Jesse Jackson: Profile of the Civil Rights Icon Who Died at 84

Jesse Jackson, the US civil rights icon, has died at the age of 84. Here's a look at his inspiring life and legacy.

Jesse Jackson: Profile of the Civil Rights Icon Who Died at 84
Enlarge
Jesse Jackson, the US civil rights icon, has died at the age of 84. Here's a look at his inspiring life and legacy. (Photo: Wikimedia Commmons)

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Jesse Jackson, an iconic figure in the American civil rights movement and former presidential candidate, died on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at the age of 84.

His death was confirmed by his family, surrounded by loved ones, after years of battling Parkinson's disease and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017.

In April 2025, his neurological condition was confirmed as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare disorder that affects movement, balance, and eye movement.

Before his death, Jesse Jackson was hospitalized in November 2025 for observation regarding his neurological condition and to manage his blood pressure.

He was known as a "servant leader" who tirelessly fought for justice, equality, and love around the world.

Jesse Jackson's legacy includes his role as a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his two presidential runs for the U.S. presidency, and his diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Americans imprisoned abroad.

Jesse Jackson's Life and Education

Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. was born Jesse Louis Burns on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.

A year after his birth, his mother married Charles Henry Jackson, a postal maintenance worker, who later adopted him.

His family tree reflects diversity, including Cherokee ancestors, enslaved African Americans, Irish plantation owners, and a Confederate sheriff.

Jackson attended the University of Illinois on a football scholarship before transferring to North Carolina A&T State University, where he graduated with a B.S. in sociology in 1964.

He then began studying theology at Chicago Theological Seminary.

However, Jackson put his studies on hold to become fully involved in the Civil Rights Movement alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

He was ordained a minister in 1968 and received his Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000, drawing on his life experiences and work.

Central Role in the Civil Rights Movement

Jesse Jackson was a prominent protégé of Martin Luther King Jr. and James Bevel during the turbulent civil rights movement.

He had been involved in local civil rights protests since his college days, including a "read-in" at a segregated library in Greenville in 1960, which led to his arrest.

In 1965, Jackson joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and was quickly appointed head of Operation Breadbasket in Chicago in 1966. This program aimed to empower the African-American community economically.

After leaving the SCLC in 1971, Jackson founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity), an organization focused on economic and social justice.

Then, in 1984, he founded the National Rainbow Coalition, which merged with Operation PUSH in 1996 to form the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

International Diplomacy and Awards

In addition to his domestic role, Jesse Jackson was also active in international diplomacy.

His diplomatic achievements include the release of Navy pilot Robert Goodman from Syria in 1984, hundreds of people held in Kuwait by Saddam Hussein in 1991, and three U.S. prisoners of war from Yugoslavia in 1999.

For his outstanding contributions, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom on August 9, 2000, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

He was also appointed "Special Envoy of the President and Secretary of State for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa" ​​in 1997.

Jesse Jackson is also the author of several influential books, including "Keep Hope Alive" and "Straight From the Heart."

He retired as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 2023 and made his final public appearance at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.