—-Life reflects both the progress achieved since the civil rights era and the enduring struggles that remain.

Few figures in modern U.S. history have championed justice, equality, and political inclusion as consistently as Jesse Jackson, a Baptist minister turned activist whose life mirrors the long struggle for civil rights in America.

Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson grew up in the era of racial segregation, where discrimination defined daily life for African Americans. Those early experiences planted the seeds of a lifelong mission to challenge injustice and uplift marginalised communities.

As a young activist, Jackson became deeply involved in the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr. working on landmark campaigns for voting rights, desegregation, and economic equality throughout the 1960s.

Following King’s assassination in 1968, Jackson rose to national prominence. He founded Operation PUSH, which later evolved into the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organisation focused on education, business development, and political empowerment for disadvantaged groups.

Through protests, negotiations, and advocacy, Jackson pressured corporations and government institutions to open doors of opportunity to minorities and the poor.

His impact soon reached electoral politics.

In 1984 and 1988, Jackson mounted historic bids for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, uniting workers, minorities, farmers, and young voters under his “Rainbow Coalition” vision of social justice and economic reform. Though he fell short of the nomination, his campaigns transformed political participation and inspired a new generation of leaders.

Beyond U.S. borders, Jackson also engaged in humanitarian diplomacy, traveling to troubled regions and helping negotiate the release of prisoners—actions that earned both praise for courage and criticism for unconventional methods.

In recent years, despite health challenges including Parkinson’s disease, Jackson has remained a visible advocate for voting rights, healthcare, and education, continuing to speak out from his base in Chicago.

Today, his legacy stands as a powerful chapter in America’s ongoing quest for equality, a reminder that determined activism, moral conviction, and civic engagement can drive lasting change.