Jesse Jackson RIP

https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/17/us/reverend-jesse-jackson-death

I vividly remember his run for President; I was much too young to vote but I found him inspiring.

Not long ago I was at a book store with a gift card burning a hole in my pocket and bought what looked like a strong MLK biography (haven’t had a chance to start reading it yet). In the same section there were a few Jackson biographies, but I decided to wait.

I’m very curious about him and what he achieved — I knew he meant a lot to a great many people. Given my age, or what the people in my life focused on, maybe I missed the wave.

RIP

He came further than anyone expected at the time to securing the 1988 nomination, scaring the shit out of the power brokers.

yeah the media centrists had the knives out for him

Caucused for him in Iowa in 1988. Pretty sure he won our precinct.

As I young person I mostly remember the anti-semitic controversy. But older now, and being in Chicago, I think I understand his role and impact much better.

My more recent but more lasting memories are music related. Back when I saw Aretha Franklin play what must have been her final full concert, she stopped the show at one point specifically to interact with Jackson, who was waving and calling back to her, etc. That was in 2018. Then last year, or probably late 2024, I went to see Stevie Wonder, and he also stopped the show to interact with Jackson, but by this point Jackson was clearly pretty ill. He could barely stand or wave, and wasn't/couldn't say anything. But it still emphasized how much of a cultural and political fixture he's been, here and everywhere.

I think my enduring memory of him was from television: him huddling in the freezing cold in Chicago with Oprah, both of them crying, on election night 2008.

When he was building the Rainbow Coalition I saw him at an event in a parking lot in Pomona. Lot a lot of people will show up for an event in Pomona. For all the times you saw him at big events there's thousands of others where he showed up. Showing up makes people feel like they matter, and I think his conviction that people deserve to know they matter, that they have inherent dignity and worth, made the world a better place. White liberals sure showed their asses when he wanted a set closer to the head of the table, and I bet they'll do so some more this week, but he did work that inspired and educated and uplifted people, and I'm glad to have been around to see it.

*not a lot of people.

Yeah, well put. I think he got this unearned reputation as sort of an opportunist, a guy who would, exactly, always show up, as if that were a bad thing.

And this is just another arrow in the quiver, but he was legit hilarious as well. The whole SNL episode he hosted was a treat — saw it at the time and he brought his whole self throughout — but this skit is just top ten in general still.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x54vjte

For years my friends and I would declare "The question is moot! I get the car!"

I stumbled upon this clip when reading the huge WFB, Jr. bio last summer. Jackson more than holds his own.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKLWzj29vl4

An obit.

The chills from getting the crowd to say “I am somebody” in unison…

I was always impressed by his ability to negotiate for the release of hostages and POW's, usually when no one else was stepping up to do something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTB1h18bHlY

Jesse Jackson's campaign was the first I volunteered for as a young voter!!

There was a lot more hope then. If we couldn't win, at least we could have influence.

Caucused for him in Iowa in 1988. Pretty sure he won our precinct.

Same here, but in Minnesota, age 17 (but could be a delegate since I’d be 18 by Election Day.)