COOK COUNTY JAIL — A week into her second stint at Cook County Jail, 48-year-old Rhonda Grades told Rev. Jesse Jackson that she couldn't spend Christmas with her two children.
But Grades said she was grateful that Jackson and several public figures made time Christmas morning to speak to them.
"It lifts me up. It makes me feel like I'm worth something," Grades said.
Jackson has been leading Christmas services at Cook County Jail for decades and has invited other prominent figures in Chicago's African-American community to talk to inmates about their futures.
This year, 231 inmates filled up a gym at the jail as they listened to Jackson, Rev. James Meeks, rapper Che "Rhymefest" Smith and others talk both about violence and the choices the inmates can make.
It was one of two services held at the jail this Christmas. Blase Cupich made his first Christmas visit as the Catholic Church's Archbishop of Chicago.
"I was in Cook County [Jail]. I was wearing the same colors you are wearing right now," Rhymefest said, pointing to his criminal history. "When you leave, don't vow not to come back. Come back to teach until nobody is in those colors."
Jackson and others also made comments about the large prison population at the jail, which was 8,883 on Christmas Eve, calling for the legal process to move quicker and reserving jail space for those who are accused of violent and other serious crimes.
But Jackson also shared some tough love with the inmates, noting that it was their actions that landed them in jail instead of with their families on Christmas.
"Wise men go the other way," said Jackson, telling the crowd to think about their decisions upon leaving jail.
Inmates said they were taking the advice to heart.
"I'm hurt because I'm not with my family today," said Charmaine Cotton, 26, who has been charged with drug possession. "I'm going to make sure I don't end up here again."
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