The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., a towering figure in the American Civil Rights Movement and a two-time presidential candidate, died Tuesday in Washington D.C. He was 84.
Jackson’s death marks the end of an era, following closely on the heels of the passing of many contemporaries who shaped the latter half of the 20th century’s struggle for racial equality. He rose to prominence as a close aide to the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., and continued to champion civil rights, economic justice, and voting rights for decades after King’s assassination in 1968.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson’s early activism began during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. He worked alongside King, participating in marches and demonstrations, and quickly became a visible and articulate voice for the movement. He was present with King just prior to his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee, in April 1968, as documented in photographs from the period.
In the years following King’s death, Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), an organization dedicated to improving the economic opportunities for African Americans. He later founded the National Rainbow Coalition, broadening the scope of his activism to include a wider range of marginalized groups. These organizations became central to his efforts to advocate for systemic change.
Jackson twice sought the Democratic nomination for president, in 1984 and 1988. His campaigns were groundbreaking, mobilizing a diverse coalition of voters and bringing issues of race and economic inequality to the forefront of national political discourse. While he did not win the nomination either time, his candidacies inspired millions and reshaped the political landscape.
Beyond his political activism, Jackson was a prominent figure in international affairs, often serving as a diplomat and advocate for human rights. He traveled extensively, meeting with world leaders and mediating conflicts. He met with Nelson Mandela in South Africa in 2005, following Mandela’s release from prison, and with Yasser Arafat in 2001 during the World Conference Against Racism in Durban.
Jackson’s influence extended into the cultural sphere, forging close relationships with prominent artists and entertainers. He shared a particularly close bond with Aretha Franklin and her family, dating back to the 1960s. He delivered the eulogy at Franklin’s father’s funeral in 1984, and was present at many key moments in her life and career, including her final Detroit concert in 2017 and her bedside in the days before her death in 2018. Sabrina Owens, a niece of Franklin, described Jackson as “one of the world’s great civil rights giants.”
The NAACP, in a statement released Tuesday, mourned Jackson’s passing, calling him “family to the NAACP” and acknowledging his lifelong commitment to advancing Black America. The organization awarded Jackson its President’s Award in 1988 and the Spingarn Medal in 1989, recognizing his distinguished public service and outstanding achievements.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no details regarding memorial services have been released.
