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Definition: Jackson, Jesse Louis from Philip's Encyclopedia

US politician and civil-rights activist. He worked with Martin Luther King, Jr., in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Jackson served as national director (1967-71) of Operation Breadbasket, an economic arm of the SCLC. In 1971, he formed Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) to combat racism in Chicago. Jackson mounted unsuccessful campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988. In 1986 he became president of the National Rainbow Coalition, which merged with PUSH to form the Rainbow/PUSH coalition in 1996.

Jackson, Jesse

From Encyclopedia of American Studies
Among the most dramatic social movements in American history, the civil rights crusade has been powered as much by charismatic leaders as by dedicated, grassroots laborers. Jesse Jackson has worked diligently on behalf of civil rights, but he may be most recognized for the dynamic way he has crafted a message of inclusion and reform. The power of Jackson's charisma and his message permanently altered the political landscape of the late twentieth century. Beginning his career as an activist and organizer in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Jackson was able to appeal to millions of Americans—black and white—in a rainbow coalition of the nation's dispossessed and disenfranchised. Jackson grew up with his own frustrations at social exclusion. He was born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, to a seventeen-year-old unwed high school student and her older, comfortably middle-class, married neighbor. Jackson's ancestors include black slaves, a Cherokee, and a white…
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Jesse Jackson, Sr., addresses a crowd on the Mall...
Our flag is red, white, and blue, but our nation is a rainbow. Jesse Louis Jackson arguably has been the leading voice for civil rights in the last quarter century. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson attended the University of Illinois and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College. …
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Full text Article Jackson, Jesse

From The Great American History Fact-Finder
Clergyman, civil rights leader, and politician. In the elections of 1984 and 1988 , Jackson became the first black to be a serious contender for the U.S. presidency. Although he failed to secure the Democratic nomination, he gained recognition as an effective orator and advocate of minorities. An…
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Full text Article Jackson, Jesse (1941–)

From Culture Wars in America: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices
A civil rights activist and Baptist preacher, Jesse Jackson twice ran for president of the United States during the 1980s, stating that he wished to introduce the “moral vision” of the civil rights movement into mainstream politics. His “I am somebody” and “Keep hope alive” slogans of black…
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Full text Article Jackson, Jesse (1941– )

From Dictionary of American Government and Politics
Jesse Louis Jackson is a Baptist minister, civil rights activist and prominent member of the American Left. He is the father of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jnr. Jackson was a Democratic presidential candidate in 1984 and 1988. He has never held elective office but has maintained a high profile – …
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Full text Article Jackson, Jesse Sr. (1941–)

From Freedom Facts and Firsts: 400 Years of the African American Civil Rights Experience
In the 1960s, Jesse Jackson Sr. emerged as an ally of Civil Rights Movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. Appointed to run the Southern Christian Leadership Conference 's (SCLC) Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, Illinois, and later becoming its national director, Jackson viewed himself as Martin…
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US clergyman and Democratic politician, founder and President of the Rainbow/PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) coalition. In 1984 and 1988 he sought nomination for the presidency, the first black American to be a serious candidate for the office. I cast my bread on the waters long ago. Now it’s…
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Jesse Jackson Sr. (1941–)
Activist, Minister Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. was born October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina. In 1959 Jackson left South Carolina to attend the University of Illinois. He became dissatisfied with his treatment on campus, however, and decided to transfer to North Carolina Agricultural and…
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Full text Article Jesse Jackson (1941–)

From The 100 Greatest Americans of the 20th Century: A Social Justice Hall of Fame
Jesse Jackson (1941–)
C redit : Associated Press/Kathy Willens O ne of the most famous photographs of Martin Luther King Jr . shows him standing on the balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, with three of his top aides—Ralph Abernathy, Hosea Williams, and Jesse Jackson. The next night (April 4, 1968), on…
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The first African American to ever seek nomination for the U.S. presidency, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson established himself as a dominant political force throughout the 1980s. A highly articulate and dynamic public speaker, he is known for his impassioned advocacy for empowerment, peace, and…
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Full text Article Jackson, Jesse Louis (1941 to )

From Chambers Dictionary of World History
US civil rights leader and minister. As Martin Luther King 's lieutenant, he established a strong branch of the SCLC in Chicago. In 1967 he initiated Operation Breadbasket, which aimed to create jobs by attracting business investment in black enterprises in the cities. In 1971 he became the…
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