Los Angeles, CA – Samuel L. Jackson, adorned in traditional African garb, delivered a moving tribute to the late Reverend Jesse Jackson at the 57th annual NAACP Image Awards on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The actor’s impassioned speech recounted the life and legacy of the civil rights icon, who passed away earlier this month after a battle with a rare neurological disorder.
Jackson began by tracing Reverend Jackson’s origins, noting he was “born to an 18-year-old unwed mother in Greenville, South Carolina,” and his subsequent rise from the challenges of the Jim Crow South. He emphasized the decades-long commitment to advocacy for marginalized communities. “For over half a century — which is a long damn time to be on the front lines — he advocated for the poor, the disenfranchised, for those who needed work,” Jackson stated, adding that Reverend Jackson actively sought employment opportunities for his community, “including entertainment.”
The actor also shared a personal connection, acknowledging the profound influence Reverend Jackson had on his own life. “He inspired a young man who has the same last name as his — one Samuel L. Jackson,” he said, reflecting on the activist’s ability to motivate a recent generation. This sentiment resonated with the audience, as reported by WBLS, who described the speech as “emotional.”
Reverend Jackson’s family released a statement following his death, describing him as “a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.” His decades of work included founding the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, advocating for voting rights, and challenging economic inequality. He was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement alongside Martin Luther King Jr., and ran for president twice, in 1984 and 1988.
Jackson concluded his tribute with a call to action, urging attendees to continue Reverend Jackson’s fight for justice. “All of us, in some degree or another, have spoken out, marched, protested… inspired by a man who now, I’m sure, resides with the good Lord in heaven,” he said. He proposed a guiding question for those seeking to uphold Reverend Jackson’s values: “W.J.D. — what would Jesse do?”
“We will continue his mission,” Jackson declared, echoing a commitment to carry on Reverend Jackson’s legacy. “We will carry the torch he lit and keep hope alive. And we will not be erased from this country’s history because we are somebody…” The NAACP Image Awards, as noted by The Root, also honored Viola Davis and Colman Domingo with the Chairman’s and President’s Awards, respectively, and inducted Salt-N-Pepa into its Hall of Fame.