Former classmate shares impact young Jesse Jackson had
By Naomi Popa
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GREENVILLE, South Carolina (WYFF) — Just a mile from downtown Greenville and beside several new housing developments is Jesse Jackson’s first home. The civil rights trailblazer was born in Greenville on Haynie Street. He left a lasting impression for many who knew him, especially Freddie Clinkscales.
Clinkscales was born just two months before Jackson in 1941. She attended Sterling High School, a prominent all-Black high school in Greenville County alongside Jackson. They would later share a classroom together and many fond memories.
After the Jackson family had moved out, the Clinkscales bought the home and lived in it for several years. She told WYFF 4 that she was always convinced that Jackson would become somebody influential because he was a born leader and that his heart was filled with kindness. While Jackson will be dearly missed in the Upstate, she believes the nation will forever remember the civil rights activist.
“He was trying to, I guess, get people to see that Black people can do just as well as white people,” said Clinkscales, “If it wasn’t for him, where would we be?
Clinkscales can remember a time when she was required to sit on the back of the bus, had no access to public restrooms and could only ever enter buildings designated for colored people.
“Really if it hadn’t been for him, we would be sitting in the back of the bus unless someone was going to be as brave as he was,” said Clinkscales.
Clinkscales said Jackson’s work changed the trajectory of not only her life but millions of other African Americans. Looking back, she says she’s thankful to have had a relationship with Jackson and will fondly remember him.
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