 When I think about leadership, I think about my mentor and political father, Rep. Jim Clyburn — The Boss. We talked recently at At Our Table about history, progress, and what it really means to lead with both conviction and grace. And as always, he reminded me that leadership isn’t about ego or attention. It’s about the responsibility to heal, to teach, and to keep the country moving toward its better self.
That’s what real leadership is: not inflaming division, but mending it. Rep. Clyburn also talked about the long arc of history and how those fault lines in our democracy demand constant repair.
And in his new book, The First Eight, he tells the stories of the eight Black congressmen from South Carolina who came before him — men whose names most Americans have never heard. Nearly a century passed between the eighth member’s service and his own election at the age of 52.
That perspective — born from patience, endurance, and truth-telling — is exactly what we need right now. It’s easy to call for new leadership. It’s harder to understand the cost of the road that got us here. As for me, I’m proud to say I’ve spent my career learning from The Boss. His example taught me that leadership isn’t about holding power. It’s about holding faith. We don’t lead just to make noise. We lead to make meaning — to remind people that progress is possible if we stay at the table long enough to build it. — Jaime You're currently a free subscriber to Jaime's Table. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Tuesday, October 28, 2025
“It’s Not What You’re Called, It’s What You Answer To” — Rep. Jim Clyburn on Holding Steady
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