The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the American Civil Rights Movement and a two-time presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84. His passing marks the end of an era for those who fought for racial and social equality, leaving behind a political and moral legacy that spanned more than half a century.
Jackson died in Chicago on Tuesday, , according to reports. He was widely considered a spiritual and political heir to Martin Luther King Jr., standing alongside King in his final years and present in Memphis on the day of the leader’s assassination in 1968. From that moment forward, Jackson dedicated decades to leading battles against discrimination, advocating for voting rights, access to employment, education, and healthcare.
He founded the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, an organization that brought the concerns of the African American community into the boardrooms of major corporations, promoting a more inclusive and equitable America.
A Lifetime of Commitment
A powerful and charismatic Baptist preacher, Jackson possessed a gift for connecting with all minorities, popularizing slogans like “Keep Hope Alive.” Despite increasingly serious health challenges in recent years, including Parkinson’s disease and a progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), he continued to participate in demonstrations against racial injustice, even into the era of Black Lives Matter. According to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he had been living with PSP for more than a decade, a condition that affects a patient’s ability to walk and swallow and can lead to dangerous complications.
Jackson also played a role on the international stage, contributing to diplomatic efforts that led to the release of hostages in the Middle East and the Balkans. In 2000, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, from President Bill Clinton.
Building Bridges
Jackson twice sought the Democratic nomination for president, in 1984 and 1988, paving the way for greater political representation for minorities, years before the election of Barack Obama. He consistently championed his commitment to “building bridges and tearing down walls,” even amidst controversy and criticism. In recent months, as his health declined and his ability to speak diminished, he communicated by grasping the hands of family members.
“We shared our father with the world,” his family said in a statement, remembering him as a leader who served the oppressed and the overlooked. According to Reverend Al Sharpton, the nation has lost one of its greatest moral voices, a man who “carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice.”
With his death, the United States loses one of the most influential and enduring voices of the African American civil rights movement. He was 84 years old.
