The Great Unifer: Defining Moments That Show Why Rev. Jesse Jackson Will Remain One Of The Most Influential Leaders Of All Time

No American leader has shaped the modern civil rights landscape quite like Reverend Jesse Jackson, widely known as “The Great Unifier.”

As previously reported, the family of the icon who expanded the reach of the Civil Rights Movement, founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and broke barriers with two presidential bids, confirmed that he died Tuesday at 84.

But before his death, he continued to remind the masses that they are somebody.

With more than six decades of political involvement, the civil rights icon, two-time presidential candidate, and founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition used his passion for justice to become one of the nation’s most influential civil rights, religious, and political figures. For more than sixty years, he was at the forefront of movements for empowerment, peace, gender equality, and economic and social justice, whether standing on the front lines with protestors or advancing those causes through his presidential campaigns or community initiatives. 

On Aug. 9, 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Reverend Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Often called the “Conscience of the Nation,” Jackson has consistently challenged America to embrace inclusion and uphold fairness and humanity, whether through Operation Breadbasket or the major voting rights initiatives he championed during his presidential campaigns. Throughout his remarkable career, the South Carolina native has leveraged his keen intellect and deep community spirit to unite people across diverse lines of race, culture, class, gender, and faith.

Let’s take a look back at the defining moments of Reverend Jesse Jackson’s incredible career after the flip.

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