Jacqueline Jackson facts for kids

Jacqueline Lavinia "Jackie" Jackson (born March 7, 1944) is an American author and peace activist. She is known for her book Loving You, Thinking of You, Don't Forget to Pray. This book is a collection of letters she wrote to her son, Jesse Jackson Jr., during a challenging time in his life.

Jacqueline Jackson has been married to Jesse Jackson since 1962. She is often described as a private person who stays out of the public eye.

Early Life and Education

Jacqueline Lavinia Davis was born on March 7, 1944, in Fort Pierce, Florida. Her mother, Gertrude "Gertie" Davis, worked hard picking beans. Jacqueline never met her father.

When Jacqueline was five, her mother married Julius Frances Brown Sr. He was a Navy Chief Petty Officer. The family then moved to Newport News, Virginia. Jacqueline once said her mother was "too strict" when she was a child. As a teenager, she thought about becoming a nun, but she chose a different path. She has four half-siblings.

Jackson attended Huntington High School in West Virginia. After high school, she went to North Carolina A&T State University. This school was then known as the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina.

While at A&T, she was active in the Civil Rights Movement. She even wrote a paper arguing that China should join the United Nations. Jacqueline left A&T when her first child, Santita, was born.

Career and Activism

The Jackson family visiting Mahatma Gandhi's grave in India. Jacqueline Jackson is on the right. Her husband Jesse Jackson is next to her.

Author and Advocate

In 2013, Jacqueline Jackson's son, Jesse Jackson Jr., faced legal challenges. He was in a correctional facility for a period of time. While he was there, Jacqueline wrote him a letter every single day.

After her son was released, she gathered these letters into a book. The book is called Loving You, Thinking of You, Don't Forget to Pray. It was published by Skyhorse Publishing. To share their story, Jacqueline and Jesse Jr. appeared on TV shows like CBS This Morning. They also spoke on radio shows like WGN (AM).

They used these opportunities to talk about important issues. They discussed how the justice system works. They also talked about how to help people who have been in prison return to their communities. They wanted to help people become productive citizens.

Peace and Humanitarian Work

Jacqueline Jackson has been a strong voice for peace and human rights. In 1979, she traveled to Beirut with activist Jack O'Dell. There, she met with Palestinian leaders, including Yasser Arafat.

A journalist for Ebony magazine described her in 1984. He said she was a powerful speaker for groups facing challenges. This included Black women. In 1985, she led a group of 10 women to Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia. They went to help with relief efforts during severe droughts in those countries.

In 2001, Jackson took part in a protest in Vieques, Puerto Rico. She was protesting the United States Navy's bombing tests in the area. She and nine other activists were arrested for trespassing. She was held in jail in San Juan for 10 days. She refused to pay bail. During this time, she also refused several meals.

When she was released, her husband Jesse came to meet her. She described the experience as very challenging. For her efforts during this protest, she received the Peace & Justice Award from Rainbow/PUSH.

In May 2021, North Carolina A&T State University honored her. She received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. This was for her many years of dedicated service.

In Politics

Jacqueline Jackson played a role during her husband Jesse's campaign for president in 1984. She spoke at a fundraiser at Howard University. She encouraged women to support her husband.

During the campaign, Jackson wanted to keep their personal lives private. She was sometimes noted for her fashion choices. She wore dresses by designers like Adolfo, Bill Blass, and James Galanos.

In the United States presidential election of 2008, Jackson supported Hillary Clinton. She backed Clinton to be the Democratic Party's candidate.

Family Life

Jacqueline met Jesse Jackson during her first year at A&T College. They married on December 31, 1962. She was 18 years old and in her sophomore year of college. The wedding took place at Jesse's parents' home.

Together, they have five children:

• Santita (born 1963)
• Jesse Jr. (born 1965)
• Jonathan Luther (born 1966)
• Yusef DuBois (born 1970)
• Jacqueline Lavinia (born 1975)

In August 2021, Jacqueline Jackson and her husband were hospitalized. They both had COVID-19. Jacqueline had not been vaccinated at that time. On August 27, she was in the intensive care unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Her husband was moved to a rehabilitation facility.

By September 4, she was able to return home. After recovering from COVID-19, she spoke publicly. She encouraged everyone to get vaccinated and follow health guidelines.