Reverend Jesse Jackson, the charismatic civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and two-time U.S. presidential candidate, has died at age 84. His family announced the passing on Tuesday, marking the end of an era for America’s racial justice movement. Jackson, who grew up in the segregated South and worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., remained an inspirational voice in the fight for equality throughout his life.
Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson experienced firsthand the brutal reality of Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans. He began his activism as a student at a historically Black university, quickly becoming a trusted associate of Dr. King. Jackson was present at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis when King was assassinated in 1968.
In the 1970s, Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) and later established the National Rainbow Coalition, organizations dedicated to advancing civil rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQ rights. These merged in 1996 to form the Rainbow-PUSH Coalition, which Jackson led until 2023.
Jackson’s political campaigns in 1984 and 1988 Democratic primaries broke significant barriers for people of color in American politics. Though he never won the presidency, his powerful oratory and broad support among African American and liberal voters brought national attention to issues of poverty and inequality. His 1988 Democratic Convention speech, calling for unity and hope, remains one of the most memorable moments in modern political history.
Beyond domestic activism, Jackson served as an international diplomat and mediator, helping secure the release of American prisoners in Syria, Cuba, Iraq, and Serbia. He acted as a special envoy for President Bill Clinton in Africa and was a regular commentator on CNN. In 2000, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Even in his later years, Jackson continued advocating for social justice, notably supporting the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017, he remained active in civil rights work until his health declined.
Jackson is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jacqueline Brown, and their five children, including former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. His legacy endures as a testament to relentless pursuit of equality and justice for all marginalized communities.