Thousands gathered at the House of Hope on Chicago’s Far South Side on Friday to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who died on February 17 at age 84. The memorial, known as “The People’s Celebration,” drew a large crowd including three former U.S. presidents—Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden—as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, First Lady Jill Biden, and other notable figures.
Jennifer Hudson performed during the service, which featured speeches from family members, religious leaders, and public officials. Many speakers referenced Jackson’s well-known phrases: “I am somebody” and “keep hope alive.”
NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas recalled meeting Jackson as a child in Chicago. “When Rev. Jackson said in Chicago, ‘I am somebody and keep hope alive,’ for us it’s different,” Thomas said.
Former President Barack Obama addressed current national challenges by invoking Jackson’s call to remain hopeful: “Each day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions, another setback to the rule of law, an offense to common decency,” Obama said. “It’s hard to hope in those moments… But this man, Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, inspires us to take a harder path. His voice calls on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope… If we don’t step up, no one else will. How fortunate we were that Jesse Jackson answered that call.”
Rev. Otis Moss highlighted Jackson’s influence within the Black church tradition: “This prophet named Rev. Jesse Jackson offered the world a moral imagination forged by the creative brilliance of the Black church tradition,” Moss said. “May we honor him by daring to keep hope alive. May we honor him by daring to speak truth to power.”
Rabbi Steven Jacobs spoke about traveling with Jackson on peace missions abroad and his role in freeing American hostages from Yugoslavia in 1999: “When Rev. Jackson enters into the pearly gates, God will say, ‘You are somebody. Come work with me… I need you; the world needs you to keep hope alive.’”
Yusef Jackson described his father overcoming significant obstacles throughout his life—from being born to a single mother in segregated South Carolina through battling illness later in life—and remaining dedicated both publicly and privately: “‘Dad, granddad told me he loved me,’” Yusef recounted from conversations with his children after private visits with their grandfather.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker emphasized Jackson’s connection with Chicago: “While we shared him with the world, Rev. Jackson belonged to Chicago, and Chicago belonged to him,” Pritzker said.
Thomas also shared how hearing “I am somebody” as a boy gave him strength during difficult times: “When he said ‘I am somebody,’ it resonated with me that there was a whole world trying to make me a nobody,” Thomas recalled.
Attendees waited for hours before entering for seats at the event; many wore black or dressed formally while others wore T-shirts honoring Jackson.
The celebration concluded ahead of a private homegoing service scheduled for Saturday morning.
Jackson began his activism while attending Chicago Theological Seminary in the 1960s and rose under Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership within the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He ran for president twice during the 1980s—becoming only the second Black person ever nominated by a major party—and continued as an influential political figure afterward through advocacy work and media appearances.
Jackson stepped down as leader of Rainbow PUSH Coalition in 2023 after more than five decades leading civil rights efforts nationally and internationally.
He received several honors over his lifetime—including Chicago’s key-to-the-city award for his 83rd birthday in 2024—and was recognized with awards such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and France’s Legion of Honor commander title.
Jackson is survived by his wife Jacqueline Lavinia Brown and their five children—including Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson representing part of Chicago’s South Side.
