For more than five decades, Rev. Jesse
Jackson stood as a towering figure in the American civil rights movement. Rising to national prominence in the 1960s alongside Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson became a vocal champion for desegregation, equality, voting rights, and economic justice for Black Americans and other marginalized communities.
Early Civil Rights Leadership
Jackson was present at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 4, 1968, when Dr. King was assassinated. Standing in the courtyard, he was among the first to reach King after the fatal shot was fired. Reflecting on that tragic moment, Jackson later recalled trying to speak to King, asking repeatedly if he could hear him — but receiving no response.
After witnessing the violence of Bloody Sunday and becoming deeply involved in the movement, Jackson rose to become one of the top lieutenants in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the organization founded by King to challenge Jim Crow segregation across the South.
Founding Operation PUSH
Following a leadership dispute with King’s successor, Ralph Abernathy, Jackson left the SCLC and founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity). The organization was dedicated to improving the economic status of African Americans and disadvantaged communities, shifting the movement’s focus toward economic empowerment.
Jackson believed that breaking legal segregation was only the first step — economic opportunity and political power were essential to true equality.
Presidential Campaigns and the Rainbow Coalition
A trailblazer in American politics, Jackson ran for the Democratic presidential nomination twice — in 1984 and 1988. His campaigns were built around the vision of the Rainbow Coalition, a diverse alliance of African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, women, LGBTQ individuals, farmers, and working-class Americans.
In 1988, Jackson won 11 primaries and caucuses, briefly becoming a frontrunner before eventually losing the nomination to Michael Dukakis. Though he did not secure the presidency, his campaigns expanded political participation and helped reshape the Democratic Party’s coalition.
As Jackson famously said, “Our flag is red, white, and blue, but our nation is rainbow — red, yellow, brown, black, and white. We are all precious in God’s sight.”
International Diplomacy Efforts
Beyond domestic activism, Jackson took on the role of informal international negotiator. In 1984, he met with Hafez al-Assad and successfully secured the release of captured U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Robert Goodman.
In 1990, he negotiated with Saddam Hussein to help free foreign nationals held in Iraq. Later, in 1999, he met with Slobodan Milošević to negotiate the release of three American prisoners of war.
These missions, while sometimes controversial, demonstrated his willingness to engage difficult global leaders in pursuit of humanitarian outcomes.
Personal Trials and Redemption
Jackson’s career was not without controversy. In the mid-1980s, he faced backlash over remarks perceived as offensive toward the Jewish community, for which he later expressed regret. In 2001, he publicly admitted to fathering a child outside his marriage, acknowledging personal failings while emphasizing faith , forgiveness, and redemption.
Despite these challenges, he continued his advocacy work, guided by his enduring belief in justice and equality.
Witnessing a Historic Moment
In 2008, Jackson was visibly moved to tears in Chicago’s Grant Park when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. For many, Obama’s victory symbolized the realization of decades of civil rights struggle — a movement Jackson had helped lead.
Continuing the Fight
Even as age and illness slowed him in later years, Jackson remained active. After the conviction of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd, Jackson traveled to Minneapolis to stand with the Floyd family and community members seeking justice.
Throughout his life, Jackson consistently urged Americans to “Keep hope alive,” a phrase that became synonymous with his message of resilience and faith in the nation’s potential.
Legacy
Rev. Jesse Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their children. In a statement, his family described him as a servant leader — not only to them, but to “the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.”
They wrote, “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions. We ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”
Public observances are expected to be held in Chicago, with final arrangements to celebrate his life forthcoming.
