Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson is currently hospitalized and receiving life support to help stabilize his blood pressure, according to a family source. Jackson, 84, is known for his significant role in the civil rights movement as a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At this time, he is being monitored for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurological condition.
Recently, Jackson had a troubling drop in blood pressure. However, his medical team responded promptly, and he has shown brief signs of responsiveness due to a new medication. Despite his condition, there were reports of some improvements in his health last week, as shared by his son, Jesse Jackson Jr.
PSP is a rare disorder that affects movement and balance, often showing symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease. Most individuals with PSP experience severe disability within a few years. Jackson has been managing this condition for over a decade. Initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s, his PSP diagnosis came last year.
Jackson gained national attention in the 1960s, working closely with Martin Luther King Jr. After King’s tragic assassination in 1968, he emerged as one of America’s key civil rights leaders. He founded Operation PUSH in 1971 to improve economic conditions for Black communities and went on to create the Rainbow Coalition in 1984, advocating for equal rights for all.
One of Jackson’s timeless phrases, “Keep hope alive,” has resonated through various movements for social justice, encompassing the Jim Crow era, the civil rights struggle, and the emergence of movements like Black Lives Matter.
For more information on progressive supranuclear palsy, you can visit the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
As we hold out hope for his recovery, Jackson’s legacy as a transformative figure in civil rights continues to inspire many.
