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Jesse Jackson Sr.American politician
Date of Birth: 08.10.1941
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.
Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., an American politician, gained fame for his fight for civil rights. He ran for President of the United States in 1984 and 1988 as a Democratic candidate. In February 2006, he was named one of the most significant African American leaders by AP-AOL.
Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, USA, Jesse Jackson's mother, Helen Burns, was only 16 years old when he was born. His father, a former professional boxer, was married to someone else and was not interested in his son. When Jesse was 2 years old, Helen married Charles Henry Jackson, who officially adopted Jesse 14 years later.
Besides his education, Jesse actively participated in sports and was invited to join a professional baseball team after graduation. However, he chose to attend the University of Illinois, where he became a member of the university's football team. After a year, Jesse transferred to A&T in Greensboro, North Carolina, claiming racial discrimination as the reason for his transfer.
After graduating from A&T, Jackson initially studied theology but later focused entirely on law. In 1990, he received an honorary theological degree and became a master's degree holder in 2000.
At the age of 21, Jesse married Jacqueline Lavinia Brown, and they had five children from 1963 to 1975. However, in 2001, Jackson had another child after an extramarital affair with his subordinate, Karin Stanford. This led to a temporary pause in his civil rights activism and the payment of $4000 per month in alimony.
Civil Rights Activism
Jesse Jackson became known for his struggle for civil rights, which began with his participation in public speeches in Alabama. In 1965, he played a role in establishing the Chicago chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and became its leader in 1967. The organization aimed to put pressure on white businessmen to improve working conditions for African American employees and support African American entrepreneurs.
In 1966, Jackson started working alongside Martin Luther King Jr. to restore a sense of dignity to African Americans. However, conflicts with Ralph Abernathy, King's successor as head of SCLC, arose after King's assassination in 1968. In 1971, Jackson organized an alternative organization called Operation PUSH, which absorbed his followers from SCLC. In 1984, Jackson formed the Rainbow Coalition, which merged with PUSH in 1996 to become the Rainbow PUSH organization.
Additionally, Jackson's influence allowed him to enter the international arena. His meeting with a Syrian leader in 1983 contributed to the release of an American pilot who had been shot down over Syria. This meeting, along with the pilot's invitation to meet President Reagan, enhanced Jackson's image as a patriot and boosted his chances during the 1984 presidential election.
Political Career
In 1984, Jackson ran for President of the United States for the first time as a Democratic candidate, organizing a nationwide campaign. He won elections in 5 regions of the country, including the District of Columbia, and finished third overall with 21% of the popular vote.
In 1988, Jackson again participated in the presidential elections as the main candidate for the Democratic Party. With better funding and campaign organization, he improved his previous performance, winning elections in 11 regions.
After his presidential campaigns, Jackson remained involved in politics, holding important positions in the District of Columbia and becoming a colleague and friend of Clinton. He participated in various political and social projects, initially supported Barack Obama, later expressing disappointment in his policies, but eventually rekindled his support for Obama. In 2002, Jackson was included in the list of the "100 Greatest African Americans."
