Santita Jackson

Last updated
Santita Jackson
Santita Jackson by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Jackson performing in July 2024
Born (1963-07-17) July 17, 1963 (age 61)
Education Harvard University
Parent(s) Jesse Jackson
Jacqueline Jackson
Relatives Jesse Jr. (brother)
Jonathan (brother)

Santita Jackson (born July 17, 1963) is an American singer and political commentator from Chicago, Illinois. As a singer, Jackson toured with Roberta Flack and performed the National Anthem at President Bill Clinton's second inauguration. She has appeared on the Fox News Channel and is the host of a television show on The Word Network. [1] Santita attended high school with Michelle Obama and served as Obama's maid of honor at her 1992 wedding to Barack Obama.

Contents

Early life and education

Jackson was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1963. [2] She is the oldest daughter of Jacqueline Lavinia Brown Jackson and civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson. Jackson was raised in Chicago along with her siblings Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, and Jacqueline. [3]

Jackson attended John J. Pershing Elementary School and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago, where she was a National Merit Scholar. While interviewing for admission to Harvard University, Jackson was criticized by two alumni for her father's political views. Though ultimately accepted to Harvard, she said of the school, "I didn't feel it was the proper environment after that interview." [4] Jackson subsequently attended Howard University on a full merit scholarship. While at Howard University, Jackson became a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Following her time at Howard, Jackson worked as an aide to Illinois congressman Gus Savage. [4] [5]

Musical career

Shortly after college, Jackson moved to New York to pursue a career in music. [5] She spent over five years touring as a backup singer for Roberta Flack, and later performed with the Opera Ebony company. [6]

In 1996, Jackson was asked by the family of Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown to perform at his funeral alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Howard University Chorale. [7] The following year, Jackson performed the National Anthem at Bill Clinton's second presidential inauguration. [8]

In 2009, Jackson released her first recording project, Put Your Arms Around the World, a collaboration with songwriter Janice Kapp Perry, vocalist Chris Willis, and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch. [9]

Political commentary

Television and radio

In April 2012, Jackson began working as a political commentator on the Fox News Channel. [1] She also hosts her own television show on The Word Network. [10] Earlier, Jackson produced her father's show "Upfront with Jesse Jackson" on The Word Network. [1]

Jackson is the writer, co-host, and executive producer of the nationally syndicated radio show "Keep Hope Alive with Rev. Jesse Jackson." [1] She previously hosted The Santita Jackson Show on Chicago's WVON 1690 AM. [11]

Other media

Jackson is a founding contributor at The Grio, an MSNBC website dedicated to African American news and opinion. [1] [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roberta Flack</span> American singer (born 1937)

Roberta Cleopatra Flack is a retired American singer who topped the Billboard charts with the No. 1 singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", and "Feel Like Makin' Love".

<i>The OReilly Factor</i> American cable television news and talk show (1996–2017)

The O'Reilly Factor was an American cable television news and talk show. The O'Reilly Factor first aired in the United States on Fox News Channel on October 7, 1996, the same day the network launched. It was hosted by independent commentator Bill O'Reilly, who discussed current events and controversial political issues with guests. The final episode aired on April 21, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Jackson Jr.</span> American politician (born 1965)

Jesse Louis Jackson Jr. is an American politician. He served as the U.S. representative from Illinois's 2nd congressional district from 1995 until his resignation in 2012. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the son of activist and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson and, prior to his career in elected office, worked for his father in both the elder Jackson's 1984 presidential campaign and his social justice, civil rights and political activism organization, Operation PUSH. Jackson's then-wife, Sandi Jackson, served on the Chicago City Council. He served as a national co-chairman of the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign. Jackson established a consistent liberal record on both social and fiscal issues, and he has co-authored books on civil rights and personal finance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roland Martin (journalist)</span> American journalist

Roland Sebastian Martin is an American journalist. He was a commentator for TV One, the host of News One Now, and Washington Watch with Roland Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WRLL (1690 AM)</span> Oldies radio station in Berwyn, Illinois, United States (2003–2006)

WRLL was an oldies radio station licensed to Berwyn, Illinois, United States, serving the Chicago market. It was owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications. The station's transmitter was located in Chicago's Ashburn neighborhood, near the Evergreen Park, Illinois border, and operated as a diplexed operation from one of the towers of its sister station, WGCI. The station ran 10,000 watts during the day, and 1,000 watts at night, using a non-directional antenna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killing Me Softly with His Song</span> 1971 song by Lori Lieberman and covered by Roberta Flack

"Killing Me Softly with His Song" is a song composed by Charles Fox with lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The lyrics were written in collaboration with Lori Lieberman after she was inspired by a Don McLean performance in late 1971. Denied writing credit by Fox and Gimbel, Lieberman released her version of the song in 1972, but it did not chart. The song has been covered by many other artists.

