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The legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson
Posted
February 17, 2026
Views
19,436
Likes
882
Comments
28
Engagement
4.68%
February 17, 2026
19,436
882
28
4.68%
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1:04Now Playing"I am somebody."
Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died on Tuesday morning at 84, carried the energy of the civil rights movement into presidential politics, reshaping the Democratic Party in the process.
When Jackson, who ran as a Democrat, launched his two presidential bids in the 1980s, Black candidates weren’t considered viable national contenders.
Still Jackson ran, focusing on organizing support across racial and economic lines. Though he was a towering figure in Black communities, his campaigns weren’t solely about mobilizing Black voters. He intentionally reached out to Latinos, Asian-American voters, labor unions, farmers, students and working-class white voters.
He competed aggressively in overlooked caucuses and state primaries, earning millions of votes nationwide. Jackson placed third for the party's nomination in 1984 and second in 1988.
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