Copyright Deadline
EXCLUSIVE: Prentice Penny (Insecure) is set to direct a three-part documentary series chronicling the life and legacy of civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson. Told from the perspective of his youngest daughter, Ashley Laverne Jackson, the series promises never-before-heard stories and rare footage revealing how Reverend Jackson has quietly shaped pop culture and influenced pivotal historical moments in ways rarely explored. “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 us. “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.” One of the most prominent figures of the American Civil Rights Movement, Jesse Jackson began his career working closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, helping to organize major civil rights campaigns aimed at ending racial segregation and expanding economic opportunity for African Americans. He’s also known for founding Operation PUSH, an organization dedicated to the cause of advancing economic empowerment, education, and social justice in Black communities, as well as the Rainbow Coalition, which sought to unite diverse racial, ethnic, and social groups under a common progressive political agenda. A two-time presidential candidate, Jackson’s runs in 1984 and 1988 made him the first African American to be a serious contender for a major party’s nomination. Outside of his work in U.S. politics and civil rights causes, he’s been active throughout his life in international diplomacy and humanitarian work. The docuseries on Jackson’s life will be produced by Penny and his banner A Penny For Your Thoughts Entertainment in partnership with Ashley Laverne Jackson, with Joie Jacoby (Black Twitter: A People’s History, Candace Parker: Unapologetic) serving as showrunner. Additional producers from A Penny For Your Thoughts include Chris Pollack and Alexis Jones. This marks the debut project for Jackson’s production company, Rainbow Child Productions, and reunites Penny and Jacoby following their work together on the three-part Hulu series Black Twitter: A People’s History, which earned nominations from the Critics Choice Documentary Awards, Gotham TV Awards, and NAACP Image Awards, and won Best Documentary Series at both the AAFCA Awards and BANFF World Media Festival. Penny told us, “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.” Emmy-nominated for his work on HBO’s Insecure, Penny’s other credits apart from the aforementioned Black Twitter include Pause with Sam Jay, Uncorked, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Happy Endings, and Girlfriends. He is repped by WME, Blue Marble Management and attorneys John Meigs and Adam Kaller. Writer-producer Ashley Laverne Jackson is an alum of The First Up Fellowship, a program founded by Penny at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts to empower graduating students entering the entertainment industry. She is represented by Northstar and attorney Jonathan Shikora of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols.
