7 Things To Know About Jesse Jackson

United States civil rights leader and Baptist minister, Rev. Jesse Jackson, has died at the age of 84.

Announcing his death in a statement on Tuesday morning, the family said that the veteran activist “died peacefully… surrounded by his family.”

The family described Jackson as a lifelong advocate for justice, equality and compassion, hailing “his unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love,” and portraying him as “a servant leader to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked worldwide.”

Jackson’s death marks the passing of one of the most influential figures of the modern American civil rights movement, whose activism spanned more than six decades and reshaped racial politics in the United States.

Early Life and Education:
Jackson was born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, and grew up during the Jim Crow era, a period defined by legally enforced racial segregation in the American South.

Born to a teenage mother, Jackson was later adopted by his stepfather after his mother remarried. Despite the racial barriers of the time, he excelled academically and athletically, earning a football scholarship to the University of Illinois. He later transferred to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, citing racial discrimination.

While in college, Jackson became deeply involved in civil rights activism. He was arrested after attempting to enter a whites-only public library in South Carolina, an experience that further shaped his commitment to racial justice.

He later attended Chicago Theological Seminary and was ordained a Baptist minister in 1968.

Role in the Civil Rights Movement:
Jackson rose to national prominence as a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr., working with him in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Within the organisation, Jackson was tasked with expanding economic opportunities for Black Americans, a focus that would become central to his activism.

On April 4, 1968, when King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Jackson was staying at the same location. His public recollections of the event later drew criticism from some of King’s associates, but his role in the movement remained significant.

Founding of Civil Rights Organisations:
Following King’s assassination, Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in Chicago in the early 1970s to promote Black self-help and economic empowerment.

In 1984, he established the National Rainbow Coalition, which later merged with Operation PUSH in 1996 to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Jackson led the organisation for more than five decades before stepping down as president in 2023.

International Diplomacy and Media Career:
Beyond domestic activism, Jackson played a notable role in international diplomacy. In 1984, he helped secure the release of U.S. naval aviator Robert Goodman Jr. from Syria, an effort that drew praise from then-President Ronald Reagan.

He later met Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 1990 to negotiate the release of Americans detained after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

Jackson was also involved in securing the release of prisoners from Cuba and three U.S. airmen held in Serbia in 1999.

From 1992 to 2000, Jackson hosted a weekly programme on CNN. In 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States.

Presidential Campaigns and Politics:
Jackson sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, mounting historic campaigns that mobilised Black voters and progressive white liberals.

In 1984, he won 3.3 million votes—about 18 per cent of those cast—finishing third behind Walter Mondale and Gary Hart. His campaign later faltered after reports surfaced that he had privately used an antisemitic slur.

In 1988, Jackson ran a more disciplined and inclusive campaign, winning 11 state primaries and caucuses and securing 6.8 million votes, or 29 per cent of the total. He finished second to Michael Dukakis and electrified the Democratic National Convention with a speech calling for unity across racial and economic divides.

Although he never held elective office, Jackson’s campaigns paved the way for future Black presidential contenders, a milestone realised with the election of Barack Obama in 2008.

Health Challenges in Later Years:
Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017. In November 2025, he was hospitalised after being diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disorder that affects movement, balance and eye coordination.

Medical experts note that PSP often leads to severe disability within a few years of diagnosis.

Family and Legacy:
Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Brown, whom he married in 1962, their children – Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline; daughter Ashley Jackson, and grandchildren and extended family.

Widely regarded as a barrier-breaker for people of colour, the poor and the politically marginalised, Jesse Jackson leaves behind a legacy defined by activism, faith, and a relentless push for equality, both in America and around the world.