One of the most fierce and outspoken political figures in the USA, Jesse Jackson is known for his crusade against racism in America. Ever since he entered high school, he came face to face with the tortures that all African-Americans had to go through while trying to lead a normal life. Thus, from a very young age he involved himself in various civil rights movements, which earned the favor of Martin Luther King Jr. He conducted several marches and participated in various movements in support of equality and to end racial discrimination. In a short span of time, he became one of the leading personalities among the African-Americans to fight against racial discrimination. He was even looked upon as the successor of Martin Luther King Jr. but he fell prey to certain controversies and was suspended from Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the brainchild of King. Apart from advocating equal rights for the African-Americans, Jackson also promoted numerous global causes. He has been fighting against abortion and has been working hard to stop drug abuse.