Chicago Barber Cuts Rev. Jesse Jackson's Hair for Last Time

Larry Roberts Jr. recounts the emotional final haircut and shared memories with the civil rights leader's family.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Larry Roberts Jr., a Chicago barber and entrepreneur, recently recounted the experience of cutting Rev. Jesse Jackson's hair for the last time at the civil rights leader's home. Roberts, who has cut the hair of many celebrities over the decades, said it was an honor to give Jackson his final haircut and shared some lighthearted moments with the Jackson family during the visit.

Why it matters

Rev. Jesse Jackson is a towering figure in the civil rights movement, and his relationship with this local Chicago barber highlights the personal connections that can form between public figures and the community members who serve them. This story provides a poignant glimpse into the end of an era and the respect and affection shared between Jackson and his longtime barber.

The details

Roberts, who owns Larry's Barber Colleges, said he had been cutting Jackson's hair a few times in the last year, but the recent visit to Jackson's home was the final time. During the haircut, Roberts shared some lighthearted jokes with the Jackson family to put them at ease, including telling Jackson's mother that he would put 'keep hope alive' in the back of Jackson's head. Roberts said the goodbye felt different, with Jackson grabbing his hand tightly and Roberts hugging him and telling him he loved him.

  • A few weeks ago, Roberts cut Rev. Jackson's hair at his home.
  • Roberts had been cutting Jackson's hair a few times in the last year.

The players

Larry Roberts Jr.

A Chicago barber and entrepreneur who owns Larry's Barber Colleges. He has cut the hair of many celebrities over the decades, including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, and Charles Oakley.

Rev. Jesse Jackson

A civil rights leader and former presidential candidate who has been a prominent figure in the fight for racial equality and social justice.

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What they’re saying

“When they sit in this chair, we're everything to them. They have to entrust in us in their space with razors, with color, with relaxer, with clippers in our hair, right. they have to entrust us.”

— Larry Roberts Jr., Barber

“So, Mother Jackson, you know, I told her, I said, 'I'm going to put 'keep hope alive' in the back of his head,' you know, and she said, 'and you ain't going to be alive to keep hope alive, right,'”

— Larry Roberts Jr., Barber

“He grabbed my hand real tight as he always did, and I pretty much hugged him, you know, kissed him on the top of his head and just told him, 'I love you,' you know, 'I love you, Rev. Jackson,'”

— Larry Roberts Jr., Barber

What’s next

There are no clear next steps related to this story.

The takeaway

This story highlights the personal connections that can form between public figures and the community members who serve them, even in the most ordinary of settings like a barbershop. It provides a poignant glimpse into the end of an era and the mutual respect and affection shared between Rev. Jesse Jackson and his longtime barber.