The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the American civil rights movement and a two-time presidential candidate, died Tuesday in Chicago, his family announced. He was 84.
Jackson’s death marks the end of an era for a generation inspired by his work alongside Martin Luther King Jr. And his subsequent leadership in fighting for social justice and economic equality. He had been hospitalized in recent months and was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) last year, after initially being misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, during the Jim Crow era, Jackson rose to national prominence as a close aide to Dr. King. He participated in the 1964 Chicago campaign against housing segregation and became a key figure in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), coordinating Operation Breadbasket, an economic empowerment initiative. Operation Breadbasket, founded by King, aimed to address unemployment in Black communities by encouraging businesses to hire African American workers, and, when negotiations failed, organizing boycotts. The program is estimated to have helped bring 4,500 jobs to the Black community over six years, according to the Chicago Public Library.
Following King’s assassination in 1968, Jackson founded People United to Serve Humanity (PUSH) in 1971, which later merged with the Rainbow Coalition, established in 1984, to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 1996. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition became a powerful force advocating for the rights of marginalized communities, including African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and the LGBTQ+ community.
Jackson’s political career reached its peak in the 1980s with his groundbreaking presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. He was the first African American to mount a serious challenge for the Democratic nomination, galvanizing Black voters and attracting a diverse coalition of supporters. He challenged the Democratic Party to prioritize the needs of the working class and address issues of racial and economic injustice.
“Our flag is red, white, and blue, but our nation is a rainbow: red, yellow, brown, black and white, and all are precious in God’s eyes,” Jackson famously said, encapsulating the inclusive vision of the Rainbow Coalition.
His campaigns also led to changes in the Democratic Party’s delegate selection process, shifting from a “winner-take-all” system to a proportional system that benefited candidates who could win support across multiple states. This change, according to David Masciotra, author of “I Am Somebody: Why Jesse Jackson Matters,” proved crucial in Barack Obama’s successful presidential bid in 2008.
Jackson’s influence extended beyond domestic politics. He frequently traveled the world as a diplomat, negotiating the release of hostages and advocating for human rights. He was a vocal critic of apartheid in South Africa and a champion of international peace and justice.
In recent years, Jackson faced health challenges, including a battle with COVID-19 in 2021 and a fall that resulted in a head injury. He stepped down as president of PUSH in July 2023, citing health concerns, but remained a visible and influential voice in American politics. He made a final public appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August 2024, where he was honored for his lifetime of service.
Rev. Al Sharpton, a protégé of Jackson, described him as “a movement unto himself” and his mentor. “Today I lost the man who inspired me to find a purpose when I was only twelve years vintage,” Sharpton said in a statement. “Our nation lost one of its most important moral voices.”
Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and five children: Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, and Jacqueline, as well as a sixth daughter, Ashley.
