---
title: "Watch – Jesse Jackson’s warning: Democracy decays when we get comfortable"
description: "On The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi reflects on the fighting spirit of Jesse Jackson and the warning embedded in his life’s work: democracy weakens when citizens grow tired. With elections looming and institutions under strain, this is a call to courage, participation, and refusing to normalise injustice."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "THE READINESS REPORT"
author: "Redi Tlhabi"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/redi-tlhabi/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-20-watch-jesse-jacksons-warning-democracy-decays-when-we-get-comfortable/"
published: "2026-02-20T12:05:19"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 69
---

# Watch – Jesse Jackson’s warning: Democracy decays when we get comfortable

> On The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi reflects on the fighting spirit of Jesse Jackson and the warning embedded in his life’s work: democracy weakens when citizens grow tired. With elections looming and institutions under strain, this is a call to courage, participation, and refusing to normalise injustice.

By Redi Tlhabi · Published 20 February 2026, 14:05 SAST

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcHRcJdU2Uo)

[Media](https://player.simplecast.com/88355fa6-532e-456c-b056-d1ff77785469?dark=false)

This episode was made possible thanks to [The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom](https://www.freiheit.org/sub-saharan-africa ).

![Image](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/xfGUULIHbGJUQm6h3Xsw7muUaLM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2986/FNF_Englisch_Farbe_Screen_362244.jpg)

You can listen to the Let’s Talk Human Rights podcast [here](https://open.spotify.com/show/59LYbrnDnmsupzBh9Sb9dH?si=9ea830a251094765&nd=1&dlsi=5905839e188d4e19).

Hosted by: Redi Tlhabi
Edited by: Joel Seboa
Produced by: Emilie Gambade & Joel Seboa
Original Theme Music & Design by: Bernard Kotze

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!
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