The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure of the modern civil rights era and a pioneering presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84. For more than five decades, Jackson stood at the intersection of activism, politics, and faith, helping shape the national conversation on race, economic justice, and political representation.
A close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1960s, Jackson emerged from the civil rights movement as one of its most visible successors. He later founded what became the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization dedicated to advancing economic opportunity, voter participation, and corporate accountability. Through marches, negotiations, and public advocacy, he positioned himself as both a protest leader and a power broker.
Jackson made history with his 1984 and 1988 campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination. His 1988 run, in particular, expanded the political coalition within the party and demonstrated the growing influence of Black voters in national elections. While he did not secure the nomination, his campaigns opened doors for future candidates and reshaped expectations about who could seek the nation’s highest office.
In recent years, Jackson faced health challenges, including Parkinson’s disease, yet remained a symbolic presence in civic life. His passing closes a chapter that linked the moral urgency of the 1960s civil rights struggle with the evolving political landscape of modern America.
