"Flashback: The civil rights pioneer grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and after college joined King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Jackson was known for mobilizing young civil rights activists and organizing marches, taking part in famous events himself, including the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March. Jackson quickly became part of King's trusted inner circle. He was talking to King from the hotel courtyard just minutes before he was assassinated in Memphis in 1968."
"Friction point: Jackson later butted heads with other civil rights leaders after King's assassination and started his own community outreach organization in Chicago in 1971. Operation Rainbow PUSH (now Rainbow PUSH Coalition) is dedicated to improving the economic conditions of Black communities. In 1972, Jackson helped organize the Los Angeles festival Wattstax - a celebration of Black musicians and entertainers to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion. Before 100,000 people at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Jackson gave his famous "I Am Somebody" speech. Excerpts would be used by hip hop"
Jesse Jackson remained closely linked to Chicago and to the causes he championed despite not being from the city. The family's statement did not address his cause of death, and he had been suffering from several illnesses for years. The Rev. Jamal Bryant called him 'my superhero.' Jackson said that the right to fight for rights allows Americans to change and reshape the country. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference after college. Jackson mobilized young activists and took part in the 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march. He became part of Martin Luther King Jr.'s trusted inner circle and spoke with King minutes before the assassination. Jackson founded Operation Rainbow PUSH in 1971 to improve economic conditions for Black communities and helped organize the 1972 Wattstax festival.
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