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Prentice Penny to Direct Three-Part Docuseries on Civil Rights Icon Reverend Jesse Jackson

Prentice Penny, the Emmy-nominated filmmaker best known for Insecure, is directing a new three-part documentary series chronicling the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson — told through the eyes of his youngest daughter, Ashley Laverne Jackson.

The series promises never-before-heard stories and rare footage, offering a deeply personal portrait of how Reverend Jackson helped shape both pop culture and pivotal moments in history.

A towering figure in the Civil Rights Movement, Reverend Jackson worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference before founding Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition — two organizations that championed social justice, economic empowerment, and education in Black communities. His historic presidential runs in 1984 and 1988 made him the first African American to be a serious contender for a major party’s nomination, further solidifying his place in American history.

The upcoming docuseries marks the first project under Ashley Laverne Jackson’s new production company, Rainbow Child Productions, and reunites Penny with showrunner Joie Jacoby (Black Twitter: A People’s History, Candace Parker: Unapologetic). Penny will produce through his banner A Penny For Your Thoughts Entertainment alongside Jackson, Jacoby, Chris Pollack, and Alexis Jones.

In a statement, Penny shared, “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. 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.”

Ashley Laverne Jackson, a writer-producer and alum of The First Up Fellowship — a program founded by Penny at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts — brings her unique perspective as both daughter and storyteller to the project.

With Penny’s signature storytelling approach and Jacoby’s documentary lens, this upcoming series aims to ensure Reverend Jesse Jackson’s story is not just remembered, but re-centered in the cultural and historical narrative.

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