Reverend Jesse Jackson, one of the most influential champions of Black rights and African dignity, has passed away at the age of 84. He died at his home in Chicago on Tuesday, February 17, according to his family.
While Jackson is best known for his civil rights work in the United States alongside Martin Luther King Jr., his impact reached far beyond America. He became one of the strongest international voices against apartheid in South Africa, lobbying the US Congress to impose sanctions and leading delegations to the country despite the regime’s restrictions.
In 1985, Jackson met Nelson Mandela in prison and later supported efforts that contributed to Mandela’s release in 1990. Mandela went on to become South Africa’s first Black president after apartheid ended.
Jackson also served as a US Presidential Special Envoy for Africa under President Bill Clinton, helping facilitate peace efforts in countries like Sudan, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At home, he shaped Black political identity, popularising the term “African American” as a way to reclaim cultural pride. He also made history as one of the most prominent Black candidates to run for US president in the 1980s.
His legacy remains one of justice, resilience, and global solidarity.
