Article
He was a leader to ‘the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,’ his family recalled. On Tuesday morning, Jesse Jackson, the famed U.S. civil rights leader, died at the age of 84. Jackson marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after the latter’s assassination.
“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family stated.
“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, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”
“A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless — from his presidential campaign in the 1980s to mobilizing millions to register to vote — leaving an indelible mark on history,” the Jackson family pointed out.
In 2017, Jackson revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which affects the nervous system and slowly restricts movement and daily activities.
Jackson had built a very strong political influence both inside the U.S. and abroad, and he spent his life dedicated to pursuing civil rights for disenfranchised groups.
Jesse Jackson was born Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, and rose to prominence as one of the most visible civil rights leaders in the United States in the late 20th century. He studied sociology at North Carolina A&T State University and later earned a master’s degree in theology from the Chicago Theological Seminary.
Early in his life, Jackson became deeply involved in the struggle for racial equality, working closely with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
After King’s assassination in 1968, Jackson continued to advocate for nonviolent activism, economic justice and expanded political participation for African Americans.
In 1971, Jackson founded People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), an organization focused on improving economic conditions, education and employment opportunities for Black communities.
He later merged it with the National Rainbow Coalition, creating the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, which sought to unite racial minorities, labor groups, women and the poor into a broad political alliance.
Through boycotts, negotiations with major corporations and public campaigns, Jackson pushed for affirmative action, minority hiring and greater representation in business and government.
His political career reached its peak during his presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, when he sought the Democratic nomination. Although he did not win, Jackson achieved historic results in 1988, when he finished third overall and won several primaries and caucuses.
His campaigns expanded the electorate, mobilized millions of new voters and helped shape the Democratic Party’s platform on issues such as civil rights, social welfare and foreign policy.
Beyond electoral politics, Jackson also served as an informal diplomat, engaging in high-profile international missions, and remained an influential voice in U.S. political and social debates for decades.
Rest in Power to Jesse Jackson, one of the last good libs in US politics.