Mensah, NYC’s Chief Equity Officer and Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice, who explains how the office was established through a 2022 charter amendment, her role coordinating equity across city agencies, and the real-world challenges of governance and delivering daily impact.

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