The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a monumental pillar of the American Civil Rights Movement who served as the vital ideological bridge between the era of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the political ascendancy of Barack Obama, passed away on Tuesday, February 17. He was 84 years old.
Jackson died at his home surrounded by family members following a long-term battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative condition he had managed for over a decade. His daughter, Santita Jackson, confirmed his passing via the Associated Press. Although Jackson was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017, his diagnosis was updated to PSP in April.
“Our father was a servant leader—not only to our family but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family stated in a public tribute. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. 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.”
A Legacy of Activism and Music
Motown Records founder Berry Gordy expressed his grief shortly after the news broke, describing Jackson as more than a leader. “Jesse was a towering figure in the Civil Rights Movement—he was family,” Gordy remarked. “He stood with me, Motown, and our entire community through seasons of struggle and triumph. It was Jesse who facilitated Dr. King’s visit to Hitsville in 1963, just before the Great March to Freedom in Detroit, forever intertwining the power of music with our mission for justice.”
Gordy praised Jackson’s resilience, noting that even as his health declined, his spirit remained unbroken. “Jesse Jackson was a force of history—a moral compass and a builder of bridges for those whose voices were ignored. His legacy lives on in the progress he made possible.”
Jackson’s influence also extended into the recording arts. In 1989, he earned a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording. He had previously been recognized by the Recording Academy with nominations in 1980 for his contemporary soul gospel work Push for Excellence and in 1985 for his spoken word piece Our Time Has Come.
His lifetime of service was marked by numerous prestigious accolades, including the NAACP Image Awards’ President’s Award in 1988. In 2000, President Bill Clinton bestowed upon him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
From Selma to the National Stage
Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson’s journey into activism began in earnest during the summer of 1963. At age 21, he witnessed Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. Two years later, Jackson joined the historic Selma-to-Montgomery march, where he first met King. Impressed by the young man’s drive, King appointed the 24-year-old Jackson to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) Operation Breadbasket in Chicago.
Jackson was present at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis in April 1968 when Dr. King was tragically assassinated. In the wake of King’s death, Jackson’s national profile grew significantly, highlighted by a 1970 Time magazine cover story. However, internal friction led to his departure from the SCLC in 1971. He subsequently founded PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity), an organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities and political power for marginalized communities.
Jackson’s rallies became legendary for his rhythmic call-and-response chant, “I am somebody,” a mantra of self-worth that resonated with millions. His organizational efforts were instrumental in registering voters and electing the first Black mayors in major cities like Gary, Indiana, and Newark, New Jersey.
Breaking Political Barriers
Jesse Jackson shattered expectations when he ran for the presidency, becoming the first Black candidate to sustain a broad, multi-racial following. During the 1984 Democratic primaries, he garnered approximately 3.5 million votes. Despite his success, he was bypassed for the vice-presidential slot by nominee Walter Mondale.
His second run in 1988 was even more formidable, securing 7 million votes and a second-place finish behind Michael Dukakis. His impassioned, hour-long address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention remains one of the most celebrated speeches in American political history.
Jackson’s relationship with the Democratic establishment was often complex. During the 1992 campaign, Bill Clinton famously distanced himself from Jackson in what became known as the “Sister Souljah moment.” Despite the political friction, Clinton eventually honored Jackson’s decades of work with the Medal of Freedom at the turn of the millennium.
While his central role in the political spotlight shifted in the 2000s as a new generation of leaders emerged, Jackson remained a revered elder statesman. He was famously photographed in tears at Chicago’s Grant Park in 2008, witnessing the election of Barack Obama—a milestone he had spent his entire life paving the way for.
Reverend Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and their six children: Jesse Jr., Yusef, Jonathan, Jacqueline, Santita, and Ashley.
