Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84

Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights legend and NC A&T alumnus, leaves a lasting impact on North Carolina and the nation.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, Baptist minister and two-time presidential candidate, died on February 17 at the age of 84. Jackson, a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, was a protégé of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was instrumental in guiding the modern Civil Rights Movement. He ran for U.S. president twice, coming in second in the 1988 Democratic primary. Jackson remained active in public life until his retirement in 2023, advocating for civil rights, voting rights, and economic justice.

Why it matters

Rev. Jesse Jackson was a towering figure in the Civil Rights Movement and a prominent leader in North Carolina's struggle for racial equality and social justice. His passing marks the end of an era and leaves a void in the ongoing fight for civil rights and equality in the state and across the nation.

The details

Jackson was born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina and attended North Carolina A&T State University, where he met and married his wife Jacqueline. He became a leader in Greensboro's civil rights movement, marching with hundreds of people and being arrested for inciting to riot. Jackson later joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, marching with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma to Montgomery. He founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an international human and civil rights group, and ran for U.S. president in 1984 and 1988, placing second in the 1988 Democratic primary. Jackson remained active in public life, advocating for voting rights and economic justice, until his retirement in 2023.

  • Jackson was born in 1941 in Greenville, South Carolina.
  • Jackson graduated from North Carolina A&T State University.
  • In 1965, Jackson joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and marched from Selma to Montgomery with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
  • In 1984 and 1988, Jackson ran for U.S. president, placing second in the 1988 Democratic primary.
  • Jackson died on February 17, 2026 at the age of 84.

The players

Rev. Jesse Jackson

A civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and two-time presidential candidate who was a protégé of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University.

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

A prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement who mentored Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Michael Dukakis

The Massachusetts governor who defeated Rev. Jesse Jackson in the 1988 Democratic presidential primary.

Walter Mondale

The former vice president who was the frontrunner in the 1984 Democratic presidential primary, which Rev. Jesse Jackson placed third in.

Barack Obama

The first Black president of the United States, whom Rev. Jesse Jackson supported in his 2012 reelection campaign.

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What they’re saying

“Our father was a servant leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world. We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

— Jackson Family (qnotescarolinas.com)

“Recognition of the effects of this disease on me has been painful, and I have been slow to grasp the gravity of it. For me, a Parkinson's diagnosis is not a stop sign but rather a signal that I must make lifestyle changes and dedicate myself to physical therapy in hopes of slowing the disease's progression.”

— Rev. Jesse Jackson (qnotescarolinas.com)

“I have spent the last 25 years, not as a perfect servant, but as a public servant. My name has become known because I have served. That's why I want to be president — to serve the American people.”

— Rev. Jesse Jackson (qnotescarolinas.com)

The takeaway

Rev. Jesse Jackson's life and legacy as a civil rights leader, presidential candidate, and advocate for the oppressed and overlooked will continue to inspire and guide the ongoing struggle for racial justice, equality, and human rights in North Carolina and across the United States.