For Many South Siders, Icon Jesse Jackson Was Their Neighbor ‘Rev’ episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 19, 2026 · 15 MIN

For Many South Siders, Icon Jesse Jackson Was Their Neighbor ‘Rev’

from The Block Club Chicago Podcast · host Maxwell Evans, Block Club Chicago, Jon Hansen

Rev. Jesse Jackson was an icon, a civil rights advocate, a two-time presidential candidate and a political powerhouse for decades. He was also “Rev,” a fixture in the Jackson Park Highlands community and a “sweet” and “caring” man who would speak openly on his meetings with historical figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. over hot links on the porch, his neighbors said. Host - Jon Hansen Reporter - Maxwell Evans Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HEREWho we areBlock Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.Ground-level coverageOur neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this  ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a  neighborhood.Stories that matter to you — every daySince our launch seven years ago, we've published more than 30,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 150,000 Chicagoans. We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them. Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.

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Rev. Jesse Jackson was an icon, a civil rights advocate, a two-time presidential candidate and a political powerhouse for decades. He was also “Rev,” a fixture in the Jackson Park Highlands community and a “sweet” and “caring” man who would speak openly on his meetings with historical figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. over hot links on the porch, his neighbors said.

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For Many South Siders, Icon Jesse Jackson Was Their Neighbor ‘Rev’

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