James Jackson was born June 10, 1936, in Oates, South Carolina, but he grew up in nearby Hartsville SC. Mr. Jackson’s parents were sharecroppers, and he recalls how landowners exploited farmers and often cheated them at settlement. After finishing high school, Mr. Jackson went into business with his brother building homes, but he eventually decided to move to D.C. since he wasn't making enough to support his growing family. He initially came to D.C. in 1962 without his family, since he wanted to find housing suitable for his wife and children before they came north. He lived with his sister at first, but he was able to secure housing through a job as a building manager and had his family joined him soon after. He worked as a union carpenter for a couple years before landing a job with the Department of Corrections as the facilities manager for a prison. Mr. Jackson retired in 1990.