Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson Dies at 84

Jesse Jackson, one of the most influential American civil rights leaders of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, has died at the age of 84, his family announced Tuesday. Jackson passed away peacefully at his home in Chicago on February 17, 2026, surrounded by family, marking the end of a decades-long career in activism, politics and social justice that reshaped American public life. His death was confirmed in a statement released by his family and shared on social media.

Born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson grew up in the segregated South, where the injustices of Jim Crow left a lasting impression on him. As a teenager, he became actively involved in civil rights protests, including sit-ins and marches challenging racial segregation and discrimination. A pivotal moment came in 1960 when, as a student, he and other Black teenagers were arrested for entering a whites-only library, an act that contributed to the integration of Greenville’s public library system.

Jesse Jackson’s Rise in the Civil Rights Movement

Jackson’s early activism caught the attention of Martin Luther King Jr., and he became a protégé of the revered civil rights leader. He joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where he led Operation Breadbasket, an initiative that worked to increase economic opportunities and employment for Black Americans. It was a role that showcased his skills as an organizer and negotiator, and laid the groundwork for his lifelong mission to expand both civil and economic rights.

Following King’s assassination in 1968, Jesse Jackson emerged as one of the movement’s most visible successors, taking on leadership roles and speaking out on issues of racial justice, economic inequality and political empowerment. In 1971, he left the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to found Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), a nonprofit group aimed at combating poverty and promoting corporate accountability in hiring and business practices.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Jackson became known for his ability to mobilize support across racial and socioeconomic lines. In 1984 he made history by running for the Democratic presidential nomination, becoming the second Black candidate to launch a nationwide campaign after Shirley Chisholm. While he did not win the nomination, his campaign broke new ground, bringing issues of racial justice, economic inequality and voter inclusion to the forefront of national politics. Four years later he ran again, finishing strongly in the Democratic primaries and signaling a growing appetite among American voters for diverse leadership.

The Rainbow Coalition

It was during his presidential bid that Jesse Jackson popularized the idea of a “Rainbow Coalition,” a broad alliance of voters including minorities, the poor, women and working-class Americans. That concept evolved into the National Rainbow Coalition, which he founded in 1984. In 1996 the Rainbow Coalition merged with Operation PUSH to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, based in Chicago, which became a central platform for Jackson’s advocacy on voting rights, educational access, economic opportunity and justice reform.

Jackson’s leadership extended beyond domestic politics. He championed global human rights causes, engaging in high-profile diplomatic efforts that sometimes led to the release of imprisoned Americans abroad. His message of hope and inclusion resonated internationally, and global figures honored him as both a moral voice and a bridge between communities. British political figures, for example, described him as a “direct connection to the great era of civil rights” whose global advocacy influenced movements in the United Kingdom and beyond.

Despite his many achievements, Jackson’s life was not without controversy. In the early 2000s, a personal scandal involving an extramarital affair and the birth of a child drew public scrutiny and led to a temporary withdrawal from activism. Nonetheless, he remained a central figure in civic life, balancing personal challenges with public commitments.

In his later years Jackson faced significant health challenges. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017 and later with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative disorder that limited his mobility and speech. He continued to appear at public events when he could, demonstrating his enduring commitment to justice, including attending the 2024 Democratic National Convention and supporting civic causes well into his eighties.

Reactions to the Death of Jesse Jackson

Reactions to Jesse Jackson’s death poured in from across the United States and around the world. Political leaders, civil rights activists and community members remembered him as a “servant leader” who devoted his life to uplifting the marginalized. Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York described him as a figure who “never stopped demanding that America live up to its promise,” while longtime ally Rev. Al Sharpton called him “a movement unto himself,” a mentor who nurtured the next generation of leaders.

Jackson’s family urged the public to honor his memory by continuing the work he championed. “Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the family said in a statement. “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.”

As the nation reflects on the life of Jesse Jackson, his legacy remains deeply woven into the ongoing struggles for civil rights and equality. He transformed grassroots activism into national political discourse, expanded the boundaries of political possibility for candidates of color, and left an enduring imprint on America’s moral and civic landscape.

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