Jesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. (born October 8, 1941) is an American church minister, activist and politician.[1] Jackson was born Jesse Louis Burns, in Greenville, South Carolina.[2] His mother, Helen Burns, was 16 years old at the time he was born.[2] She never married his father, Noah Louis Robinson.[2] When Jackson was two, his mother married Charles Jackson. Jesse was raised by his grandmother Matilda until he was 13. In 1957, he returned home when his step-father adopted him.[2]
Jesse Jackson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Shadow Senator from the District of Columbia | |
| In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | Paul Strauss |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jesse Louis Burns June 8, 1941 Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Jacqueline Brown (m. 1962) |
| Children | Santita Jesse Jonathan Yusef DuBois Jacqueline Lavinia Ashley Laverne (with Karin Stanford) |
| Residence | Washington, D.C. Chicago, Illinois |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Chicago Theological Seminary |
Early life and civil rights
After he graduated from high school, Jackson had an offer to play professional baseball from the Chicago White Sox.[3] He also received a scholarship to play college football at the University of Illinois, which he accepted.[3] He later transferred to North Carolina A&T.[3] He was one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s main organizers in Chicago for the Southern Christian Leadership Conferences. After King was shot, Jackson formed several civil rights organizations of his own. Two of these were Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition. Jackson was also active in civil rights movements outside the United States. He also served as a Baptist minister.
Presidential runs
Jackson ran for President in 1984 and 1988, coming in second in the 1988 Democratic party. Both times, he ran on a very liberal platform that wanted people of all races to co-operate, as well as more emphasis on education, urban issues and infrastructure. He wanted to be chosen as the Democrat's Vice-Presidential nominee, but Lloyd Bentsen was chosen instead. From 1991 to 1997, he was a shadow senator from the District of Columbia.[4] People thought Jackson might run against Bill Clinton in the 1996 primaries, but he did not.
In 2016, during the 2016 United States presidential election he endorsed Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.[5] In 2020, during the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, he endorsed Bernie Sanders to be the democratic nominee.[6]
Controversy
He is known for saying some things that are controversial. Some things he said were offensive to Jews.[7] He also said that Barack Obama was "acting like he's white"[8] and "talking down to black people."[9]
Personal life
Jackson's eldest son, Jesse Jackson Jr., is a former congressman from Illinois. His other son, Jonathan Jackson, is a congressman from Illinois as well.
In November 2017, Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.[10]
In August 2021, Jackson and his wife were hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, with COVID-19.[11]
Jesse Jackson Media
Jackson (center) with members of the Student Government at North Carolina A&T, c. 1964
The Rainbow/PUSH national headquarters in Kenwood, Chicago
Jesse Jackson speaking during an interview in July 1, 1983.
Jesse Jackson (right) with Curt Anderson (center) and Decatur "Bucky" Trotter (left) during a Maryland Legislative Black Caucus meeting in Annapolis, Maryland (1988)
Jackson making a speech at the Goodwill Games in Seattle, 1990
Jackson with Maude Barlow
Jackson outside the Florida Supreme Court, 2000
Jackson at an anti-war rally in 2007 with Sean Penn
Jackson with Charlie Strong and George W. Bush in April 2014
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References
- ↑ "Jesse Jackson Biography". Bio/A&E Television Networks, LLC. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Jesse Jackson". History/A&E Television Networks, LLC. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Jesse Jackson Fast Facts". CNN. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ↑ "What does DC's 'shadow delegation' to Congress actually do?". wusa9.com. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ↑ Scott, Eugene (June 11, 2016). "Jesse Jackson endorses Hillary Clinton". CNN. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ↑ Annie Grayer; Devan Cole. "Jesse Jackson endorses Bernie Sanders for president". CNN. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- ↑ Sabato, Larry (1988). Jesse Jackson's 'Hymietown' Remark – 1984. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/frenzy/jackson.htm. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ↑ "Jesse Jackson: Obama needs to bring more attention to Jena 6 - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ↑ "Jackson apologizes for 'crude' Obama remarks - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ↑ "Jesse Jackson diagnosed with Parkinson's disease". CNN. November 17, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- ↑ "Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife have been hospitalized after testing positive for Covid-19", Natalie Andes, Hollie Silverman and Alaa Elassar, CNN, updated 8:18 PM ET, Sat August 21, 2021