Amy Goodman
@DemocracyNow·3.2M subscribers·19.4K videos
Jesse Jackson's Legacy: From Marching with MLK to Building the Rainbow Coalition
Posted
February 17, 2026
Views
67,119
Likes
1,589
Comments
165
Engagement
2.61%
February 17, 2026
67,119
1,589
165
2.61%
Every word spoken in this episode is indexed. Type any phrase to jump straight to the moment it was said.
Type any word or phrase that may have been spoken. Click a result to seek the player to that exact moment.
Try a name, a topic, or a quoted line
Support our work
We look back on the life and legacy of civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday at the age of 84. From marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to building the Rainbow Coalition in his two presidential runs and beyond, "Jackson's life contributed to making this country more democratic, more inclusive, more fair," says Howard University political science professor Clarence Lusane.
We also speak with activist Larry Hamm, who co-chaired Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign in New Jersey. Hamm first met Jackson in 1971 and says he was "audacious" above all else. "Jesse knew his place in history," says Hamm.
Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET.
Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest
Jackson married grassroots movements with electoral politics
Activists had sketchy relationship with electoral politics before 1980s
Jackson built electoral movement and Rainbow Coalition in parallel
Jackson was central voice in anti-apartheid movement
Jackson's work enabled Obama's 2008 presidential victory
Jackson organized against Florida election theft in 2000
Jackson changed convention rules to proportional representation
Jackson's rule changes enabled Obama's path to presidency
Jackson demanded proportional representation in media and corporations
Jackson introduced proportional representation principle to economic sphere
Jackson's 1980s-90s message about economic tyranny remains relevant
Jackson was audacious link to Civil Rights Movement
Jackson's role in violent 1960s Civil Rights Movement
Must continue Jackson's fight against counterrevolution
Jackson's vision: voting rights, poverty, education, immigration reform
All video content is delivered via YouTube embedded players in accordance with the YouTube Terms of Service. Sentinel provides research tools that promote discovery and accountability across political media.