Jesse Jackson

Geraldo Rivera has entered the public discussion about Trayvon Martin's death by blaming the Florida teenager's choice of dress. “I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly not to let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as much as George Zimmerman was,” the Fox News host said Friday on “Fox and Friends.” Martin, 17, was shot and killed Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., by Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer.

The Rev. Hamel Hartford Brookins, an influential bishop and former pastor of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles who became a political power broker, civil rights leader and mentor to former Mayor Tom Bradley, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and many others, has died. He was 86. The son of Mississippi sharecroppers, Brookins rose to prominence in the 1960s and '70s as an articulate, self-assured champion of black political empowerment. He died Tuesday at a Los Angeles retirement center where he had been receiving hospice care, a church spokesman said.

"White Hispanic. " That's how the New York Times, Reuters and other media outlets have opted to describe George Zimmerman, a man who would simply be Hispanic (or Latino in this newspaper) if he hadn't shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The term, rarely if ever used before this tragedy, is necessary in telling the Martin story in a more comfortable way. What's the comfortable way? It's the way the blame for Martin's death belongs squarely at the feet of "the system. " And "the system" is a white thing, don't you know.

"White Hispanic. " That's how the New York Times, Reuters and other media outlets have opted to describe George Zimmerman, a man who would simply be Hispanic (or Latino in this newspaper) if he hadn't shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The term, rarely if ever used before this tragedy, is necessary in telling the Martin story in a more comfortable way. What's the comfortable way? It's the way the blame for Martin's death belongs squarely at the feet of "the system. " And "the system" is a white thing, don't you know.

Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said Friday that he's grateful the rest of the country has sat up and taken notice of the tragic slaying of Trayvon Martin. But he can't help but wonder: Why has it taken so long for everyone else to recognize the chronic injustices that African Americans face? "We're surprised that everyone else is surprised," Jackson told the Los Angeles Times. African Americans have tried for decades to get the rest of America to understand their plight, he said, particularly their beliefs that justice is still elusive in many parts of America, especially the Deep South.

Democratic presidential candidate Jesse Jackson offers a ray of hope for democracy in America. Although we're living in a country which claims to be the epitome of democracy, it should be apparent that we suffer under an oligarchy. An unholy alliance of special interests controls our government. While one group manages the economy in order to loot the country's resources, the other controls an egregious foreign policy which does not even serve the nation. But, with Jackson, there is a good chance of a viable third party, primarily because of a potentially monolithic black vote.

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has jumped out to an early lead tonight in his Democratic primary contest against longtime foe Debbie Halvorson , a former congresswoman. Jackson had 72% to Halvorson's 28% with more than 9% counted in unofficial returns in the 2nd Congressional District.  Halvorson, who served one term in Congress, hopes to end Jackson's 17-year tenure as he battles ethics allegations. Jackson faces a congressional ethics investigation stemming from accusations that his campaign supporters offered to raise money for then-Gov.

Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. called on the House of Representatives to condemn Texas Gov. Rick Perry for his association with a hunting camp known by a racial epithet. Jackson went to the floor Thursday to read from a resolution calling on the governor to apologize for not immediately "doing away with" a rock painted with the camp's name. He called on other GOP presidential candidates to condemn the use of the word and said Perry should release the names of state lawmakers and others who attended hunting trips at the camp.

Geraldo Rivera has entered the public discussion about Trayvon Martin's death by blaming the Florida teenager's choice of dress. “I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly not to let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as much as George Zimmerman was,” the Fox News host said Friday on “Fox and Friends.” Martin, 17, was shot and killed Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., by Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer.

Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said Friday that he's grateful the rest of the country has sat up and taken notice of the tragic slaying of Trayvon Martin. But he can't help but wonder: Why has it taken so long for everyone else to recognize the chronic injustices that African Americans face? "We're surprised that everyone else is surprised," Jackson told the Los Angeles Times. African Americans have tried for decades to get the rest of America to understand their plight, he said, particularly their beliefs that justice is still elusive in many parts of America, especially the Deep South.

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has jumped out to an early lead tonight in his Democratic primary contest against longtime foe Debbie Halvorson , a former congresswoman. Jackson had 72% to Halvorson's 28% with more than 9% counted in unofficial returns in the 2nd Congressional District.  Halvorson, who served one term in Congress, hopes to end Jackson's 17-year tenure as he battles ethics allegations. Jackson faces a congressional ethics investigation stemming from accusations that his campaign supporters offered to raise money for then-Gov.

The House Ethics Committee announced Friday it will continue to investigate whether Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. or an emissary directed or knew of efforts to raise campaign cash for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich in return for Jackson's appointment to the Senate in 2008. In making the announcement, the panel released findings from an initial review by another office that found "probable cause" that Jackson either directed someone to offer to raise funds in exchange for the seat or knew such an offer would likely be made.

Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. called on the House of Representatives to condemn Texas Gov. Rick Perry for his association with a hunting camp known by a racial epithet. Jackson went to the floor Thursday to read from a resolution calling on the governor to apologize for not immediately "doing away with" a rock painted with the camp's name. He called on other GOP presidential candidates to condemn the use of the word and said Perry should release the names of state lawmakers and others who attended hunting trips at the camp.

Former one-term Rep. Debbie Halvorson said Wednesday she would challenge incumbent Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. for the Democratic nomination in the newly drawn 2nd Congressional District in Illinois. "Our families are facing serious challenges, and they need a serious member of Congress who can get things done. Our neighbors don't need rhetoric, they need results, and I've delivered actual results for nearly twenty years. I'm running to bring real representation, real leadership, and real results back to our district," Halvorson said in a statement.

Reporting from Healdsburg, Calif. -- Billionaire vintner Jess Jackson's move to change the century-old name of Black Mountain to Alexander Mountain was the last straw for Gary Wilson, whose family has owned a significant chunk of the peak in redwood country north of San Francisco for generations. Jackson, developer of the Kendall-Jackson brand, was growing grapes on 5,400 acres on the mountain's east slope, which his company bought from Chevron in 1995. He labeled that vineyard Alexander Mountain Estate.

Jess Jackson, who founded Kendall-Jackson Winery in 1982, died last week at the age of 81, leaving an almost incalculable legacy on the California wine industry. He transformed it at least twice, first in establishing a style of wine that would come to be as much an irresistible flavor profile as a cultural icon; he would go on to become one of the state's most passionate and articulate advocates for the preeminence of place in the production of great California wine. In the process, he became one of the industry's most envied property owners, and by far one of its richest men. Jess Jackson was born in Los Angeles in 1930 and raised during the Depression in San Francisco.