Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Patheos honors the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., the civil rights giant who passed away on February 17, 2026, at age 84.
From the segregated streets of Greenville, South Carolina to the national stage, Rev. Jackson devoted his life to the belief that faith must confront injustice. A Baptist minister, close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., founder of Operation PUSH and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and two-time presidential candidate, Jackson expanded the moral vocabulary of American democracy and inspired generations to "Keep Hope Alive."
In this tribute, we reflect on:
• His roots in the Black church and call to ministry
• His work alongside Dr. King and the civil rights movement
• The founding of Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition
• His groundbreaking 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns
• His global diplomacy and hostage negotiations
• His courageous battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
• The enduring power of faith-driven activism
"Hope, when shared, becomes a force greater than any single individual."
Rest in peace, Reverend Jackson. We will work to Keep Hope Alive.
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Subscribe to Patheos for more reflections on faith, spirituality, and the lives that shape our world.
#JesseJackson #CivilRights #KeepHopeAlive #Patheos #RIP #Faith #RainbowCoalition #MLK #SocialJustice #Obituary #Legacy
Patheos honors the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., the civil rights giant who passed away on February 17, 2026, at age 84.
From the segregated streets of Greenville, South Carolina to the national stage, Rev. Jackson devoted his life to the belief that faith must confront injustice. A Baptist minister, close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., founder of Operation PUSH and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and two-time presidential candidate, Jackson expanded the moral vocabulary of American democracy and inspired generations to "Keep Hope Alive."
In this tribute, we reflect on:
• His roots in the Black church and call to ministry
• His work alongside Dr. King and the civil rights movement
• The founding of Operation PUSH and the Rainbow Coalition
• His groundbreaking 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns
• His global diplomacy and hostage negotiations
• His courageous battle with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
• The enduring power of faith-driven activism
"Hope, when shared, becomes a force greater than any single individual."
Rest in peace, Reverend Jackson. We will work to Keep Hope Alive.
—
Subscribe to Patheos for more reflections on faith, spirituality, and the lives that shape our world.
#JesseJackson #CivilRights #KeepHopeAlive #Patheos #RIP #Faith #RainbowCoalition #MLK #SocialJustice #Obituary #Legacy
