Feb 252023

CTS Announces Podcast About Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr.

Season 3 of “Our 7 Neighbors” will detail the birth of the civil rights movement in Chicago

CHICAGO (February 25, 2023) — Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) today announced the upcoming release of season 3 of its popular podcast, “Our 7 Neighbors.” The new season will explore the people and events that shaped the life and ministry of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., the famed civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and politician.

“Our 7 Neighbors” season 3 is entitled Birth of a Chicago Civil Rights Movement: Stories from the Archives, and will consist of six episodes, each pairing a Chicago civil rights leader from the Jackson Oral Archive project with voices from the modern community, faith, and social justice movements.

  • Episode 1: Betty Massoni, interviewee; Jacqueline Jackson, guest
  • Episode 2: Dr. Janette Wilson, interviewee; Bishop Vashti McKenzie, guest
  • Episode 3: David M. Wallace, interviewee; Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, guest
  • Episode 4: Martin Deppe, interviewee; Jim Seidler, CEO of Jewel Foods, guest
  • Episode 5: Hermene Hartman, interviewee; Brandis Friedman, journalist, guest
  • Episode 6: Jesse Jackson, interviewee; Sen. Raphael Warnock, guest

“We are excited to share this new season of ‘Our 7 Neighbors’ with our listeners,” said Rev. Smith. “Rev. Jackson is a towering figure in American history, and we are honored to have the opportunity to explore his life and work in more depth with the people who know him intimately. The movement sparked by Rev. Jackson and his associates continues to this day, and it is essential to understand its history, as well as where it is going. These are the themes we explore in season 3”

“Our 7 Neighbors” aims to foster greater dialogues about interfaith and social justice issues. Hosted by Kim Schultz, Season 1 features discussions and interviews on topics such as immigration, confronting religious oppression and hate, and the intersection of Islam and feminism. Season 2, hosted by Dr. Kameelah Mu’Min Rashad, spoke to the Black spiritual diaspora, featuring interviews with Black Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and more. Season 3 will focus on the way people of faith came together to grow a movement dedicated to racial justice.