Jesse Jackson Jr. Becomes National Field Director of the Rainbow Coalition

In 1993 Jackson became national field director for the Rainbow Coalition, a political action group founded by his father.

He quickly restructured and modernized. He computerized many of the operations and trained staff to use the new equipment, established an Internet site, began a weekly faxed newsletter called "JaxFax," and codified his reorganization in a 200-page manual. He also helped establish new local chapters of Operation PUSH and campaigned for congressional candidates John Conyers and Maxine Waters, both political allies of his father. The new job garnered him so many contacts that he was able to cover his office walls with photographs of himself with presidents, world leaders, and other politicians.

He was regarded, even by many who voted for him, as a child of privilege with a famous name who would take predictable stands on the issues and make fiery speeches denouncing the evils of racism in America. Before he became a Congressman, he was a field director for the Rainbow Coalition, the organization founded by his father.

Jackson started his career as a political leader in 1989 when he became the president of the Keep Hope Alive PAC, a job he held until 1990. He has also served as vice president of Operation PUSH (1991 to 1995), which was originally founded by his dad in 1971, and as national field director for the National Rainbow Coalition (1993 to 1995). Founded by the Rev. Jackson, Operation PUSH/Rainbow merged in 1996. It advocates more minorities on the payrolls and in the corporate boardrooms of major U.S. companies.