America Bids Farewell to Jesse Jackson, Icon of the Civil Rights Movement

National and international reflections following the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson on February 17 focus on his multifaceted legacy as a second-generation icon of the civil rights struggle. Jackson, who died at age 83, promoted for decades a vision of America where the excluded become the central focus of politics. His "radically inclusive" perspective significantly exceeded what the Democratic Party considered possible after the successes of the 1960s civil rights movement era. As The Guardian emphasizes, his legacy is viewed as global, reaching far beyond U.S. borders.

In the United States, Jackson is widely recognized as a key figure who transformed Democratic Party politics. „His greatest contribution to American politics is the way he reshaped the Democratic Party.” — Jason Sokol, historian. Axios highlights that Jackson understood the strategic importance of the U.S. South for lasting political change. He deeply believed that transforming political and economic power in the southern states, with a particular focus on Atlanta as a center, was essential to building a new majority. This conviction guided his 1984 presidential campaign and shaped the party's long-term strategy. His 1984 presidential campaign not only mobilized Black voters but also expanded the party's definition of the electorate to include other marginalized groups.

At the local level, as the Washington Post reminds us, Jackson was closely associated with the fight for rights for the District of Columbia. He was repeatedly mentioned as a potential successor to Mayor Marion Barry when Barry became embroiled in drug scandals in the early 1990s. Speculation about Jackson's candidacy persisted both before and after Barry's arrest in 1990. Jackson consistently advocated for granting D.C. statehood, calling the lack of full congressional representation "the greatest hypocrisy in American democracy."The U.S. civil rights movement achieved key legal victories in the mid-1960s under the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr., leading to the passage of landmark acts: the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting racial segregation) and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (protecting African American voting rights). Jackson, who initially worked alongside King, continued and expanded this struggle in subsequent decades, moving from street protests to electoral politics and institution-building.

Jackson's legacy also has a distinct international dimension. The Guardian describes him as a "global hero" who actively engaged in world affairs. He supported the fight against apartheid in South Africa and publicly advocated for Palestinian rights, often against the political mainstream. When he called for including support for a Palestinian state in the Democratic Party platform, he encountered strong resistance. „While we had strong support from delegates at the convention, there was still a fear factor that the issue couldn't be discussed” — James Zogby. This willingness to take on controversial topics on the global stage defined his approach to human rights.

Following Jackson's death, a series of commemorative ceremonies have been planned. As sources report, his body will lie in state at the headquarters of his founded organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago, where the faithful and supporters can pay their respects. The coffin will then be transported to his home state of South Carolina for a private funeral ceremony for family and close associates.Planned Funeral Ceremonies: February 25, 2026 — Public viewing of the body in Chicago; February 26, 2026 — Private funeral in South Carolina

As historian Jason Sokol notes in The Guardian, Jackson's influence on American politics was profound, though not always fully appreciated. His 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns not only increased voter turnout among Black Americans but also introduced issues such as economic justice, electoral system reform, and the need for a more progressive foreign policy into public debate. Although he never won the presidential nomination, his efforts permanently changed how the Democratic Party campaigns and engages diverse communities.

Perspektywy mediów: Progressive media highlight Jackson as a pioneer who radically expanded the horizons of the Democratic Party and gave it its current, more inclusive character, often against the establishment. Conservative commentary points out that his legacy is ambiguous, and some of his more controversial positions, especially in foreign policy, may have harmed the party among mainstream voters.