Jesse Jr. packs 'em in for N'Digo gala

Spoof about Obama's VP choice leads to talk about struggle for level playing field

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June 24, 2008

As he surveyed the crowd Saturday night at the N'Digo Foundation Gala, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was pumped: He was the event's chairman, and had helped attract 1,100 influential African Americans to the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker.

His famous father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., watched him proudly from the audience and his wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th), was one of six women being honored for her impact on the community.

So as he walked up to the podium to welcome guests, Jackson was effervescent. "I bring you breaking news from CNN," he began. "Barack Obama has selected a vice presidential running mate." (The audience gasped.) "And it's ... Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr." (Laughter and wild applause.) "I accept. Please don't blow up my cell phone."

Jokes aside, Obama was a hot topic at the $350-a-person affair: Fashion designer Duvall Pettway turned heads as he walked around with a model in a black and white evening gown marked with bold lettering that read: "Vote Obama."

And Jackson Sr., who lost his bids for the Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988, was mindful of his own impact on the election.

"[Obama's win] is a civil rights victory, and it's the end result of 54 years of struggle to level the playing field," he told me.

N'Digo founder Hermene Hartman emceed the award presentation with V103's Doug Banks. The radio host earned cheers for saying he was glad to be back on the air in Chicago, and then got quizzical looks when he went on a long rant, scolding guests against stealing extra goody bags and trying to hawk them on the street. (Not a likely scenario, since they had branded T-shirts and pens inside.)

Honorees chosen for their "style and substance" were Johnson Publishing matriarch Eunice Johnson (who was unable to attend), WFLD-Channel 32's Wanda Wells, the Rev. Helen Carry, Chicago Teachers Union president Marilyn Stewart and advertising maven Carol H. Williams.

But the evening's climax was a scholarship presentation to 23 students, ranging from $1,000 to full rides at Roosevelt and DePaul Universities.

Homewood-Flossmoor High School grad LeRoy Weathersby got a standing ovation; he had scored a perfect 36 on the ACT test, was forced to retake it and beat the odds to earn another perfect score. He'll be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this fall.