Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr, the esteemed civil rights leader, has been admitted to a Chicago hospital in a critical condition, casting a spotlight on his longstanding health struggles.
A Lifetime of Activism and Advocacy
The 84-year-old was hospitalised at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on Wednesday. For over six decades, Jackson has been a formidable voice campaigning for racial equality and economic justice across the United States.
His organisation, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, released a statement confirming the reverend is "currently under observation for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy". This is a neurodegenerative condition he has been living with for more than ten years. Initially diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, his condition was confirmed as PSP in April of this year.
From Student Activist to National Leader
Jackson's remarkable journey began in Greenville, South Carolina. After attending the University of Illinois, he transferred and graduated from North Carolina A&T State University in 1964.
His path to becoming a central figure in the Civil Rights Movement started early. He first made his mark by campaigning to desegregate the public library in his hometown of Greenville, later emerging as a leader of the sit-in movement.
Jackson's commitment to the cause led him to defer further studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary to begin working directly with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. In 1965, he became a full-time organiser for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Dr King subsequently appointed him to direct Operation Breadbasket, a programme designed to enhance economic conditions for African Americans through employment initiatives and business boycotts.
He was ordained in 1967 and, decades later, received his Master of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000.
Accolades and a Continuing Legacy
Reverend Jackson's influence extended far beyond domestic civil rights. In a significant diplomatic role, former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright appointed him as 'Special Envoy for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa' in October 1997.
In this capacity, he met with prominent African leaders including President Nelson Mandela of South Africa. His lifetime of service was formally recognised when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton on August 9, 2000.
Dubbed the 'Conscience of the Nation' and 'the Great Unifier', Jackson has also received more than 40 honorary doctorate degrees.
With Jackson hospitalised, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition has confirmed that its Chief Operating Officer, Yusef Jackson, is now leading the organisation. He will continue its mission to secure civil rights and level the playing field in economic and educational opportunities.
