Jackson was a politician, activist, and Baptist minister, who in 1984 became the second African-American to declare candidacy for the office of President of the United States.
Muppet fans may recognize Jackson from his 1971 appearance on Sesame Street where he recited three of his poems "I Am - Somebody", "I Can Do", and "Nation Time." According to Muppet wiki, of them, only the first clip is known to survive.
"I Am - Somebody" was included as a bonus segment Sesame Street Old School: Volume 1 DVD, and was sung as song a few other times on the show.
That same year, Jackson founded Operation PUSH, which stood for People United to Save Humanity. Its initial membership list included Apollo Theatre manager Peter Long, and his wife Lorretta Long, who played Sesame Street's Susan. The organization is now known as Rainbow/PUSH.
Over the years Jackson helped negotiate the release of several detained and captured Americans around the world and in part due to these efforts, in 2000, Jackson was awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Bill Clinton.
Over the years Jackson helped negotiate the release of several detained and captured Americans around the world and in part due to these efforts, in 2000, Jackson was awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Bill Clinton.
Jesse Jackson was 84.
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