Jesse Jackson's Two Presidential Campaigns example essay topic
408 words
Rev. Jesse Jackson October 8, 1941 - Jesse Louis Jackson, President of the National Rainbow Coalition is one of America's foremost political figures. Over the past three decades, he has played a major role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice. Reverend Jackson has been called the "conscience of the nation" and the great unifier". challenging America to establish just and humane priorities and bringing people together on common ground across lines of race, class, gender and belief. Jesse Jackson's two presidential campaigns broke new ground in U.S. politics. His 1994 campaign won 3.5 million votes, registered over a million new voters, and helped the Democratic Party regain control of the Senate in 1986. His 1988 candidacy won seven million votes and registered two million new voters. As a highly respected world leader, Jesse Jackson has acted many times as an international diplomat in sensitive situations. In 1984, Reverend Jackson secured the release of captured Navy Lieutenant Robert Goodman from Syria as well as the release of 48 Cuban and Cuban-American prisoners in 1987. He was the first American to bring hostages out of Kuwait and Iraq in 1990. Jesse Jackson has visited thousands of high schools, colleges and universities, encouraging excellence and challenging young people to stay in school and away from drugs.
He has also been a major force in the American labor movement. He has worked with unions to organize workers, mediated labor disputes and he has probably walked more picket lines and spoken at more labor rallies than any other national leader. Reverend Jackson has been on the Gallup List of Ten Men Most Respected by Americans for ten years. He has also received the prestigious NAACP Spring arn Award. Reverend Jackson has been awarded over 40 honorary degrees. In 1986, Jesse Jackson founded the National Rainbow Coalition of which be is President.
The Rainbow is a national social justice organization devoted to empowerment, education and mobilization. Reverend Jackson is also the author of two books: Keep Hope alive (South End Press) and Straight from the Heart (fortress press, 1987) Jesse Jackson married Jacqueline Lavinia Brown in 1963. They have five children: Sami tita Jackson, Congressman Jesse Lewis Jackson, Jr., Johnathan Jackson, Y usef Bois Jackson and Jacqueline Lavina Jackson. The Jackson's reside in Washington, D.C..
