Today the world mourns the passing of a towering figure in the long struggle for justice and equality. Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died peacefully at age 84 surrounded by his family, dedicated his life to lifting up the oppressed, the voiceless, and the forgotten. Born in Greenville, South Carolina in 1941, Jackson emerged from the segregated American South with a passion for change and a fierce belief in human dignity.
As a young man, he joined the fight for civil rights, marching with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in historic campaigns for voting rights and social justice. He stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder with King in Selma and Memphis, moments that not only shaped a movement but shaped his life’s calling. Rev. Jackson was more than an activist — he was a movement builder. He founded Operation PUSH and later the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, organizations that empowered Black communities through economic initiatives, voter engagement, and policy advocacy.
His work helped broaden the civil rights movement into a sustained force for economic justice, political representation, and grassroots empowerment across America. In the 1980s, Jackson broke new ground in American politics by mounting serious bids for the Democratic presidential nomination. Though he did not win the nomination, his campaigns were historic: he galvanized millions of voters, expanded political participation, and proved that an African American leader could aspire to the highest office in the land.
His words, his courage, and his optimism inspired a new generation of activists and leaders. Rev. Jackson’s life was marked by both triumph and challenge. He faced personal and public controversies, endured chronic illness, and weathered the weight of decades of injustice. Yet through it all, he remained unwavering in his belief that freedom, equality, and compassion were worth the struggle. His legacy lives on in every voter mobilized, every law changed, and every person who hears Dr. King’s dream echoed in Jackson’s call to “keep hope alive.”
He helped pave the way for leaders who followed — from Barack Obama to countless grassroots champions who carry forward the unfinished work of justice. Today, as we reflect on his extraordinary life, we honor not only the battles he fought but the hope he inspired in millions around the globe. Rev. Jesse Jackson’s voice will forever resonate in the ongoing journey toward equality, human dignity, and shared humanity.
Rest in power, Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Your light will continue to guide the movement for justice.
