Tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson

Rev. Dr. Jesse Jackson
October 8, 1941 – February 17, 2026

For more than a half century since the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesse Jackson has carried on the work of his mentor, adding his own perspectives to the effort of ensuring civil and human rights for all. His death at 84 is a great loss, but he leaves us with an enormous legacy of accomplishment and inspiration.

While addressing the plight of Black Americans, Jackson was well aware that their struggle was not just about race, but also about class:

“When we change the race problem into a class fight between the haves and the have-nots, then we are going to have a new ball game”,  he said in 1969.

Jackson addressed a joint session of the Alabama Legislature in May 1983, telling legislators it was “about time we forgot about black and white and started talking about employed and unemployed.”

Jackson took the crusade for rights to the campaign trail when he ran for President in 1984 and again in 1988, establishing that a Black candidate could get votes, even votes from white Americans. Though unsuccessful, he helped carve a trail for many others to follow. Including his sons: Jonathan currently serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Jesse Jr. is a former U.S. representative.

At the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco on July 17, 1984, Jackson delivered his famous “Rainbow Coalition” speech. It was the first speech at a national convention to mention gays and lesbians.  Jackson said:

From integrating the Greenville Library in 1960, through his work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, to the Rainbow Coalition and PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity), Jackson weathered controversy to emerge as one of the most influential African‑American activists of his era. It is a pleasure to see his legacy applauded. He will certainly be missed.

Perhaps that’s why the best way to mourn the Rev. Jesse Jackson is to continue to put in the hard work — because the fight for our rights, for civil rights, for human rights is unyielding, just as Jackson was.    ~ April Ryan, journalist