# Santita Jackson > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Santita_Jackson > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Santita_Jackson.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santita_Jackson > Source revision: 1344127090 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American singer and political commentator (born 1963) Santita Jackson Jackson in 2024 Born (1963-07-17) July 17, 1963 (age 62) Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. Alma mater Howard University Occupation Singer Parents Jesse Jackson (father) Jacqueline Jackson (mother) Relatives Jesse Jackson Jr. (brother) Jonathan Jackson (brother) Yusef Jackson (brother) **Santita Jackson** (born July 17, 1963) is an American singer and political commentator from [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago%2C_Illinois). As a singer, Jackson toured with [Roberta Flack](/source/Roberta_Flack) and performed the National Anthem at President [Bill Clinton](/source/Bill_Clinton)'s second inauguration. She has appeared on the [Fox News Channel](/source/Fox_News_Channel) and is the host of a television show on [The Word Network](/source/The_Word_Network).[1] Santita attended high school with [Michelle Obama](/source/Michelle_Obama) and served as Obama's maid of honor at her 1992 wedding to [Barack Obama](/source/Barack_Obama). ## Early life and education Jackson was born in [Greensboro, North Carolina](/source/Greensboro%2C_North_Carolina), in 1963.[2] She is the oldest daughter of [Jacqueline Lavinia Brown Jackson](/source/Jacqueline_Jackson) and civil rights leader Rev. [Jesse Jackson](/source/Jesse_Jackson). Jackson was raised in Chicago along with her siblings [Jesse Jr.](/source/Jesse_Jackson_Jr.), [Jonathan](/source/Jonathan_Jackson_(activist)), [Yusef](/source/Yusef_Jackson), and Jacqueline.[3] Jackson attended John J. Pershing Elementary School and [Whitney M. Young Magnet High School](/source/Whitney_M._Young_Magnet_High_School) in Chicago, where she was a [National Merit Scholar](/source/National_Merit_Scholar). While interviewing for admission to [Harvard University](/source/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](/source/Howard_University) on a full merit scholarship. While at Howard University, Jackson became a member of [Delta Sigma Theta](/source/Delta_Sigma_Theta) sorority. Following her time at Howard, Jackson worked as an aide to Illinois congressman [Gus Savage](/source/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](/source/Roberta_Flack), and later performed with the [Opera Ebony](/source/Opera_Ebony) company.[6] In 1996, Jackson was asked by the family of Secretary of Commerce [Ron Brown](/source/Ron_Brown) to perform at his funeral alongside [Wynton Marsalis](/source/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](/source/Janice_Kapp_Perry), vocalist [Chris Willis](/source/Chris_Willis), and Utah Senator [Orrin Hatch](/source/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](/source/WVON) 1690 AM.[11] ### Other media Jackson is a founding contributor at [TheGrio](/source/TheGrio), an [MSNBC](/source/MSNBC) website dedicated to African American news and opinion.[1][12] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-foxnews1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-foxnews1_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-foxnews1_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-foxnews1_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-foxnews1_1-4) ["Santita Jackson"](http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/personalities/santita-jackson/bio/#s=h-l). *foxnews.com*. Fox News Network. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Frady, Marshall. "The Long Circle Home." Jesse: The Life and Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson. New York: Random House, 1996. pg.152 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["The Elusive Jackie Jackson : Articulate and Charismatic, She Balances Keeping Her Identity and Living in His Shadow"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-18-vw-2904-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. 18 May 1988. Retrieved 10 July 2019. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Post_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Post_4-1) [Myra MacPherson](/source/Myra_MacPherson) (22 July 1988). "The Power of the Children". *[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post)*. [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [139573619](https://www.proquest.com/docview/139573619). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-jj_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-jj_5-1) Eastman, Dale. ["The Rise of Jesse Jackson Jr. and the First Family of Black America"](https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/May-1996/The-Rise-of-Jesse-Jackson-Jr-and-the-First-Family-of-Black-America/). *Chicago magazine*. Retrieved 24 January 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** "Luncheon Speaker." The Buffalo News 10 Feb. 2000: NewsBank – Archives. Web. 3 Feb. 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Company, Johnson Publishing (1996). [*Jet*](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ujsDAAAAMBAJ). Johnson Publishing Company. p. [14](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ujsDAAAAMBAJ/page/n13). Retrieved 10 July 2019. santita jackson. {{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: |last1= has generic name ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_name)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["President Clinton 1997 Inaugural Ceremony"](http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/77158-1). *www.c-span.org*. 20 January 1997. Retrieved 10 July 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Put Your Arms Around the World"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110101043052/http://www.ldsmusicnow.com/album/342/Janice-Kapp-Perry/Put-Your-Arms-Around-the-World/). *ldsmusicnow.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ldsmusicnow.com/album/342/Janice-Kapp-Perry/Put-Your-Arms-Around-the-World/) on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Programs: Santita Jackson"](http://www.thewordnetwork.org/programs/P8). The Word Network. Retrieved 3 February 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** "The Santita Jackson Show." WVON 1690 AM – The Talk of Chicago. Midway Broadcasting Company, n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2013. ["Santita Jackson show"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130120052414/http://wvon.com/personalities/santita-jackson-show.html). Archived from [the original](http://wvon.com/personalities/santita-jackson-show.html) on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2013-02-04. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["The truth about black fathers"](http://thegrio.com/2009/06/20/the-truth-about-black-fathers/). *theGrio*. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2019. ## External links - [Personal Website](https://santitajackson.wordpress.com/) - [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/?43027) on [C-SPAN](/source/C-SPAN) Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Santita Jackson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santita_Jackson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santita_Jackson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.