The Morgan State University community joins the nation and the world in mourning the passing of the Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., a towering figure in the ongoing struggle for civil rights, human dignity and social justice. At 84 years of age, Rev. Jackson leaves behind an indelible legacy as a moral compass for America and as a relentless advocate for those too often left at the margins of society.
For more than six decades, Rev. Jackson stood at the forefront of movements for empowerment, peace, voting rights, economic opportunity and educational equity. As founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and as a trusted advisor and emissary on the global stage, he challenged this nation to live up to its highest ideals. In 2000, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the cause of human and civil rights.
Rev. Jackson’s life’s work was deeply aligned with the mission and values of Morgan State University and with the historic role of HBCUs in advancing opportunity and justice. In 1972, Morgan proudly conferred upon him the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, recognizing even then the profound national impact of his leadership. Decades later, in December 2015, he returned to our campus to deliver Morgan’s Fall Commencement address. On that occasion, he challenged our graduates to “keep hope alive,” to reject violence and despair, and to confront the “bounding tensions of communities in crisis,” reminding us that “Baltimore is a metaphor for abandoned urban America.” His words were both prophetic and pastoral — at once a critique of injustice and a call to courageous action.
Personally, I felt a profound connection to Rev. Jackson’s life and legacy. Having grown up in Alabama during the height of the civil rights movement, I lived through many of the very struggles that he, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Ralph Abernathy and countless others fought to dismantle. The opportunities afforded to me — and to so many of my generation — are in no small measure the result of their sacrifice and moral clarity. Over the years, I came to know Rev. Jackson not only as a historic figure, but as a gracious and principled leader. I was honored when he invited me to speak at a Rainbow PUSH Coalition gathering, and I held deep respect for his steadfast advocacy on behalf of our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities — whether before elected officials in Washington or leaders in Silicon Valley.
Rev. Jackson was often called the “Conscience of the Nation” and “the Great Unifier.” Those titles were well earned. He possessed a singular ability to bring together people across lines of race, class, faith and ideology in pursuit of common ground. From his early days organizing sit-ins and working alongside Dr. King in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, to his groundbreaking presidential campaigns that expanded voter participation and reimagined the American political coalition, Rev. Jackson consistently pushed our democracy toward greater inclusion.
His voice echoed not only in American streets and sanctuaries, but across the globe — advocating for democracy in Africa, standing against apartheid in South Africa, promoting peace in the Middle East, and championing nonviolent change in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi. Yet even with such global reach, he remained committed to young people, to students and to the transformative power of education.
At Morgan, we will remember Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. as a friend of the University, a champion of HBCUs and a fearless voice for justice. His life reminds us that progress is neither automatic nor inevitable; it is the product of organized struggle, moral conviction and enduring hope.
As we reflect on his passing, let us recommit ourselves to the unfinished work to which he dedicated his life — building a more just, inclusive and compassionate society. May we honor his memory not only with words, but with action.
On behalf of the Morgan State University community, we extend our deepest condolences to the Jackson family and to all who were inspired by his extraordinary life.
May he rest in power, and may we indeed keep hope alive.
Respectfully,
David K. Wilson
