Jackson, Jesse, Sr. (1941-)

Operation Breadbasket

In 1965, after watching the brutal attacks on civil rights activists in Selma, Alabama, on television, Jackson organized a trip there. Quickly introducing himself to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) directors—including Ralph Abernathy and Martin Luther King, Jr.—he asked for a job. Later that day, he adopted a “staff role, even taking the podium during a series of speeches. Although his actions surprised and disconcerted many on the SCLC staff, Abernathy was impressed.

After two days in Selma, Jackson returned to Chicago and, despite not having been hired by SCLC, began organizing Black ministers on behalf of the organization's economic arm, Operation Breadbasket. Breadbasket's “selective patronage” model organized local ministers to encourage White business owners with large Black customer bases to hire Blacks and invest in the Black community. After 6 months—and despite skepticism by King—Abernathy hired Jackson as the head of Operation Breadbasket in Chicago. Afterward, Jackson withdrew from CTS. He was ordained in 1968 but later received his master of divinity degree from CTS in 2000.

The Breadbasket group—dogmatically led by Jackson—was successful: 3,000 jobs and more than [Page 774]$20 million were added to the south side of Chicago in 2 years. In 1967, King named Jackson Breadbasket's national director, with fifteen affiliates. Meanwhile, Jackson built a large and loyal following among Breadbasket members in Chicago. During weekly meetings, Jackson's “I Am Somebody,” call-and-response refrain was popular:

• I am—Somebody!—

• I may be poor—But I am—Somebody!—

• I may be uneducated—But I am—Somebody!—

• I may be unskilled—But I am—Somebody!—

• I may be on dope—I may have lost hope—

• But I am—Somebody!—

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