Chicago Embraced Civil Rights Icon Jesse Jackson from the Start

Friends and family say the community surrounded the young leader, helping him and his family thrive.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 11:23pm

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When Jesse and Jacqueline Jackson moved to Chicago in 1964, they were welcomed by a supportive community that provided them with housing, food, childcare, and spiritual guidance. As Jesse Jackson rose to national prominence in the civil rights movement, the Black community in Chicago, especially its pastors and church leaders, continued to nurture and mentor him. His children also found a sense of belonging and opportunity in the South Shore neighborhood, which remains an important part of the Jackson family's legacy.

Why it matters

This story highlights how the city of Chicago and its Black community played a crucial role in shaping Jesse Jackson's life and career as a civil rights leader. It shows the power of community support and how it can help sustain and elevate individuals working for social change, even in the face of adversity.

The details

When the young Jacksons arrived in Chicago in 1964, they were struggling to make ends meet. But the Leak family, owners of a funeral home, provided them with an apartment and helped the couple establish credit to buy furniture. The Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, led by Rev. Clay Evans, also stepped in to ensure the family had groceries each week and access to the best babysitters. Other pastors, like Rev. James Bevel and Rev. Martin Deppe, mentored Jesse Jackson and helped elevate him in the civil rights movement through initiatives like Operation Breadbasket.

  • In 1964, Jesse and Jacqueline Jackson drove into Chicago from North Carolina.
  • In the mid-1960s, Jesse Jackson was waiting in line at a food pantry at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, where he was serving as a youth minister.
  • In the 1970s and 80s, as Jackson's star rose, Chicago's pastoral community continued to provide him with spiritual guidance.

The players

Jesse Jackson

A civil rights leader who founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984.

Jacqueline Jackson

Jesse Jackson's wife, who accompanied him to Chicago in 1964.

Santita Jackson

Jesse Jackson's daughter, a singer and political commentator.

Rev. Clay Evans

The pastor and founder of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, who provided the Jackson family with groceries and childcare support.

Rev. James Bevel

A pastor who vouched for Jesse Jackson to lead Martin Luther King Jr.'s Operation Breadbasket.

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What they’re saying

“We were never alone, never alone, and that's the great thing about this city. It is a city that will embrace you.”

— Santita Jackson, Singer and political commentator (WBEZ)

“Boy, you better squeeze me tight because if it wasn't for your grandfather, we don't know where we would be.”

— Jacqueline Jackson (WBEZ)

“He came in, and like wildfire, within two or three weeks, he was running the meeting. His charisma [and] strengths were so, so evident that the leading Black pastors yielded the gavel to him.”

— Rev. Martin Deppe, United Methodist Church pastor (WBEZ)

The takeaway

This story highlights the power of community support and how it can help sustain and elevate individuals working for social change. Chicago's Black community, especially its churches and pastors, played a crucial role in nurturing Jesse Jackson and his family, providing them with the resources and guidance they needed to thrive. This community-driven approach helped Jackson become a renowned civil rights leader and shaped the legacy of the Jackson family in Chicago.