Jesse Jackson Dies at 84: A Civil Rights Giant’s Legacy Lives On
A towering figure of the American civil rights movement has fallen silent and tonight the world is reflecting on the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson.
Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84, passing away peacefully surrounded by his family. For more than half a century, he stood at the front lines of the struggle for racial equality in the United States and his voice carried far beyond America’s borders.
Born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson grew up in the segregated South. He came of age at a time when basic rights were denied to Black Americans and he chose not to accept that reality. As a young activist, he joined the movement led by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and quickly became one of King’s closest allies within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was in Memphis in 1968 when King was assassinated, a moment that shaped the rest of his life.
But Jackson did not step back. He stepped forward.
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In the 1970s, he founded Operation PUSH and later the Rainbow Coalition, building broad, multiracial alliances focused on economic justice, voting rights and equal opportunity. He believed that political power and economic access were inseparable and he pushed corporations and government leaders to open doors that had long been closed.
In 1984 and again in 1988, Jackson ran for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States. At a time when many doubted a Black candidate could compete nationally, he proved them wrong. His campaigns registered millions of new voters and reshaped American politics, laying groundwork that would later make history possible.
In recent years, Jackson faced serious health challenges, including Parkinson’s disease and a rare degenerative neurological condition. Yet even as his physical strength declined, his message remained consistent. He continued to speak out against inequality, racial injustice and disparities in healthcare and education.
His family describes him as a servant leader, a man who shared his life with the world. And whether admired or debated, his impact is undeniable. He helped expand the boundaries of American democracy and gave a generation the courage to believe that change was possible.
As tributes pour in from political leaders, activists and communities across the globe, one thing is clear: Jesse Jackson’s life was woven into the story of modern civil rights.
Stay with us for continuing coverage, reactions from around the world and a closer look at the movement he helped shape.
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