By Charles Zackary King
Founder, America in Black and White | AMIBW The Magazine
The original article titled “Derrick Jackson Discusses Campaign for Governor” was written by Christopher Smith and published on News & Talk WAOK.
Georgia State Representative Derrick Jackson isn’t just running for governor, he’s running on legacy, lived experience, and a moral obligation to serve. With a 42-year career that spans military command, corporate leadership, and legislative advocacy, Jackson’s campaign is rooted in justice, equity, and empowerment for all Georgians, especially Black communities historically left behind.
A Life of Service and Strategy
Jackson is a husband, father of seven, and retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander with 22 years of service, including seven deployments. After a decade in the corporate sector with General Electric, he transitioned into public service, winning election to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2016. He represented District 64 until 2023, and now serves District 68, marking nearly a decade of legislative leadership.
His record includes fighting for voting rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and small business support. But Jackson’s work in underserved communities goes deeper, he’s been a consistent voice for economic justice, healthcare access, and educational equity.
Legislative Impact: Raising the Floor for Black Georgians
Among Jackson’s most impactful legislative efforts is his sponsorship of a bill to raise Georgia’s minimum wage to $27/hour by 2028. The bill proposed a phased increase, starting at $15/hour and rising annually, designed to uplift working-class families, especially Black workers disproportionately affected by wage stagnation and attacks on diversity initiatives.
This legislation, though stalled in committee, remains a cornerstone of his campaign. It directly addresses the economic disparities that have long plagued Black communities in Georgia, where over half a million Black jobs were lost in the past year due to rollbacks in equity programs.
Campaign Agenda: A Georgia That Works for Us
Jackson’s gubernatorial platform is built on eight pillars, each designed to help Georgia families thrive. For Black Georgians, his agenda includes:
- Medicaid Expansion to close healthcare gaps and prevent rural hospital closures
- Repealing Harmful Laws like the six-week abortion ban and rent control restrictions
- Investing in Black Farmers, Small Businesses, and Nonprofits with access to capital and policy inclusion
- Environmental Justice to protect communities from pollution and neglect
- Education Reform & Workforce Development with expanded access to trades, apprenticeships, and technical education
- Reparations Advocacy, proposing 33% of Georgia’s $16B budget be allocated to Black families as a fulfillment of broken promises
Jackson’s message is clear: “We’re not just building a Georgia for business, we’re building a Georgia for families.”
Inspired by Legacy: John Lewis and the Spirit of Service
Jackson cites civil rights icon John Lewis as a moral compass for his campaign. “I have a moral obligation to run for governor,” he said on WAOK, invoking Lewis’s legacy of courage and conscience. His leadership style blends executive discipline with grassroots empathy, qualities he believes make him the only candidate truly qualified to serve as Georgia’s Commander-in-Chief.
A Call to Action
Jackson’s campaign isn’t powered by million-dollar donors, it’s powered by people. He urges Georgians to “Tell 10 to Tell 10,” mobilize their communities, and vote for a future rooted in dignity, equity, and opportunity.
For Black Georgians, this race is more than political, it’s generational. It’s about reclaiming the promise of Georgia and ensuring that every child, every elder, and every entrepreneur has a seat at the table.
