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A local pastor, chosen by Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr., now leads the Rainbow PUSH Coalition into the next phase of the civil rights movement.
Haynes shared how his decades of studying Black history led him to this significant appointment and how his leadership could impact North Texas.
For years, Haynes has used his pulpit to advocate for environmental, economic, and racial justice.
“I believe in preaching it in the sanctuary and then taking it to the streets and corporate suites,” Haynes remarked.
Now, he takes his advocacy to the global stage.
“Some mornings I wake up in disbelief, realizing I’m now the president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH. Connecting the dots, Reverend Jackson was our special guest convocation speaker when I was a student at Bishop College in Dallas. That kid now succeeds the person he looked up to,” he reflected.
Jackson invited Haynes to lead the international Rainbow PUSH Coalition last year, an organization advocating for social change for over 50 years.
“Unfortunately, the fights of the past decades continue today, albeit in different forms,” he lamented.
“We need voting rights protection now more than ever. Additionally, we must push for a living wage, not just a minimum wage,” Haynes emphasized.
Haynes, named after his grandfather Frederick Douglass Haynes, a prominent pastor and civil rights figure, draws inspiration from Black history.
At 16, Haynes used lessons from Malcolm X’s autobiography to mobilize school boycotts in San Francisco.
Now, Haynes hopes to leverage Rainbow PUSH’s resources to amplify calls for change nationwide, especially in Dallas.
“The movement for justice is returning to the South, and Dallas has the opportunity to lead by example,” Haynes stated.
Dr. Haynes will be formally installed on Feb. 1 at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, followed by the Inaugural Social Justice Conference at Paul Quinn College on Feb. 2.