EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Feb. 17, 2026) – The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. ‘64, a civil rights icon, presidential candidate, and alumnus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, passed away this morning at the age of 84.
“Aggie Nation mourns the loss of our friend and international force for equality and justice, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.,” said North Carolina A&T Chancellor James R. Martin II. “The indelible mark he left on our university and on all of us, is deeply felt this morning. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Jackson family and to all who knew him and benefitted from his life’s operate.”
Early Life and Activism
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson transferred to A&T from the University of Illinois-Champaign in 1960, following the sit-in protests at the Greensboro Woolworth’s. He was already involved in civil rights work at this time and quickly became a student leader, serving as student government president even as also playing football as a quarterback for the Aggies.
After graduating in 1964 with a B.S. In sociology, Jackson attended Chicago Theological Seminary and was ordained as a minister. In 1965, he marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. In Selma, Alabama, and became involved with King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He was present with King in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968 when King was assassinated.
Founding Organizations and Political Campaigns
Jackson helped found the Chicago branch of Operation Breadbasket, the economic arm of the SCLC, in 1966, and served as its national director from 1967 to 1971. He later founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in 1971, advocating for Black self-help and progressive humanitarian views.
In 1984 and 1988, Jackson became the first Black man to run for U.S. President, earning 6.9 million votes across both campaigns and winning four Democratic primaries/caucuses in 1984 and eleven in 1988. These campaigns demonstrated the viability of a Black leader as a serious presidential contender.
He served as “shadow senator” for Washington, D.C., from 1991 to 1997 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton in 2000.
Jackson established the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984, focused on equal rights for African Americans and other minorities. This organization merged with Operation PUSH in 1996 to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
Connection to North Carolina A&T
Jackson remained connected to A&T over the past 60 years, frequently attending the university’s homecoming celebrations. In 2021, he accompanied his wife, Jacqueline L.B. Jackson, an A&T alumna, when she received an honorary doctorate from the university.
He authored several books, including Straight from the Heart (1987) and Legal Lynching: Racism, Injustice, and the Death Penalty (1995).
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Jackson ’67, and their six children: Santita Jackson, Jesse L. Jackson Jr. ’87, Jonathan Jackson ‘88, Jacqueline Jackson ’98, Yusef DuBois Jackson and Ashley Laverne Jackson.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Rev. Jesse Jackson’s role in the Civil Rights Movement?
He marched with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. In Selma, Alabama, in 1965 and became a worker in King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He was with King when he was assassinated in 1968.
What organizations did Rev. Jesse Jackson found?
He founded Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) in 1971 and helped found the Chicago branch of Operation Breadbasket in 1966. He also established the National Rainbow Coalition in 1984, which later merged with Operation PUSH to form the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
Did Rev. Jesse Jackson attend college?
Yes, he transferred to North Carolina A&T State University from the University of Illinois-Champaign in 1960 and graduated in 1964 with a B.S. In sociology.
How will Rev. Jackson’s legacy continue to shape the fight for social justice and equality in the years to come?
