Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the American civil rights movement and a two-time presidential candidate, died Tuesday morning, . He was 84 years old.
Jackson’s family announced his passing in a statement, describing him as a “servant leader” dedicated not only to his family but to “the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.” They asked that his memory be honored by continuing the fight for the values he championed: justice, equality, and love.
The Reverend had been battling progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurological disorder similar to Parkinson’s disease, since . He was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s in .
For over five decades, Jackson was a central force in American activism. He rose to prominence working alongside Martin Luther King Jr. In the 1960s, and later founded Operation PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity) and the National Rainbow Coalition, organizations later consolidated into the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. These groups focused on economic empowerment for Black communities and advocating for social justice causes.
Jackson’s political ambitions led him to launch presidential campaigns in and . While he didn’t secure the nomination either time, his campaigns were groundbreaking. He registered millions of new voters and significantly exceeded expectations, finishing third in and second in . In , he even briefly held a delegate lead over Michael Dukakis after a strong showing in the Michigan caucus.
His campaigns were pivotal in reshaping the Democratic party. Jackson helped pave the way for Barack Obama’s election two decades later, and implemented reforms to the delegate distribution process during the Democratic primary that ultimately made Obama’s victory possible. His progressive platforms also served as a blueprint for future longshot candidates like Bernie Sanders.
As Jackson himself recalled in Abby Phillip’s book, A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power, his campaigns resonated because of their focus on “economic justice and shared economic security, a connection between family farms and urban workers, how Blacks and whites had to relate together, and browns.” He described his message as “poor campaign, rich message.”
Born Jesse Burns on , in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson’s early life was shaped by the realities of the Jim Crow South. He was the son of Helen Burns and her neighbor, Noah Robinson. He was later adopted by Charles Henry Jackson, who gave him his last name. He maintained a relationship with his biological father throughout his life.
Jackson’s involvement in the civil rights movement began in his youth, attending segregated schools and participating in the Montgomery bus boycotts of . He earned a scholarship to play football at the University of Illinois but transferred to North Carolina Agricultural & Technical College, where he continued to play football and became involved in activism. He attended the Chicago Theological Seminary but left before graduating to work with Martin Luther King Jr., and was ordained in .
Following King’s assassination in , Jackson became a prominent leader in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), heading Operation Breadbasket. He focused on encouraging patronage of Black-owned businesses and organizing boycotts against companies that discriminated in hiring practices.
He later founded Operation PUSH, continuing the economic advocacy work of Operation Breadbasket. The organization’s efforts to bolster education in Black communities earned federal assistance during the Carter administration. However, PUSH also faced criticism for management issues, which Jackson often dismissed, stating he was “a tree-shaker, not a jam-maker.”
Jackson’s two presidential runs were marked by both success and controversy. He faced allegations of antisemitism during the campaign, stemming from his support for a Palestinian state and remarks made to a Washington Post reporter. He denied the allegations.
Despite falling short in , his strong showing established him as a significant figure in Democratic politics. He served as a shadow senator for Washington D.C. In the 1990s and was appointed by President Clinton as a special envoy to promote democracy in Africa. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Beyond domestic activism, Jackson leveraged his influence on the international stage, successfully negotiating the release of hostages and prisoners in various conflicts, including securing the release of a Navy Lieutenant in Syria, Cuban prisoners, and individuals held during the Kosovo War and in Liberia.
Jackson’s legacy extended to his family, with his son, Jesse Jackson Jr., serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from to . The elder Jackson continued his advocacy work through the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, addressing issues ranging from healthcare and gun control to international conflicts.
He was an early supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential bid in , and while a brief disagreement arose over a private comment Jackson made about Obama, the two reconciled. Jackson was visibly moved by Obama’s victory in .
In recent years, Jackson stepped back from day-to-day leadership of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition due to his health, but remained a visible advocate for social justice, participating in protests against restrictive voting laws and attending the Democratic National Convention. His life’s work, as he once described, was about being “someone who can sit on television and argue their case” for those who lacked a voice.
