For Immediate Release
February 17, 2026
Media Contact
Yolanda Raine
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
202-809-2011
media@cbcfinc.org
Washington, D.C. – “Today, we mourn the loss of a true civil rights giant in the struggle for justice, equality, and human dignity, the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., who passed away at the age of 84, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of advocacy and leadership.
Reverend Jackson dedicated his life to uplifting the voices of the marginalized and expanding the promise of America for all people. As a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he carried forward the work of the Civil Rights Movement with unshakable commitment, advocating for voting rights, economic opportunity, health care equity, and educational access throughout the nation and for peace around the world. He was also a trailblazer in elevating the fight for equity to the boardrooms of Corporate America.
Through his founding of Operation PUSH and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Reverend Jackson challenged institutions, championed inclusion, and held a mirror to our collective conscience, urging us to build a more just and equitable society. His message of hope—“Keep hope alive”—resonated across generations and reminded us that the work for freedom is both moral and urgent.
Reverend Jackson’s two historic presidential campaigns in the 1980s broke barriers and helped expand the political franchise for Black Americans and all underrepresented communities, laying groundwork that would help shape the future of American politics.
In 2018, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation was pleased to present its highest honor, the prestigious Phoenix Award for Lifetime Achievement, to Reverend Jesse Jackson and wife, Jacqueline, in recognition of their decades of service advancing civil rights and social justice, and to celebrate their enduring legacy of challenging inequality and advocating for the disenfranchised.
On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, we extend our deepest condolences to Reverend Jackson’s wife, Jacqueline, his children – including his son, Representative Jonathan Jackson, a current member of the Congressional Black Caucus – grandchildren, extended family, and to the other countless lives he touched. We honor his legacy by continuing the work he embraced with such courage and conviction. His voice, his spirit, and his steadfast belief in justice will remain with us as we carry forward the unfinished business of freedom and equality.
May his memory be a blessing, and may we rededicate ourselves to the cause of justice that he so passionately championed.”
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About the CBCF
Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research, and educational institute committed to advancing the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public. For more information, visit cbcfinc.org. As a 501(c)(3), the CBCF takes no position on legislation or regulatory matters before Congress or any other government agency.