CHICAGO (Diya TV) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering figure in the Civil Rights Movement and a two-time Democratic presidential candidate, has died at 84. His family said he died peacefully on Tuesday, surrounded by loved ones. For more than half a century, Jackson delivered a powerful message of dignity and self-worth. His famous call-and-response chant — “I am somebody” — echoed in churches, rallies, and political conventions across the nation. He urged Black Americans to demand respect, protection,n and opportunity.
Jackson spent decades fighting for civil rights, economic justice and political power. He inspired millions. He also drew criticism and controversy. Yet he never stopped pushing for change.
Jackson rose to national prominence during the Civil Rights era. He worked closely with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. He joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and led Operation Breadbasket, an economic program that pressured companies to hire Black workers. In 1966, he expanded Operation Breadbasket to Chicago. He organized boycotts and negotiated job agreements with local businesses. He believed economic power could drive social change.
Jackson stood near King on April 4, 1968, when an assassin shot the civil rights leader in Memphis, Tennessee. King’s death shaped Jackson’s life and career. He carried King’s vision forward through protest, preaching,g and politics. In 1971, Jackson founded People United to Save Humanity, later known as the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The group focused on economic empowerment, voter registration, and social justice. It became a major force in national politics.
Jackson made history in 1984 when he launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. He became the first Black candidate to mount a viable national campaign. He won more than 18% of the primary vote and several contests. In 1988, he ran again and expanded his support. He won 11 primaries and caucuses and captured nearly 7 million votes. His campaigns energized Black voters and pushed the Democratic Party to address issues such as poverty, voting rights, and affirmative action.
Jackson’s 1984 campaign suffered after he admitted using an anti-Jewish slur. He apologized publicly. The controversy strained his relationship with Jewish leaders for years. Despite setbacks, Jackson reshaped American politics. He built a “Rainbow Coalition” of Black, Latino, poor, and progressive voters. Many analysts credit his campaigns with expanding voter participation and paving the way for future candidates of color.
Jackson also built an international reputation. In the 1980s and 1990s, he negotiated the release of American hostages and prisoners overseas. He traveled to Cuba, Iraq, Yugoslavia, and African nations to broker freedom deals. In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed Jackson as special envoy for democracy in Africa. Jackson met with leaders, including Nelson Mandela, and helped mediate conflicts.
Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Jackson also served as a “shadow senator” for the District of Columbia, lobbying Congress for D.C. statehood. He later worked as a political commentator and continued leading the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Jackson revealed in 2017 that doctors had diagnosed him with Parkinson’s disease. He later said doctors had misdiagnosed him and that he had progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological disorder that affects movement and balance.
He stepped down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 2023 due to health concerns. Public tributes followed. Civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton called Jackson “one of our greatest moral voices.” President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden also offered condolences, praising Jackson’s decades of activism.
Jackson’s life included triumphs and controversy. He faced criticism for political missteps and personal scandals. Yet supporters say he never abandoned the fight for equality. He often said he wanted to be remembered as someone who “did the best I could with what I had.” His work expanded voter participation, advanced economic justice and kept civil rights at the center of American politics. Jackson leaves behind his wife, Jacqueline, and six children.
For generations of Americans, Jesse Jackson’s voice carried a simple message: Every person has worth. Every person deserves respect. And every person, no matter the odds, is somebody.
