Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson Dies at 84

Jackson was a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. and twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Charismatic U.S. civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who became a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. and twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, has died at the age of 84. Jackson, an eloquent Baptist minister raised in the segregated South, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017.

Why it matters

Jackson was a towering figure in the civil rights movement, advocating for the rights of Black Americans and other marginalized communities. His death marks the passing of a transformative leader who helped shape the political landscape and the fight for racial justice in the United States.

The details

Jackson founded the Chicago-based civil rights groups Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition, and served as Democratic President Bill Clinton's special envoy to Africa in the 1990s. He pursued his political ambitions in the 1980s, relying on his mesmerizing oratory, and was the closest a Black candidate had come to securing a major party presidential nomination before Barack Obama's election in 2008.

  • Jackson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017.
  • Jackson died on February 17, 2026.

The players

Jesse Jackson

A charismatic U.S. civil rights leader who was a close associate of Martin Luther King Jr. and twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Martin Luther King Jr.

A prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968.

Barack Obama

The first African-American president of the United States, elected in 2008.

Bill Clinton

The 42nd president of the United States, who served from 1993 to 2001.

Reverend Al Sharpton

A civil rights activist and Baptist minister who was a friend and mentee of Jesse Jackson.

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What they’re saying

“We must turn to each other and not on each other, and choose higher ground.”

— Jesse Jackson

“Jesse Jackson changed American politics. Jesse Jackson changed the civil rights movement.”

— Reverend Al Sharpton, Civil Rights Activist and Baptist Minister

“I'm too mature to be angry. I am focused on what we must do to keep hope alive.”

— Jesse Jackson

“Jesse was a true giant, and we stood on the shoulders of his life's work.”

— Barack Obama, Former U.S. President

“If the world takes nothing from Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, if they just take those immortal words. And if they just give it to children and their neighbors, you have paid tribute to Jesse Louis Jackson.”

— Ziff Sistrunk, Friend of Jesse Jackson

The takeaway

Jesse Jackson's passing marks the end of an era for the civil rights movement in the United States. His legacy as a transformative leader, eloquent orator, and tireless advocate for racial justice will continue to inspire generations to come.