Jesse Jackson Interview: On His 1984 & 1988 Presidential Campaign & Obama's Run

Jesse Jackson recalls moving to Chicago for seminary school in 1964, how he entered politics as an organizer, and details his 1984 and 1988 presidential campaign which laid the groundwork for Barack Obama’s candidacy. Jackson details the stages of the Civil Rights Movement and examines Obama’s Legacy.

Jesse Jackson is one of the foremost civil and human rights leaders in the United States. Born on October 8, 1941 in Greenville, North Carolina, he graduated from public high school and earned a degree in Sociology from the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College, and was later ordained as a Baptist Minister. He rose to national prominence through his work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), organizing in support of Dr. King during the sit-in movements and the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery. Appointed SCLC’s National Director of Operation Breadbasket, he advocated for fair employment and housing practices for African Americans. He later founded what is now the PUSH Rainbow Coalition, which began with PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in 1971, and the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984, two national organizing efforts advocating for inclusivity and economic and political empowerment for all people. In 1984 and 1988 he led groundbreaking presidential campaigns for the Democratic nomination on a progressive platform that registered millions of first-time voters and received widespread national support. Internationally, he was an outspoken critic of apartheid, advocate for Palestinian rights, and negotiated the release of hostages in Syria, Iraq, Kuwait and Kosovo. In 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Jesse Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Still a prominent advocate for civil rights, Jesse Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017.

From the 2021 three-part HBO documentary series Obama: In Pursuit Of A More Perfect Union. The personal and political journey of President Barack Obama is explored that weaves together conversations with colleagues, friends, and critics, alongside his own speeches and interviews.

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Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Activist
Interviewed By: Peter Kunhardt
Interview Date: October 19, 2019
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