A towering figure of the Civil Rights Movement is finally getting the cinematic treatment his impact warrants. Prentice Penny, best known for his work on HBO’s Insecure, is set to direct a three-part documentary series chronicling the life, legacy, and cultural influence of Reverend Jesse Jackson.
But this isn’t just another look at a historic figure; it’s a personal story, told through the eyes of Jackson’s youngest daughter, Ashley Laverne Jackson.
The series promises never-before-seen footage, untold stories, and a richer understanding of how Reverend Jackson’s activism, diplomacy, and global influence quietly shaped moments in pop culture and American history that many people never realized he touched.
“I often peruse bookstore shelves and streaming platforms and rarely, if ever, see any mention of my father’s work, even during Black History Month,” Laverne Jackson told Deadline. “With so many of my peers unfamiliar with his story, his impact on popular culture, or his influence on global democracy, I realized it was my charge to serve as a bridge for younger generations searching for hope. With Prentice Penny and Joie Jacoby at the helm, I’m excited to preserve and share his profound legacy.”
Reverend Jesse Jackson’s influence stretches far beyond the moments usually highlighted in textbooks.
He began his public life working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, helping organize campaigns to dismantle segregation and expand economic opportunity for Black Americans.
When he ran for president in 1984 and 1988, Jackson became the first African American to be a viable contender for a major party’s nomination, reshaping what was possible in American politics.
Outside the U.S., he played critical roles in international diplomacy and humanitarian crises, often using his influence to advocate for peace, release political prisoners, and uplift communities in conflict.
The docuseries marks the first release under Laverne Jackson’s new production company, Rainbow Child Productions, and reunites Penny and Jacoby following their award-winning work on Hulu’s Black Twitter: A People’s History.
Penny says taking on this project is both an honor and a responsibility.
“I am incredibly excited to direct and co-produce this docuseries with Ashley Jackson and showrunner Joie Jacoby about such an incredible man as Reverend Jesse Jackson,” he shared with Deadline. “His contributions to civil rights, pop culture, American politics, and world affairs weren’t just groundbreaking, they were historic. In a country that currently seems determined to erase and rewrite certain narratives, making sure we tell Reverend Jesse Jackson’s story is more than making a docuseries—it’s solidifying that his impact and legacy are shared for generations to come.”
Stay tuned for more details!
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