Rev. Jesse Jackson Passes Away Surrounded by Loved Ones
Jesse Jackson poses for a portrait in 1984 in Tallahassee, Florida | Source: Getty Images
As The New York Times reported in 1984, he was not simply a Black candidate — he was widely viewed as a "serious" Black presidential candidate. That shift carried long-term political consequences, energizing voters and reshaping how many Americans viewed Black leadership in national office.
He ran again in 1988, further cementing his place in political history. His campaigns brought issues of racial justice, voting access, and economic inequality into the national spotlight.
Reverend Jesse Jackson speaks to a Democratic gathering at the Cheyenne Civic Center on April 20, 1989 | Source: Getty Images
Health Battles in Recent Years
In November 2025, Jackson was hospitalized and placed under observation for a neurodegenerative condition, according to NBC News.
His organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, said he had been managing progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP, for more than a decade. He had originally been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but in April 2025, doctors confirmed the condition was PSP.
