The arc of modern American civil rights cannot be told without the towering presence of Jesse Jackson. A street organiser who became a presidential contender and a protégé who became a powerbroker, Jackson’s life was stitched into the moral and political battles of the United States. As tributes pour in from across the political spectrum, the images of his journey – marching beside Martin Luther King Jr, addressing vast crowds, and negotiating on global stages – return with renewed resonance.
From King’s protégé to national powerbroker
Jackson’s family announced his passing at the age of 84, calling him a “servant leader” to the oppressed, the voiceless and the overlooked. It is a phrase that neatly captures the spirit of a man who rose to prominence in the 1960s as a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. Photographs from that era show a young Jackson marching in protests, standing firm amid hostility, and absorbing both the risks and the resolve of the civil rights movement.
After King’s assassination, Jackson did not retreat from public life. Instead, he expanded his reach. Through voter registration drives, economic justice campaigns and grassroots mobilisation, he worked to transform protest energy into political power. His activism evolved from the streets into structured political engagement, as he built networks that amplified African-American voices within mainstream politics.
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The Presidential runs that reshaped American politics
By the 1980s, Jackson had launched two historic presidential campaigns, becoming one of the first African-American candidates to mount a serious bid for the White House. Though he did not secure the Democratic nomination, his campaigns reshaped the party’s coalition and broadened national conversations around race, representation and social justice.
Tributes reflect that sweeping legacy. Former president Barack Obama said he stood “on his shoulders” in becoming America’s first Black president. It was a striking acknowledgement of the groundwork Jackson laid. US President Donald Trump described him as a “force of nature", while former Vice President Kamala Harris called him one of America’s greatest patriots.
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In 2017, Jackson revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He was hospitalised last November after doctors identified a degenerative condition. Jesse Jackson’s life was not confined to podiums or campaigns; it was lived in marches, negotiations and unyielding belief.
