Celebrating the Legacy of Civil Rights Leader Jesse Jackson

Empower Magazine honors the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., a towering figure in the American civil rights movement whose work for justice, equality, and human dignity spanned more than six decades.

A protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson dedicated his life to uplifting the marginalized, expanding voting rights and building bridges across communities of all backgrounds.

Jesse Jackson was one of the most recognizable and enduring voices of the modern American civil rights movement. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, he rose from humble beginnings to become a national advocate for racial justice, economic inclusion and political empowerment.

As a young minister, Jackson became closely associated with Martin Luther King Jr. and played an active role in major civil rights campaigns of the 1960s. After King’s assassination, Jackson continued organizing around issues of jobs, education and equal opportunity, eventually founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition to advance social justice and economic equity.

In the 1980s, he mounted two historic campaigns for the U.S. presidency, expanding civic participation and building a broad, multicultural political coalition. Though he did not win the nomination, his campaigns reshaped national politics by elevating issues affecting working families, minorities, and the poor, and by demonstrating the viability of a more inclusive electoral movement.

Over the course of more than five decades, Jackson remained active in public life — advocating for voting rights, negotiating in international humanitarian matters, supporting labor movements and mentoring new generations of leaders. His signature message to “keep hope alive” became both a rallying cry and a philosophy rooted in faith, perseverance and collective action.

Jesse Jackson’s life reflects a sustained commitment to expanding democracy and challenging America to more fully realize its ideals of justice and equality.