Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson - Activists, Facts and Childhood

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Jesse Jackson's Personal Details

Jesse Jackson is an American civil rights activist

InformationDetail
BirthdayOctober 8, 1941
NationalityAmerican
FamousCollege Dropouts, Democrats, University Of Illinois, Activists, Civil Rights Activists
IdeologiesDemocrats
SpousesJacqueline Brown (m. 1962)
SiblingsChuck Jackson, Noah Robinson Jr.
Known asJesse Louis Jackson Sr.
ChildrensAshley Laverne Jackson, Jacqueline Lavinia Jackson, Jesse Jackson Jr., Jonathan Jackson, Santita Jackson, Yusef DuBois Jackson
Universities
  • University Of Illinois
  • Chicago Theological Seminary (1964–1966)
  • North Carolina Agricultural
  • Technical State University (1961–1964)
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1959–1960)
Notable Alumnis
  • University Of Illinois
Birth PlaceGreenville
Political IdeologyDemocratic Party
ReligionBaptist
Height191
GenderMale
FatherNoah Robinson
MotherHelen Burns
Net Worth$10 Million as of Jul 1,2016
Sun SignLibra
Born inGreenville
Famous asCivil Rights Activist

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Jesse Jackson's photo

Who is Jesse Jackson?

One of the most fierce and outspoken political figures in the USA, Jesse Jackson is known for his crusade against racism in America. Ever since he entered high school, he came face to face with the tortures that all African-Americans had to go through while trying to lead a normal life. Thus, from a very young age he involved himself in various civil rights movements, which earned the favor of Martin Luther King Jr. He conducted several marches and participated in various movements in support of equality and to end racial discrimination. In a short span of time, he became one of the leading personalities among the African-Americans to fight against racial discrimination. He was even looked upon as the successor of Martin Luther King Jr. but he fell prey to certain controversies and was suspended from Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the brainchild of King. Apart from advocating equal rights for the African-Americans, Jackson also promoted numerous global causes. He has been fighting against abortion and has been working hard to stop drug abuse.

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Childhood & Early Life

Jesse Jackson was born to Helen Burns, who was only 16 at the time of his birth. His biological father was Noah Louis Robinson, a 33 year-old former professional boxer, who was married. When Helen married Charles Henry Jackson, he adopted her son and gave him his last name.

Jesse was sent to the Sterling High School in Greenville, a school for the African-Americans, and graduated in 1959. He went to the University of Illinois after receiving a scholarship but transferred to North Carolina A&T in 1960, after his second semester.

After graduating from North Carolina A&T in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, he attended the Chicago Theological Seminary on a scholarship.

While at the North Carolina A&T, he was an active participant in several civil rights protests which he continued in Chicago Theological Seminary. He dropped out of the university to fully dedicate himself to the civil rights movement.

Career

In 1966, he was appointed the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an African-American civil rights organization started by Martin Luther King Jr.

He was appointed as the organization’s national director in 1967 and under him the protestors boycotted consumer goods in an attempt to force the owners of several businesses to hire African-Americans.

However, his enthusiasm was not well-received by several members in the organization. Even Martin Luther King Jr. was a little annoyed by the young activist’s insolence.

Jackson was ordained a Baptist minister by the Chicago church in 1968.

In 1968, after King’s assassination, Jackson was in trouble for exaggerating the scene. He described to the reporters that King died in his arms and that he was the last person King spoke to before dying, whereas Jackson was not even there at the exact spot where the assassination happened.

People were enraged by his remarks and he was suspended from Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), before he resigned in 1971. Following his resignation, he established the ‘People United to Save Humanity’ (PUSH) in Chicago.

By this time, Jackson was increasingly getting involved in the national politics. He travelled to South Africa in 1979 where he gave a public speech disapproving apartheid. He also went to the Middle East and extended his support for the formation of a Palestinian state.

He founded the ‘National Rainbow Coalition’ in 1984 with the aim of attaining equal rights for African-Americans, women and homosexuals. The same year he contested the Presidential election. Though he did not succeed, he was a third Democratic candidate to have earned the highest number of votes.

He made a second run for presidency in 1988 which he lost to Massachusetts Governor, Michael Dukakis. After this, he withdrew from his campaign for presidency.

He continued working for the right and equality of African-Americans and in 1990 he was elected the shadow senator for the District of Columbia.

In 1996, both his institutions ‘PUSH’ and the ‘National Rainbow Coalition’ merged to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Jackson got into a yet another controversy in 1999 while trying to defend six high-school students who were expelled for fighting in Decatur, Illinois. He tried to convince the board to take back the students, a request the board simply declined. In response, he led a march at the school and was arrested for trespassing.

He remains active in socio-political activities and in 2012 he openly praised Obama's decision to support gay marriages.

Major Works

His organization PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), which later merged with another establishment ‘National Rainbow Coalition’, works towards establishing social equality and advocates the sharing of economic as well as political power in America.

PUSH also launched a campaign against abortion and supported the United States pro-life movement which argues that human fetus is a (living) person who has right to live.

He was the second African-American Democrat candidate, after Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm, to run for the Presidential office.

Awards & Achievements

In 2000, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor of America, for his social and political activism.

Molefi Kete Asante, an African-American scholar, historian, and philosopher included Jackson’s name in the list of the ‘100 Greatest African-Americans’ in 2002.

Personal Life & Legacy

On December 31, 1962, he married Jacqueline Lavinia Brown, with whom he has five children.

In 2001, it was revealed that he had an illicit affair with Karin L. Stanford, a writer and professor, with whom he had a daughter and was paying $4,000 a month to support his child.

