Jesse Jackson

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The Student Government in 1964 Ayantee

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Jesse Jackson, half-length portrait of Jackson seated at a table, July 1, 1983 edit

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Jesse Jackson at Goodwill Games, 1990 (27189823926) (cropped1)

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Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. (born October 8, 1941) is an American civil rights activist, Baptist minister, and politician. He was a candidate for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as a shadow U.S. Senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. Jackson is the founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, an organization that pursues social justice, civil rights, and political activism.

Early Life and Education

Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, to Helen Burns, a 16-year-old high school student, and her 33-year-old married neighbor, Noah Louis Robinson. The identity of his biological father was not disclosed to him until later in life. Jackson was raised by his mother and her husband, Charles Henry Jackson, who adopted Jesse. He graduated from Sterling High School, a segregated education facility, where he excelled in sports and student leadership.

Jackson attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship before transferring to North Carolina A&T State University. He became active in local civil rights movements while in college. Jackson graduated with a B.S. in sociology in 1964 and then attended the Chicago Theological Seminary. He did not complete his divinity studies, opting instead to focus on the civil rights movement, but was later awarded an honorary divinity degree in 2000.

Civil Rights Activism

Jesse Jackson was deeply influenced by the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1965. He established Operation Breadbasket, which aimed at improving economic conditions for black communities through boycotts and negotiations with businesses. Jackson's work with Operation Breadbasket led to the founding of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition in Chicago, an organization that sought to expand economic opportunities for minorities and to advocate for social justice and civil rights.

Political Career

Jackson's political career is marked by his two bids for the Democratic presidential nomination. In 1984, he became the second African American (after Shirley Chisholm) to mount a nationwide campaign for the presidency. He ran again in 1988, winning several primaries and caucuses and increasing his delegate count. His campaigns were significant for mobilizing African American voters and bringing issues such as poverty, civil rights, and social justice to the forefront of the national dialogue.

In addition to his presidential campaigns, Jackson has been a prominent international figure, engaging in diplomacy and securing the release of hostages in several countries. He has also been a vocal advocate for a variety of social and political causes, including voting rights, education, and healthcare.

Legacy

Jesse Jackson's legacy is a complex one, marked by his contributions to the civil rights movement, his political activism, and his efforts to bring issues of race and poverty into the national conversation. He has been criticized and praised for his role in American politics and civil rights. Regardless, his impact on American society and his efforts to promote equality and justice cannot be understated.