Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader, paved the way for Black representation in Michigan

February 17, 2026

Reverend Jesse Jackson, the renowned civil rights leader and political activist, died Tuesday at age 84 at his Chicago home while surrounded by family, after battling progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's disease. Throughout his career spanning decades, Jackson championed causes affecting poor and marginalized communities, including voting rights, employment opportunities, education, and healthcare, while also pressuring corporations through his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition to create more equitable workplaces. Jackson maintained especially strong ties to Michigan and Detroit, winning the state's 1988 Democratic presidential primary, launching initiatives like the Rainbow PUSH Automotive Project in Detroit, and regularly appearing at rallies, protests, and community events throughout the state.

Who is affected

Poor communities and people of color in the United States and overseas
Working families and labor organizations
Black candidates running for political office at all levels
Minority-owned telecommunications enterprises
Black people and people of color seeking opportunities in the automotive industry
Detroit residents, particularly during the city's 2013 bankruptcy
Political and community leaders across Michigan and Detroit who worked with Jackson
Horace Sheffield III and The Detroit Association of Black Organizations (DABO)
Jackson's family members, including daughter Santita Jackson
Members of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition

What action is being taken

Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement remembering Jackson
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released a statement about Jackson's impact
Detroit NAACP President Rev. Wendell Anthony issued a statement
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist released a statement calling Jackson a mentor
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks issued a statement
Jackson's family released a statement on Rainbow PUSH's website

Why it matters

Jackson's work matters because his decades of advocacy advanced critical causes including voting rights, economic opportunities, education, and healthcare for marginalized communities, while his presidential campaigns - particularly his 1988 victory in Michigan and 10 other states - helped pave the way for Black candidates at every level of government. His Rainbow/PUSH Coalition created tangible change by pressuring corporations to hire more people of color in leadership roles and launched initiatives like the Rainbow PUSH Automotive Project to ensure equitable access to opportunities in major industries. Jackson's special connection to Michigan, where he regularly stood with labor, worked with local leaders, and inspired future changemakers, made him particularly significant to the state's civil rights movement and political landscape. His life represents what Detroit NAACP President Rev. Wendell Anthony described as achieving "a category that only a few people have ever been able to achieve," making America a better nation through his humanitarian work and vision of justice, equality, and unity.

What's next

The Detroit NAACP will honor Jackson at its 71st annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner on April 26.

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com