<i>Killing Me Softly</i> (Roberta Flack album) 1973 studio album by Roberta Flack

Killing Me Softly is a studio album by American singer-songwriter Roberta Flack, released on August 1, 1973, by Atlantic Records. She recorded the album with producer Joel Dorn for 18 months. The album was dedicated to Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Obama</span> First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is an American attorney and author who served as the first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, being married to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVON</span> Radio station in Illinois, United States

WVON is a radio station serving the Chicago market, which airs an African-American-oriented talk format. WVON is operated by Midway Broadcasting Corporation via a local marketing agreement with frequency owner iHeartMedia.

Morning Joe is an American morning news talk show, which airs weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the cable news channel MSNBC. It features former US Representative (Independent) Joe Scarborough reporting and discussing the news of the day in a panel format with co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist, who regularly co-hosts from Tuesdays to Fridays, along with recurring and special guests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amber Lee Ettinger</span> American model (born 1982)

Amber Lee Ettinger is an American actress, Internet celebrity, model, and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBGX</span> Radio station in Illinois, United States

WBGX is a radio station broadcasting a gospel format. Located in Harvey, Illinois, United States, it serves the Chicago area. The station is owned by Great Lakes Radio-Chicago, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Jackson</span> American Baptist minister, activist, and politician (born 1941)

Jesse Louis Jackson is an American civil rights activist, politician, and ordained Baptist minister. Beginning as a young protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, Jackson maintained his status as a prominent civil rights leader throughout his political and theological career for over seven decades. He served from 1991 to 1997 as a shadow delegate and senator for the District of Columbia. Jackson is the father of former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. and current U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Gaspard</span> American community activist and former diplomat

Patrick Hubert Gaspard is an American former diplomat who serves as president of Center for American Progress (CAP), a liberal think tank.

Robin Carolle Brantley, known professionally as Robin Robinson, is a longtime Chicago television news anchor best known for her 27 years as main news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-TV in Chicago. She can now be heard on the radio at WBBM (AM) as a fill-in anchor/reporter and WVON as host of her own show, 'Robin's Nest.'

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rory Flack</span> American figure skater

Rory Flack (Flack-Mitchell) is a professional figure skater and former competitor. She is the first African American woman to perform a back flip on the ice in 1991. In 1994 she became the first African American woman to win the US Open Professional Figure Skating Championships. She is very well known for her signature Russian splits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Wagner</span> American journalist (born 1977)

Alexandra Swe Wagner is an American television host. She is the host of Alex Wagner Tonight on MSNBC and the author of FutureFace: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest, and the Secret to Belonging. She was a contributor for CBS News and is a contributing editor at The Atlantic. In 2022, she hosted the first season of Netflix's The Mole reboot. Previously, she was the anchor of the daytime program Now with Alex Wagner (2011–2015) on MSNBC and the co-host of The Circus on Showtime. From November 2016 until March 2018, she was a TV co-anchor on CBS This Morning Saturday. She has also been a senior editor at The Atlantic magazine since April 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spirit (media personality)</span>

SPIRIT is an American television and radio personality, licensed therapist, author, and public speaker. Spirit first gained the attention of a national audience with appearances on The Tyra Banks Show in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eboni K. Williams</span> American attorney and television host

Eboni Kiuhnna Williams is an American lawyer and television host. She hosts the nightly news show The Grio with Eboni K. Williams on TheGrio. She co-hosted a talk show on WABC Radio in New York City and was a co-host of Fox News' 2017 show Fox News Specialists. In October 2020, she was cast in The Real Housewives of New York City for its thirteenth season.

Jacqueline Lavinia "Jackie" Jackson is an American author and peace activist. She wrote Loving You, Thinking of You, Don't Forget to Pray, a compilation of letters she had sent to her son Jesse Jackson Jr. while the latter was incarcerated. Married to Jesse Jackson since 1962, she has been described by The Los Angeles Times as "elusive, private and largely unknown to the public."

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Santita Jackson". foxnews.com. Fox News Network. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  2. Frady, Marshall. "The Long Circle Home." Jesse: The Life and Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson. New York: Random House, 1996. pg.152
  3. "The Elusive Jackie Jackson : Articulate and Charismatic, She Balances Keeping Her Identity and Living in His Shadow". Los Angeles Times. 18 May 1988. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  4. 1 2 Myra MacPherson (22 July 1988). "The Power of the Children". Washington Post . ProQuest   139573619.
  5. 1 2 Eastman, Dale. "The Rise of Jesse Jackson Jr. and the First Family of Black America". Chicago magazine. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  6. "Luncheon Speaker." The Buffalo News 10 Feb. 2000: NewsBank – Archives. Web. 3 Feb. 2013.
  7. Company, Johnson Publishing (1996). Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. p.  14 . Retrieved 10 July 2019. santita jackson.{{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  8. "President Clinton 1997 Inaugural Ceremony". www.c-span.org. 20 January 1997. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  9. "Put Your Arms Around the World". ldsmusicnow.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  10. "Programs: Santita Jackson". The Word Network. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  11. "The Santita Jackson Show." WVON 1690 AM – The Talk of Chicago. Midway Broadcasting Company, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2013. "Santita Jackson show". Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  12. "The truth about black fathers". theGrio. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2019.