The man in the wheelchair lacked the booming voice for which he has so long been known.

Eighty-three years of life and a diagnosis of Parkinson’s finds the Rev. Jesse Jackson speaking in low, almost inaudible tone. But with his son, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson interpreting, the civil rights icon delivered a message worthy of his days stumping for justice alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Said the elder Jackson: “It’s good to be home again.”

The Rev. Jackson was back in a familiar place today as he visited the restored A.G. Gaston Motel, the centerpiece of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.

The  Rainbow/PUSH founder told a small group in the A.G. Gaston display at Alicia’s Coffee that he can’t speak well because of the disease with which he was diagnosed in 2017.

“But,” he said through his son, “my mind is on freedom.”

“He says the Bible teaches us to remove not the ancient landmarks where our fathers have set,” the U.S. representative said, parroting his father. “This is a landmark. Never forget it.”

The former civil rights leader turned his conversation to the federal landscape and the actions of President Trump.

“It’s dark but the morning comes,” the son said for his father. “It’s real dark but when it’s real dark, you can see the stars more clearly. Amen.”

Earlier, Jonathan Jackson spoke of the “unbroken continuity” of his sister Santita Jackson and him being at the A.G. Gaston Motel with their father.

“I’m so grateful for my father, Reverend Jesse Jackson, for having brought me here my entire life,” the representative said. “He made sure that we never forget. I brought my children here. That’s the challenge, that we don’t forget.”

The 59-year-old said he is part of the first generation of African Americans that had equal rights.

“All of the achievements that have been made are now under attack,” he said. “(With) the laws that are being rescinded, opportunities are now fewer for my children than they were for myself. I thank God for my father and all the freedom fighters that expanded the doors of opportunity. Now, it’s time for another generation to fight to keep them open.”

Jackson, his son and daughter were at A.G. Gaston Motel to explore future partnership opportunities with Kendra Woodfin, wife of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, and KultureCity, a nonprofit dedicated to sensory inclusion and disability accessibility.

As the Rev. Jackson was wheeled through the A.G. Gaston exhibit, he held out a fist as he approached a portrait of boxing great Joe Louis. He recounted having preached at Louis’ home.

Rashad “Roc” Harrell, owner of Alicia’s Coffee with Naimah Alicia Elmore, recounted a sweet part of the visit.

“A local baker (Pam Kennedy of Sweetz By Pam) here in Birmingham baked a cake to present to him that said, ‘Welcome back home,’ Harrell said. “When we presented him the cake, he grabbed the cake and he wouldn’t let go. His daughter said he likes sweets.”

Woodfin said it’s important to know that the civil rights movement was not long ago.

“These pioneers, some of them are still living today, like Jesse Jackson,” she said. “To have him back in this space is momentous.

“To even be able to have a conversation with him about what’s going on in the climate today, with civil rights, disability rights, equality,” Woodfin continued. “It’s still a conversation that we need to have. To be able to have it with the people who fought so hard for it back then is amazing.”