Rev. Jesse Jackson, a prominent figure in the American civil rights movement who worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and later ran for president twice, died early Tuesday at the age of 84. Jackson had been hospitalized since November after years of battling a rare neuromuscular disease.
In a statement released following his death, Jackson’s family described him as “a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.”
They added, “His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions,” and encouraged supporters to honor his legacy by continuing the work he championed.
Jackson’s organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, announced that public observances are expected to take place in Chicago, though further details have not yet been released.
Early Life and Education
Jackson was born Jesse Louis Burns on Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville. After his mother married Charles Henry Jackson, his surname was changed.
He grew up under Jim Crow segregation and attended Sterling High School, where he was class president and a multi-sport athlete. Despite receiving a contract offer from a minor league baseball team, Jackson chose to pursue higher education instead.
He began college at the University of Illinois on a football scholarship before transferring to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Jackson later explained that racial prejudice influenced his decision to transfer. He graduated with a sociology degree in 1964 and enrolled at Chicago Theological Seminary but left to focus on civil rights activism.
Civil Rights Movement
Jackson’s activism began in the summer of 1960 when he participated in efforts to desegregate Greenville’s public library.
By 1965, he had joined the broader civil rights movement and traveled to Selma shortly after the violent events known as “Bloody Sunday.” Marchers there had been attacked while crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge during a voting rights demonstration.
Jackson later became closely associated with King through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was present in Memphis on April 4, 1968, when King was assassinated.
The following day, Jackson appeared on Today wearing the same shirt from the previous day. Speaking at a memorial, he said, “I come here with a heavy heart because on my chest is the stain of blood from Dr. King’s head.”
After King’s death, Jackson eventually left the SCLC and founded People United to Save Humanity, or PUSH, focusing on economic justice and political advocacy.
Political Career
Jackson transitioned into electoral politics after campaigning for figures such as Jimmy Carter.
In 1984, he launched his own presidential campaign, becoming the second Black candidate to seek a major party nomination after Shirley Chisholm.
“My constituency is the desperate, the damned, the disinherited, the disrespected and the despised,” Jackson said at the time.
Although he ultimately finished behind candidates including Gary Hart and Walter Mondale, Jackson ran again in 1988. His second campaign saw stronger results in several primaries, though he did not secure the nomination. The Democratic nominee that year, Michael Dukakis, later lost the general election to George Bush.
Jackson’s final formal political role came as a “shadow senator” representing Washington, D.C., from 1991 to 1997, where he advocated for D.C. statehood.
Health Challenges
In 2017, Jackson publicly announced he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, describing it as a “physical challenge.” It was later determined that he had progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological condition with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s.
Despite declining health, Jackson remained active in public life, including participating in protests in 2021 related to Senate rules.
Continued Advocacy
Following his presidential runs, Jackson continued advocating for racial and economic equality through his nonprofit work.
He also faced personal health struggles, including hospitalization with COVID-19 alongside his wife Jacqueline in 2021.
Reactions
Tributes to Jackson emerged from across the political and civil rights spectrum.
President Donald Trump praised Jackson on social media, calling him a “force of nature” and “a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and ‘street smarts.’”
Civil rights leader Al Sharpton described Jackson as “a consequential and transformative leader who changed this nation and the world.”
“He shaped public policy and changed laws,” Sharpton added. “He kept the dream alive and taught young children from broken homes, like me, that we don’t have broken spirits.”
Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., also reflected on Jackson’s legacy, saying he “devoted his life to lifting people in poverty, the marginalized, and those pushed to society’s edges.”
“My family shares a long and meaningful history with him, rooted in a shared commitment to justice and love,” she said. “As we grieve, we give thanks for a life that pushed hope into weary places.”
