WHO Was Esther
Cooper Jackson?
Esther Cooper Jackson, born on August 21, 1917, was a formidable force in the 20th-century struggle for African-American equality, democracy, and world peace. Growing up in Virginia during the Great Depression, she witnessed firsthand the disparities faced by different segments of society, sparking her lifelong commitment to activism.
Her mother, Esther Georgia Irving Cooper, was a prominent figure in the Arlington NAACP, instilling in Esther an early passion for civil rights. After graduating from Oberlin College and earning a master’s degree in sociology from Fisk University, Esther chose a path less traveled. Instead of pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Chicago, she joined the Southern Negro Youth Congress’s Voting Project.
Esther’s life took a significant turn when she met and married Dr. James E. Jackson, a union that initiated decades of tireless work in the struggle for equality, democracy, and peace. During World War II, while James served in the U.S. military, Esther continued organizing in the South, fighting for voting rights and an end to racial segregation.
The Jacksons’ post-war move to Detroit saw them actively engaging with the Communist Party, with Esther playing a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Congress. Her efforts extended to defending leaders of the Communist Party against McCarthyite persecution, while James, targeted by the U.S. government, went underground for five years.
Esther’s commitment to justice manifested prominently in her role in defending Rosa Lee Ingram, an African American woman unjustly convicted. Her activism continued as the Jacksons relocated to New York City in the early 1960s. There, James assumed a national leadership role in the Communist Party, and Esther co-founded and managed Freedomways, a groundbreaking publication covering politics, international affairs, and culture through the lens of African-American history.
Freedomways, under Esther’s editorial guidance from 1961 to 1985, became a beacon for liberation struggles worldwide. The magazine provided a platform for diverse voices, contributing significantly to the anti-Jim Crow movement. Beyond publications, Esther’s involvement with organizations like the Southern Negro Youth Congress, the Civil Rights Congress, and the Committee to Defend Negro Leadership solidified her place in history.
Esther was instrumental in campaigns defending leaders of the Communist Party against McCarthyite persecution. She actively participated in the struggle for voting rights and an end to racial segregation in the post-war South. Her commitment to justice was further evident in her role in defending Rosa Lee Ingram, an African American woman unjustly convicted.
In the early 1960s, as the Jacksons relocated to New York City, Esther co-founded and managed Freedomways, a groundbreaking publication that not only covered politics and international affairs but also became a significant platform for diverse voices, contributing significantly to the anti-Jim Crow movement.
Beyond her editorial work, Esther was deeply engaged in the Civil Rights Congress and the Committee to Defend Negro Leadership, solidifying her place as a key figure in these campaigns. Her activism, courage, and intellectual contributions left an indelible mark on the Black freedom movement and beyond. Esther Cooper Jackson, presente!
Her mother, Esther Georgia Irving Cooper, was a prominent figure in the Arlington NAACP, instilling in Esther an early passion for civil rights. After graduating from Oberlin College and earning a master’s degree in sociology from Fisk University, Esther chose a path less traveled. Instead of pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Chicago, she joined the Southern Negro Youth Congress’s Voting Project.
Esther’s life took a significant turn when she met and married Dr. James E. Jackson, a union that initiated decades of tireless work in the struggle for equality, democracy, and peace. During World War II, while James served in the U.S. military, Esther continued organizing in the South, fighting for voting rights and an end to racial segregation.
The Jacksons’ post-war move to Detroit saw them actively engaging with the Communist Party, with Esther playing a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Congress. Her efforts extended to defending leaders of the Communist Party against McCarthyite persecution, while James, targeted by the U.S. government, went underground for five years.
Esther’s commitment to justice manifested prominently in her role in defending Rosa Lee Ingram, an African American woman unjustly convicted. Her activism continued as the Jacksons relocated to New York City in the early 1960s. There, James assumed a national leadership role in the Communist Party, and Esther co-founded and managed Freedomways, a groundbreaking publication covering politics, international affairs, and culture through the lens of African-American history.
Freedomways, under Esther’s editorial guidance from 1961 to 1985, became a beacon for liberation struggles worldwide. The magazine provided a platform for diverse voices, contributing significantly to the anti-Jim Crow movement. Beyond publications, Esther’s involvement with organizations like the Southern Negro Youth Congress, the Civil Rights Congress, and the Committee to Defend Negro Leadership solidified her place in history.
Esther was instrumental in campaigns defending leaders of the Communist Party against McCarthyite persecution. She actively participated in the struggle for voting rights and an end to racial segregation in the post-war South. Her commitment to justice was further evident in her role in defending Rosa Lee Ingram, an African American woman unjustly convicted.
In the early 1960s, as the Jacksons relocated to New York City, Esther co-founded and managed Freedomways, a groundbreaking publication that not only covered politics and international affairs but also became a significant platform for diverse voices, contributing significantly to the anti-Jim Crow movement.
Beyond her editorial work, Esther was deeply engaged in the Civil Rights Congress and the Committee to Defend Negro Leadership, solidifying her place as a key figure in these campaigns. Her activism, courage, and intellectual contributions left an indelible mark on the Black freedom movement and beyond. Esther Cooper Jackson, presente!
