On February 17, the nation paused to honor the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson at the age of 84. For more than six decades, Jackson stood at the intersection of faith, activism, and politics, becoming one of the most visible and influential civil rights leaders in modern American history.
His life was not simply a reflection of the Civil Rights Movement. It was an extension of it.
Early Life and Spiritual Foundation
Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jesse Louis Jackson grew up in the segregated South. Raised primarily by his mother, Helen Burns, Jackson developed an early awareness of racial injustice and economic inequality. He excelled academically and athletically, eventually attending North Carolina A and T State University, a historically Black university that played a critical role in student-led civil rights activism.
It was there that Jackson’s leadership voice began to sharpen. He later attended the Chicago Theological Seminary, where his theological studies deepened his commitment to ministry rooted in social justice. His faith was never separate from his activism. It fueled it.
Marching with Dr. King
Jackson rose to national prominence through his work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.. In the 1960s, he marched, organized, and advocated alongside Dr. King during some of the most pivotal demonstrations of the Civil Rights Movement.
He was present during the Poor People’s Campaign and became closely involved in Operation Breadbasket, an initiative aimed at increasing economic opportunities for Black communities. When Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, Jackson was among those in Memphis supporting the sanitation workers’ strike.
The loss of Dr. King did not silence him. It propelled him.
Building Institutions for Change
In 1971, Jackson founded Operation PUSH, an organization dedicated to economic empowerment, education, and corporate accountability. Later, he established the National Rainbow Coalition, a political organization focused on uniting marginalized communities across racial, economic, and geographic lines. These efforts eventually merged to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which became a powerful advocacy force.
Jackson’s philosophy centered on coalition building. He believed progress required unity across differences, particularly among working class Americans, communities of color, and those excluded from political power.
A Historic Presidential Campaign
In 1984 and again in 1988, Jackson ran for President of the United States. His campaigns were historic. In 1988, he won several Democratic primaries and caucuses, becoming one of the most successful Black presidential candidates in U.S. history at that time.
His “Rainbow Coalition” message challenged traditional political structures and brought issues such as economic inequality, voter access, and international human rights into mainstream political discourse. Though he did not secure the nomination, his campaigns expanded the imagination of what was politically possible for Black Americans and other marginalized communities.
A Voice in Global and Domestic Justice
Beyond electoral politics, Jackson played a significant role in diplomatic efforts, including negotiating the release of American hostages abroad. Domestically, he remained vocal on issues ranging from police accountability to education equity and economic justice.
His activism often drew criticism, but Jackson never retreated from public engagement. He understood that leadership in the public arena invites scrutiny. He embraced it as part of the work.
Health Challenges and Final Years
In 2017, Jackson publicly announced his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. Even as his health declined, his symbolic presence in civil rights spaces remained powerful. He represented a living bridge between the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and contemporary struggles for justice.
His death at 84 marks the end of an era, but not the end of his influence.
A Legacy That Endures
Rev. Jesse Jackson’s life teaches a fundamental truth. Movements do not survive on memory alone. They require institutions, political participation, moral courage, and relentless hope.
He marched in the streets. He organized in churches. He negotiated in boardrooms. He campaigned on national stages. Through it all, he insisted that America live up to its stated ideals.
As we reflect on his life, we are reminded that civil rights history is not distant. It is living history, carried forward by those willing to do the work.
Rev. Jesse Jackson leaves behind a legacy of faith-driven activism, coalition politics, and unapologetic advocacy for the marginalized. His voice may be quiet now, but the movement he helped build continues to speak.
Image Credit: Chris Williamson/Getty
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