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Jackson was born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], one of five children of a poor black family that lived in the slums. His parents tried to give him a good and religious education, but he rejected it. In his teens he got several criminal convictions for armed robbery, assault, and burglary and spent time in a juvenile correction center, where he was enabled to pursue his education.

Jackson was born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], one of five children of a poor black family that lived in the slums. His parents tried to give him a good and religious education, but he rejected it. In his teens he got several criminal convictions for armed robbery, assault, and burglary and spent time in a juvenile correction center, where he was enabled to pursue his education.

In 1961, aged 20, he was convicted of armed robbery, for robbing $70 from a gas station at gunpoint. He pleaded guilty and was given an indeterminate sentence of minimum one year to life. Later he claimed that he had not committed the robbery, but he admitted carrying out many others. He was sent to San Quentin State Prison, where he was quite soon found guilty of assaults on guards and fellow inmates. Such behavior meant that he was not eligible for parole and early release. He effectively sentenced himself to remain incarcerated. He had a lawyer and wrote to her but she was unable to do much for him while he continued to re-offend.  

In 1961, aged 20, he was convicted of armed robbery. The crime consisted of holding a man at gunpoint at a gas station, and the fact that there was only $70 in the till to steal does not make it any less violent. He pleaded guilty and was given an indeterminate sentence of minimum one year to life. Later he claimed that he had not committed the robbery, but he admitted carrying out many others. He was sent to San Quentin State Prison, where he was quite soon found guilty of assaults on guards and fellow inmates. Such behavior meant that he was not eligible for parole and early release. He effectively sentenced himself to remain incarcerated. He had a lawyer and wrote to her but she was unable to do much for him while he continued to re-offend.  

In prison, Jackson met other black American criminals such as Huey P. Newton who taught him to see himself as a political victim, and led him to join the Black Panthers, a movement for violent revolution. He used the prison library facilities to read the works of Karl Marx, Lenin, and Mao-tse-Tung.

In prison, Jackson met other black American criminals such as Huey P. Newton who taught him to see himself as a political victim, and led him to join the Black Panthers, a movement for violent revolution. He used the prison library facilities to read the works of Karl Marx, Lenin, and Mao-tse-Tung.