Civil Rights icon Jesse Jackson left an indelible mark on America | The Excerpt
USA TODAY
Jesse Jackson, one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the past half-century, died Tuesday morning, February 17, 2026, at the age of 84.
On the Friday, February 20, 2026, episode of The Excerpt podcast: Jesse Jackson, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in America, spent decades transforming his moral convictions into public action. A two-time Democratic presidential candidate, Jackson became one of the world’s most recognized Black activists through his unwavering advocacy for justice and equality. USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes joins The Excerpt to explore his legacy.
Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.
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Jesse Jackson:
We need not ease back into the uncivilized era of fighting to be a superior race, that is a contradiction in terms because there is but one race, the human race.
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