For more than five decades, Rev. Jesse Jackson stood at the center of America’s civil rights movement. On Tuesday, his family confirmed the news that closes a historic chapter.The longtime activist, Baptist minister, and two-time presidential candidate died February 17, 2026, at 84, according to NBC News. A cause of death was not immediately given.He is survived by six children.A Family’s Farewell’s family said he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.In a statement, they wrote: “Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world. We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”

Jackson first made national headlines in 1984 when he entered the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. At the time, he was 42 years old and running with limited funds, a small staff, and no early consensus support from Black voters.As The New York Times reported in 1984, he was not simply a Black candidate — he was widely viewed as a “serious” Black presidential candidate. That shift carried long-term political consequences, energizing voters and reshaping how many Americans viewed Black leadership in national office.He ran again in 1988, further cementing his place in political history. His campaigns brought issues of racial justice, voting access, and economic inequality into the national spotlight.