US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies at 84, leaving legacy of political firsts
The man who helped pave the way for Barack Obama's presidency has passed away.
Deep Dive
Civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson has died at 84. He was a key figure in the movement alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and later ran for president twice in the 1980s. His historic campaigns are widely seen as having helped create the political foundation that made Barack Obama's election as the first Black U.S. president possible two decades later.
Why It Matters
His life's work shaped the fight for racial equality and modern American politics.