Trivia

While at high school, this famous African-American political activist received a contract offer from the Chicago White Sox, Major League Baseball team, which he declined but he accepted a football scholarship from the University of Illinois.

This African-American once made disparaging comments on presidential candidate Barack Obama, while on a break during an interview with leading news channel Fox News, without realizing that the mike was on.

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Jesse Jackson's awards

YearNameAward

Other

2002Presidential Medal of Freedom
0- Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album
01989 - Spingarn Medal from the NAACP
0 1991 - American Whig-Cliosophic Society's James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service
0 2000 - American Whig-Cliosophic Society's James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service

Jesse Jackson biography timelines

  • // 8th Oct 1941
    Jesse Jackson was born to Helen Burns, who was only 16 at the time of his birth. His biological father was Noah Louis Robinson, a 33 year-old former professional boxer, who was married. When Helen married Charles Henry Jackson, he adopted her son and gave him his last name.
  • // 1959 To 1960
    Jesse was sent to the Sterling High School in Greenville, a school for the African-Americans, and graduated in 1959. He went to the University of Illinois after receiving a scholarship but transferred to North Carolina A&T in 1960, after his second semester.
  • // 31st Dec 1962
    On December 31, 1962, he married Jacqueline Lavinia Brown, with whom he has five children.
  • // 1964
    After graduating from North Carolina A&T in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, he attended the Chicago Theological Seminary on a scholarship.
  • // 1966
    In 1966, he was appointed the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an African-American civil rights organization started by Martin Luther King Jr.
  • // 1967
    He was appointed as the organization’s national director in 1967 and under him the protestors boycotted consumer goods in an attempt to force the owners of several businesses to hire African-Americans.
  • // 1968
    Jackson was ordained a Baptist minister by the Chicago church in 1968.
  • // 1968
    In 1968, after King’s assassination, Jackson was in trouble for exaggerating the scene. He described to the reporters that King died in his arms and that he was the last person King spoke to before dying, whereas Jackson was not even there at the exact spot where the assassination happened.
  • // 1971 To 25th Dec 1971
    People were enraged by his remarks and he was suspended from Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), before he resigned in 1971. Following his resignation, he established the ‘People United to Save Humanity’ (PUSH) in Chicago.
  • // 1979
    By this time, Jackson was increasingly getting involved in the national politics. He travelled to South Africa in 1979 where he gave a public speech disapproving apartheid. He also went to the Middle East and extended his support for the formation of a Palestinian state.
  • // 1984
    He founded the ‘National Rainbow Coalition’ in 1984 with the aim of attaining equal rights for African-Americans, women and homosexuals. The same year he contested the Presidential election. Though he did not succeed, he was a third Democratic candidate to have earned the highest number of votes.
  • // 1988
    He made a second run for presidency in 1988 which he lost to Massachusetts Governor, Michael Dukakis. After this, he withdrew from his campaign for presidency.
  • // 1990
    He continued working for the right and equality of African-Americans and in 1990 he was elected the shadow senator for the District of Columbia.
  • // 1996
    In 1996, both his institutions ‘PUSH’ and the ‘National Rainbow Coalition’ merged to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
  • // 1999
    Jackson got into a yet another controversy in 1999 while trying to defend six high-school students who were expelled for fighting in Decatur, Illinois. He tried to convince the board to take back the students, a request the board simply declined. In response, he led a march at the school and was arrested for trespassing.
  • // 2000
    In 2000, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor of America, for his social and political activism.
  • // 2001
    In 2001, it was revealed that he had an illicit affair with Karin L. Stanford, a writer and professor, with whom he had a daughter and was paying $4,000 a month to support his child.
  • // 2002
    Molefi Kete Asante, an African-American scholar, historian, and philosopher included Jackson’s name in the list of the ‘100 Greatest African-Americans’ in 2002.
  • // 2012
    He remains active in socio-political activities and in 2012 he openly praised Obama's decision to support gay marriages.

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Jesse Jackson's FAQ

  • What is Jesse Jackson birthday?

    Jesse Jackson was born at 1941-10-08

  • Where is Jesse Jackson's birth place?

    Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville

  • What is Jesse Jackson nationalities?

    Jesse Jackson's nationalities is American

  • What is Jesse Jackson ideologies?

    Jesse Jackson's ideologies is Democrats

  • Who is Jesse Jackson spouses?

    Jesse Jackson's spouses is Jacqueline Brown (m. 1962)

  • Who is Jesse Jackson siblings?

    Jesse Jackson's siblings is Chuck Jackson, Noah Robinson Jr.

  • Who is Jesse Jackson childrens?

    Jesse Jackson's childrens is Ashley Laverne Jackson, Jacqueline Lavinia Jackson, Jesse Jackson Jr., Jonathan Jackson, Santita Jackson, Yusef DuBois Jackson

  • What was Jesse Jackson universities?

    Jesse Jackson studied at University Of Illinois, Chicago Theological Seminary (1964–1966), North Carolina Agricultural, Technical State University (1961–1964), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1959–1960)

  • What was Jesse Jackson notable alumnis?

    Jesse Jackson's notable alumnis is University Of Illinois

  • What is Jesse Jackson's political ideology?

    Jesse Jackson's political ideology is Democratic Party

  • What is Jesse Jackson's religion?

    Jesse Jackson's religion is Baptist

  • How tall is Jesse Jackson?

    Jesse Jackson's height is 191

  • Who is Jesse Jackson's father?

    Jesse Jackson's father is Noah Robinson

  • Who is Jesse Jackson's mother?

    Jesse Jackson's mother is Helen Burns

  • What is Jesse Jackson's sun sign?

    Jesse Jackson is Libra

  • How famous is Jesse Jackson?

    Jesse Jackson is famouse as Civil Rights Activist