The Martin Luther King protege who helped reshape America

Jesse Jackson, a protege of Martin Luther King Jr., rose to prominence during the US civil rights movement and became the first African-American to transition from activism to major-party presidential politics. He built a career around politically organizing and improving the lives of African-Americans, launching two presidential campaigns and advocating for a multiracial, multi-ethnic democracy focused on the poor and working class. Jackson's powerful oratory and message of hope resonated with many, influencing future political campaigns. After his presidential runs, he became a Democratic Party elder statesman. Later in life, Jackson faced personal scandals and health challenges, including a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease that was later changed to progressive supranuclear palsy. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, Jackson's work began in the 1960s.

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