Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., the iconic American civil rights leader, has faced significant health challenges in recent years. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition in 2017, his health has been a growing concern for his family and supporters.
A recent update on Rev. Jackson’s condition surfaced following the Democratic National Convention. According to RadarOnline.com, the 82-year-old now requires the assistance of a nurse and two aides as he struggles with basic tasks, including eating.
The report detailed that during the convention, Jackson was seen in a wheelchair at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, where he attempted to eat a breakfast of strawberries, grapes, and cantaloupe.
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Witnesses noted that it took him five to ten seconds to bring a piece of fruit to his lips after picking it up with a fork, but he persisted despite the difficulty.
Jackson’s current state has confined him to a private room, attended by his nurse and aides, Shelley Davis and Christopher Hodges. In 2023, he stepped down as president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Chicago-based organization he founded in 1996 to advocate for progressive social change.
Once renowned for his powerful oratory, Jackson now struggles to articulate even soft, indistinct words. When asked about their work hours, Jackson attempted to speak, with Davis translating: “He said 9 to 5.” Davis, who has worked for Jackson for 24 years, added, “We have never done 9 to 5.” Hodges echoed this, noting that even during Jackson’s 2021 hospitalization with COVID-19, the demands of his role continued around the clock.
Jackson’s legacy includes working alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and being ordained as a Baptist minister in 1968. A staunch advocate for the Democratic Party, he made history in 1984 by becoming the second Black American to seek a major-party nomination for president, following Rep. Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 campaign.
Jackson’s 1984 bid also saw him win five primaries and caucuses, marking the first time a Black politician won a major-party state primary contest.
At the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Rev. Jackson received a standing ovation as he arrived on the first night. Though he did not speak, he was seen waving and giving a thumbs-up from his wheelchair on stage, a poignant reminder of his enduring influence and legacy.
