Jesse Jackson

Jackson in 2016, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Jesse Louis Burns

Date of Birth: October 8, 1941

Place of Birth: Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.

Date of Death: February 17, 2026

Place of Death: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Ethnicity: African-American

The Rev. Jesse Jackson was an American civil rights activist, Baptist minister, and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he was U.S. Shadow Senator from the District of Columbia, from January 3, 1991 to January 3, 1997.

He was a candidate for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1984 and 1988.

Jesse was the son of Helen (Burns) and Noah Louis Robinson, who was a professional boxer and textile brokerage employee. Noah was married to another woman at the time. Jesse was raised by his mother and stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson, a post office maintenance worker, whose surname he took. He considered both men to be his fathers. His brother, Charles “Chuck,” was a singer with vocal group The Independents, and a solo artist.

Jesse was said to have had Cherokee Native American and Irish ancestry. It is not clear if these claims had been verified/documented.

Jesse was married to author and peace activist Jacqueline Jackson/Brown (born Jacqueline Lavinia Davis), until his death. He had six children: five, including singer and political commentator Santita Jackson, Democratic Party politician Jesse Jackson, Jr., and Democratic Party politician, activist, businessperson, and social justice advocate Jonathan Jackson, with Jacqueline; and a daughter with staffer Karin Stanford. Jesse Jackson, Jr. was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois, from December 12, 1995 to November 21, 2012; Jesse, Jr.’s former wife was politician Sandi Jackson. Jonathan Jackson has been a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois, since January 3, 2023.

Jesse’s paternal grandfather was The Rev. Jesse Robinson (the son of Harriet). The Rev. Jesse Robinson’s paternal grandmother was named Julia.

Jesse’s paternal grandmother was named Ella Ruth Cox (the daughter of Vinnie Thompson).

Jesse’s maternal grandfather was John Luke Austin (the son of Lewis Austin and Amanda Brown). John was born in Greenville County, South Carolina.

Jesse’s maternal grandmother was named Matilda Williams. Matilda was born in Easley, Pickens County, South Carolina.

Jesse was one of four black Americans to win a caucus and/or primary for a major American political party’s presidential nomination, having won 2+ states in 1984 and 9+ states in 1988. The other winners are:
*Walter E. Fauntroy (1972; Democratic; won Washington, D.C.)
*Shirley Chisholm (1972; Democratic; won 3 contests, including New Jersey)
*Barack Obama (Democratic; in 2008, he won 29+ states; in 2012, he won 50+ states)

Kamala Harris, whose father is Jamaican, was Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025, and was the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 2024.

Sources: Genealogies of Jesse Jackson – http://www.wargs.com
https://www.geni.com