Rev. Al Sharpton Remembers Civil Rights Icon Jesse Jackson

Sharpton credits Jackson's presidential runs and activism with shaping the modern civil rights movement and New York politics.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to his longtime friend and mentor, the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, crediting Jackson's presidential campaigns and civil rights leadership with transforming the Democratic party and paving the way for key political victories in New York City. Sharpton, who began his own activism under Jackson's tutelage, described Jackson as a consequential and tireless fighter for equality who never stopped working until his death at age 84.

Why it matters

Jackson's presidential runs in 1984 and 1988 helped change the rules governing the Democratic primary process, laying the groundwork for future candidates like Barack Obama. Sharpton also credits Jackson's mobilization of Black voters in New York City as crucial to David Dinkins becoming the city's first Black mayor in 1989.

The details

Sharpton met Jackson as a 13-year-old preacher, when he was appointed youth director of Operation Breadbasket, an organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and led by Jackson. Sharpton said Jackson "taught me activism" and was more responsible than anyone for shaping Sharpton's own civil rights work. On the day of King's assassination, Jackson was with him on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis. Sharpton said Jackson never stopped fighting for equality, joining protests for victims of police brutality like George Floyd and Trayvon Martin up until his death.

  • Rev. Jesse Jackson died early on Tuesday morning.
  • In 1984, Jackson ran for President and changed the rules governing the Democratic primary process.
  • In 1988, Jackson ran for President again, winning the city of New York which Sharpton says provided the momentum for David Dinkins to win the NYC mayoral race the following year.

The players

Rev. Al Sharpton

A civil rights activist and Baptist minister who was mentored by Rev. Jesse Jackson and credits him with shaping his own activism.

Rev. Jesse Jackson

A civil rights leader and Baptist minister who ran for President in 1984 and 1988, changing the Democratic primary process and helping pave the way for political victories in New York City.

David Dinkins

The first Black mayor of New York City, elected in 1989, whose victory Sharpton credits to the momentum generated by Jackson's 1988 presidential run.

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What they’re saying

“It was in 1984, when he ran for President, that he changed the rules that primaries were governed by. It was Jesse changing [the rules] to proportional delegate representation is how Barack Obama was made the nominee. Hillary Clinton won more blue states… but he was able to accumulate more delegate votes. So [Jackson] literally changed the party moving forward.”

— Rev. Al Sharpton, Civil Rights Activist (amny.com)

“In '88 [Jackson] ran again, got seven million votes and won the city of New York. He lost the state to Dukakis, but he won the city of New York which made us believe in '89 we could win. David Dinkins became the mayor in '89 off Jackson votes.”

— Rev. Al Sharpton, Civil Rights Activist (amny.com)

“You gotta remember how Dr. King was only 39 years old… Medgar Evers was killed at 39 years old, Malcolm X was killed at 39 years old. We were never raised to be 40 years old. I woke up one day at 55, there's no retirement plan for us.”

— Rev. Jesse Jackson (amny.com)

The takeaway

Rev. Jesse Jackson's presidential campaigns and decades-long civil rights activism fundamentally reshaped the Democratic party and paved the way for key political victories in New York City, according to his protégé Rev. Al Sharpton. Jackson's work inspired a new generation of activists and leaders, underscoring the lasting impact of his tireless fight for equality.