“Never look down on anyone unless you’re helping him up.” This is one of Jesse Jackson’s famous quotes. This quote accurately summarizes Jesse Jackson’s priorities and achievements. He helped build the foundation for civil rights and freedom, as well as working with some of the most influential civil rights activists like Martin Luther King Jr. Jesse Jackson has been quite inspirational himself. Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina on October 8, 1941 (1). He was born into a poor sharecropping family. At the age of 15, he took the name of his father (6). Jesse Jackson was a top student in his class at Sterling High School. He was student president and received amazing grades (3). He had another talent, and that was being an excellent athlete. Jesse Jackson …show more content…
After leaving the University of Illinois, Jesse Jackson would go on to regularly talk to the greatest civil rights activist yet. He transferred to the Agricultural and Technical College of Greensboro, North Carolina (3). Jesse Jackson would go on to receive a B.A. in sociology, then moved to Chicago on a Rockefeller grant (1-3). In Chicago, he helped Martin Luther King Jr. found the SCLC’s Operation Breadbasket (1). He frequently marched with Martin Luther King Jr, usually in Selma, Alabama after Bloody Sunday (6). While working for MLK and SCLC, Jesse Jackson became a Baptist minister (3). MLK was impressed with his work, therefore ordaining Jesse Jackson as National Director of Operation Breadbasket. However, not long after, he was suspended and formally retired from the SCLC. Despite this, he continued to support civil rights, forming a new organization called Operation People United to Save Humanity or PUSH (1). In Jesse Jackson’s adulthood, he successfully inspired millions of people with his civil rights activities. Recently, Jesse Jackson has settled down due to health issues and