Rev. Jesse L. Jackson: A Voice That Refused to Be Silenced

Civil rights leader, presidential candidate and founder of Operation PUSH leaves an indelible mark on American history

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the American civil rights movement whose activism spanned more than five decades and whose voice became synonymous with the call to “Keep Hope Alive,” died Monday, Feb. 17, 2026. He was 84.

Jackson, a Baptist minister, political candidate and founder of the Rainbow Coalition, was widely regarded as one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the late 20th century. From marching alongside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s to mounting historic presidential campaigns in the 1980s, Jackson remained a persistent advocate for voting rights, economic justice and racial equality.

The NAACP, with which Jackson maintained a decades-long relationship, described him as “family” and a “towering moral voice” whose life’s work was integral to the organization’s mission of advancing Black America. Jackson was awarded the NAACP’s prestigious Spingarn Medal, one of the highest honors bestowed for outstanding achievement by an African American.

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Jackson rose to national prominence as a close associate of King and a key organizer within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. After King’s assassination in 1968, Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), focusing on economic empowerment and corporate accountability.

He later established the Rainbow Coalition, a political movement designed to unite African Americans, Latinos, labor unions, family farmers, LGBTQ advocates and other marginalized groups into a broad-based alliance. The coalition’s message reshaped Democratic Party politics and expanded the electorate’s engagement with issues of social and economic justice.

Jackson’s economic boycotts of major corporations that he accused of discriminatory hiring practices mirrored strategies long employed by the NAACP. Through negotiations and public pressure, those efforts resulted in expanded minority hiring, increased minority-owned business contracts and greater representation in corporate leadership.

In 1984 and again in 1988, Jackson sought the Democratic nomination for president, becoming one of the first African Americans to mount viable national campaigns. His 1988 campaign, in particular, galvanized millions of new voters and helped redefine the political possibilities for Black candidates nationwide.

Throughout his career, Jackson also championed the use of the term “African American,” advocating for a cultural identity that connected Black Americans to their ancestral heritage while reinforcing pride and solidarity.

Even after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2017, Jackson remained active in public life, speaking out on issues ranging from police reform to economic inequality. His presence at rallies, conventions and community events continued to symbolize continuity between the civil rights movement of the 1960s and contemporary struggles for justice.

Leaders across political and civic spheres credited Jackson with mentoring generations of activists and elected officials. His blend of moral conviction, political strategy and rhetorical flourish made him both a revered and, at times, controversial figure. Yet even critics acknowledged his enduring impact on American politics and civil rights.

Jackson’s death marks the passing of one of the last major figures whose activism directly bridged the era of King and the modern movement for racial justice. For supporters, his legacy remains rooted in a simple but enduring refrain: keep hope alive.