Jesse Jackson leaves a legacy of language and public service

Rev. Jesse Jackson died at age 84; he was a long‑time civil‑rights leader and an early Black presidential contender who popularized memorable phrases such as “I am somebody” and “Keep hope alive.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson died Tuesday at age 84. He was a prominent civil‑rights leader, an early Black presidential candidate, and a public voice for poor and marginalized Americans. Over decades he used speeches and campaigns to highlight racial and economic inequality. He also introduced and popularized a number of phrases that entered public language. Key facts: - He died at age 84 and was widely known as a leading U.S. civil‑rights figure and as someone who witnessed the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. - He ran notable presidential campaigns in the 1980s that broadened political conversation and brought attention to the poor and disinherited, including a high‑profile speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. - He popularized phrases such as "I am somebody," "Keep hope alive," "Hands that once picked cotton now pick presidents," and others that entered public usage. - His campaigns reached diverse communities, including efforts to campaign in predominantly white rural Iowa in 1987, demonstrating an appeal beyond a single demographic. - He is described as a precursor to later leaders and attended Barack Obama’s 2008 victory celebration in Chicago. Summary: Mr. Jackson’s language and public campaigns shaped national discussion about race and economic justice and influenced political messaging used by others. Undetermined at this time.