Picture courtesy of Lorie Shaull | via Wikipedia

 

Civil rights stalwart Rev. Jesse Jackson, aged 84, has been hospitalised and is now on life support to manage his blood pressure, according to a family source. Jackson, a key figure in America's fight for civil rights and a protégé of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has been under observation due to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). His family reports moments of brief energy facilitated by medication, despite a significant drop in blood pressure on Saturday night.

 

Jackson has been managing this condition for over a decade. Initially diagnosed with Parkinson's, his condition was confirmed as PSP last April. This rare neurological disorder impacts body movements, balance, and eye movements, often leading to severe disability within a few years.

 

While the Rainbow PUSH Coalition has not released further specifics on his condition, Jackson's son, Jesse Jackson Jr., highlighted "significant improvement" in his father's health last week. Signs of responsiveness have been noted, offering hope to his supporters.

 

Rev. Jesse Jackson's influential legacy began in the 1960s as a close aide to Martin Luther King Jr. Post the assassination of King, Jackson emerged as a leading civil rights figure. He founded Operation PUSH in 1971 to uplift Black communities economically, later merging it with the National Rainbow Coalition to promote equal rights across the US.

 

Looking ahead, medical teams continue to monitor Jackson closely, providing care and support. The world watches and hopes for further signs of improvement from this living icon of social justice, reported CNN.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• Rev. Jesse Jackson is on life support to manage blood pressure.
• Diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy after initial Parkinson’s diagnosis.
• An iconic figure in civil rights with decades-long influence.

 

Read more World News HERE

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-11-17

 

 

I don't align with his politics, but I still wish him well.

One less race baiter won't hurt a bit.

He used to call himself Reverent Jesse Jackson .

The they realised that he wasn't a real Reverend and  so he couldn't use the name Reverend .

    Then he officially changed his name to Rev

I wish him well.

 

Be interesting to see if he refuses treatment from any Jewish doctors working at the hospital, or "Hymies" as Jackson likes to call them. 

Jesse tried to fill big shoes. MLK radiated political purity, though personal indiscretions. Those were big shoes and, no matter how Jesse tried to cast himself, he was never MLK.

 

He did a lot of good in the Black community through his persistence though, yes, he himself embraced a lot of racism. However, he did not try to promote his personal prejudices into the Black constituencies.

 

He was, indeed, an ordained Baptist minister though, TMK, he never embraced a congregation.

 

You can't really criticise a man for not being as effective as his mentor. He tried. My criticism is that Jesse did not strike govt head-on the way MLK did and got himself assassinated. That's purity.