Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson's Legacy Examined

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The late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson's two presidential campaigns in the 1980s, while ultimately unsuccessful, revealed deep-seated racism and divisions within the Democratic party establishment that he was challenging. As a reporter covering Jackson's 1988 campaign, the author witnessed the overt and subtle obstacles he faced from his own party's leadership.

Why it matters

Jackson's campaigns represented a pivotal moment in American politics, as an African American candidate made a serious run for the presidency and brought issues of racial justice and economic inequality to the forefront. His ability to galvanize large, enthusiastic crowds also highlighted the hunger for progressive change, even as the party establishment resisted it.

The details

During his 1988 presidential campaign, Jackson's signature rallying cry of "Keep hope alive!" resonated with thousands of supporters. However, the author, then a reporter for the Los Angeles Times covering the campaign, also witnessed the overt and subtle ways the Democratic party establishment worked to undermine Jackson's insurgent challenge.

• Jesse Jackson ran for president in 1984 and 1988.

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