Jesse Jackson, Civil Rights Icon and Subject of Documentary Films, Dies at 84

Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and subject of numerous documentaries, has died at the age of 84.

His family announced his death on February 17, 2026, saying he passed away peacefully at his home in Chicago, surrounded by family.

Jackson was a towering figure in social justice movements from the 1960s through the early 21st century, known for his advocacy for racial equality, voting rights, economic justice, and human dignity.

Born Jesse Louis Burns in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Jackson became deeply involved in the civil rights movement as a student and organizer. He worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and played a key role in Operation Breadbasket, focused on improving economic conditions for Black communities. After King’s assassination in 1968, Jackson continued leading civil rights efforts, later founding the organizations that became the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He also ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, becoming one of the first Black candidates to garner widespread support in national politics. Jackson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000 in recognition of his decades of activism.

Jackson’s life made him the subject of several documentary films and television profiles that explored his impact on American society. In 1996, PBS’s Frontline aired The Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson, a 90-minute documentary chronicling five decades of his life, tracing his journey from a segregated childhood to national prominence as a civil rights strategist and political figure. The film offered interviews, archival footage, and commentary on his climb and controversies, providing an in-depth portrait of his motivations and challenges.

Another Frontline profile, Running with Jesse, examined Jackson’s historic 1988 presidential campaign, giving audiences a rare inside look at his strategy, relationship with the press, and the broader implications of his bid for the Democratic nomination. Jackson’s presence in documentary filmmaking helped frame discussions about race, politics, and leadership in the late 20th century.

Jackson also appeared in documentaries addressing broader cultural topics. Films such as All God’s Children (1996), which features interviews with Black leaders, including Jackson, explored intersections of religion, politics, and social justice. In BaadAsssss Cinema (2002), archival footage of Jackson appears in discussions of African American cultural history.