The Jackson name is a very popular one among the African American communities in the U.S. From sports where we have people like Jim Jackson to movies with people like Samuel L. Jackson, there are also people like the legendary singer Michael Jackson and the American Politician, Jesse Jackson who all bear the name.
Because of the name, their popularity, and closeness, the question on wether Michael Jackson and Jesse Jackson are related is one that has been there for a long time. Are they?
Are Michael Jackson and Jesse Jackson Related?
The question of whether Jesse Jackson and Michael Jackson are related is one that has sustained for a very long time. Following the death of Joe Jackson, the father of the late king of pop, Jesse took to his twitter to describe the elder Jackson as “brother beloved”, raising the question again.
However, the truth is Michael Jackson and Jesse Jackson are only related by name and nothing more except for race and fame. So far, there is yet to be any indication that sometime in the distant past, the two men share ancestors.
While Jesse Jackson who was born in 1941 is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, Michael Jackson who was born in 1958 was a native of Gary, Indiana. The father of the pop star, Joe Jackson was born in Fountain Hill, Arkansas. This means that geographically, the two men are completely from different places.
In fame, the two men are related in the sense that they are both famous, one as a music star and the other as a preacher, civil rights activist, and politician.
Who are They
If between Michael Jackson and Jesse Jackson, you are wondering who is who, surprising as it may be, here is a chance to meet them both:
Michael Jackson
Describe as one of the greatest entertainers the world has been privileged to see, Michael Jackson was a musician, songwriter, and dancer whose career spanned 4 decades from 1964 until his death in 2009.
Michael was born as the eighth child of Joe and Katherine Jackson. He has three younger siblings, of which one was from his father’s affair with Cheryl Terrell. Among his siblings are Tito Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, and Janet Jackson.
His father was a former boxer who played guitar with a local band while his mother who had wanted becoming a performer, played clarinet and piano. Considering this, it was easy for Katherine and Joe to get their children to start music at an early age.
This began The Jackson 5 that had Jermaine Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, and Marlon Jackson. Michael later joined before going on to his solo career. He released 10 solo albums, 1 live album, 34 compilation albums, and 6 EPs in his career.
The best selling musician of all time only after The Beatles and Elvis Presley, Michael’s career recorded many achievements and awards including 13 Grammy Awards, 16 World Music Awards, 17 Billboard Music Awards, and 26 American Music Awards. He has been inducted into many halls of fame including the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The King of Pop died on June 25, 2005, after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 50.
Jesse Jackson
On his part, Jesse Jackson who is also a minister of the Baptist faith became famous through his contributions to the civil rights movement in America and also as a politician.
Jesse was born to a 16-year-old mother, Helen Burns, and a father, Noah Louis Robinson who was then 33 out of wedlock. A year after his birth, Burns got married to Charles Henry Jackson who decided to adopt Jesse. Nonetheless, he still had a relationship with his biological father who was a boxer.
He got his education from Sterling High School in Greenville which was a racially segregated institution. He was a good football, basketball, and baseball player but after he graduated and was offered a deal in the minor league to play baseball, he rejected it and instead, chose to go to the University of Illinois where he had a football scholarship waiting for him.
Due to issues of racial segregation, he later transferred to North Carolina A&T. It was here that be began his activism. He led various protests before he graduated in 1964. Next, he went to the Chicago Theological Seminary but called it quits in 1966.
In the years that followed, he would get involved in civil rights activities in the United States and other countries around the world. In 1984, he became the second African American to make an attempt at becoming the President of the USafter Shirley Chisholm. He will again seek the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 1988 but would lose out to Michael Dukakis.
In the years that followed, he continuously got involed in politics and civil rights activities.