He said members need to instruct each other about how to obtain life, fire and health insurance and how to invest in stocks and mutual funds, especially young people.

But he said he was still hopeful for the future.

"It is an awesome challenge to go forward by dreams and hope and not backward by fear and memory," he said. "We must choose to go forward by our dreams."

In a press conference after the speech, Jackson said black Americans are a great source of "underutilized talent and untapped capital." He compared the situation to sports, pointing out how much athletics progressed once black athletes were allowed to participate.

At the press conference, the two-time Democratic presidential contender was asked his opinion of the 2000 election.

Jackson denounced Texas Gov. George W. Bush for equivocating about the Confederate flag in South Carolina. By not condemning the flag, Jackson said Bush was sanctioning a symbol of "secession, sedition, slavery and sabotage."

Although Jackson said he did not openly endorse any one candidate, he said he thought Vice President Al Gore '69 possessed the three qualities that a successful politician must have: "ideas, relationships and hard work."

He said racial understanding must be a prominent national issue and consideration during the campaign.