He was hailed a trailblazer, a pathfinder and a charismatic champion of US civil rights – Reverend Jesse Jackson has died at age 84.
Jackson’s extraordinary legacy of civil rights campaigns spanned more than 60 years and forever redefined the moral and political fabric of the US and the world.
Martin Luther King was his mentor and friend, and many said Jackson’s unsuccessful bids for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 helped pave the way for Barrack Obama to become president.
In a statement the Jackson family said he died peacefully, surrounded by family.
“Our father was a servant leader – not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement.
“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 honour his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”
His Rainbow Push Coalition pushed for nationwide voting registration, and now focuses on educational and economic equality.
Rev. Jackson is survived by his wife, Jacqueline and children Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline, Ashley, and grandchildren.
Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson graduated from public school and enrolled in the University of Illinois on a football scholarship.
He later transferred to North Carolina A&T State University to concentrate on his education and graduated in 1964.
He was ordained in 1968 and attained his Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000.
In a statement, the Rainbow Push Coalition said Jackson remained steadfast in his mission to pave the way for the next generation of freedom fighters.
“He was a man of the people, welcomed in even the most rural areas, whether serving the impoverished, or bringing his masterful guidance to hostage negotiations with world leaders.
“His tireless advocacy extended beyond American soil, championing human rights struggles on a global scale.
“His fearless leadership brought attention to issues of racial discrimination, economic and gender inequality, social injustice, healthcare, education and peace-building – earning him recognition as a true humanitarian and world leader.
“Reverend Jackson’s passing marks the end of an era, but his vision of justice, equality and unity will live through the countless lives he touched.”
