02/17/2026
Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. (1941–2026)
Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. was more than a man — he was a movement, a moral force who refused to let America forget its promise. Born in Greenville, South Carolina in 1941, he rose from the segregated South to become one of the most recognizable and unrelenting voices for justice in the modern world. (Greek Reporter)
A protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson stood on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement, marching, organizing, and lifting the cry for dignity when doing so could cost a man his life. He was present at the Lorraine Motel on the tragic day Dr. King was assassinated — a moment that marked him forever and propelled him deeper into the fight for freedom. (Greek Reporter)
He became a national and global figure through his leadership in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and later as the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a powerhouse organization dedicated to economic justice, voting rights, and the empowerment of marginalized communities. (NBC New York +1)
Reverend Jackson was not only a preacher of righteousness — he was a strategist, a negotiator, and a bridge-builder. In the 1980s and 1990s, he negotiated the release of international hostages, advocated for healthcare access, fought against apartheid, and championed LGBTQ and voting rights long before such stances were politically safe. (CNBC)
He twice ran for President of the United States, reshaping American politics by proving that a Black candidate could win states, build coalitions, and inspire millions. His campaigns opened doors for generations of leaders who would come after him. (WRVO Public ...)
Even as he battled Parkinson’s disease and later progressive supranuclear palsy, he refused to retreat from public service. He kept marching, kept speaking, kept advocating — because for him, justice was not a career but a calling. (CBS News)
On February 17, 2026, at the age of 84, Reverend Jesse Jackson transitioned from labor to reward, surrounded by his family. His children described him as a “servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world.” (WRVO Public ...)
A Legacy That Cannot Die
Reverend Jackson taught the world to declare:
“I am somebody.”
He spent more than six decades making sure the poor, the forgotten, and the marginalized believed it — and that the powerful heard it.
His life was a sermon.
His work was a protest.
His voice was a trumpet.
And his legacy is a mantle that now rests on all who dare to continue the fight for justice.
