Photo courtesy of Jesse Jackson/ Instagram.
Civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson recently celebrated his 80th birthday in Harlem, and the new octogenarian has posted pictures on Instagram acknowledging the milestone.
Jackson celebrated his birthday on Oct. 9 at the National Action Network. The social justice warrior posted a picture of himself with U.S. Representatives Danny K. Davis (NP-IL) and Bobby Rush (D-IL) celebrating his birthday with a caption.
“We made it! BIG THANK YOU to everyone for celebrating my 80th birthday,” he wrote. “So grateful to be a long distance runner. My heart is so warmed by the outpouring of love and the well-wishes. We have so much more work to do! #KeepHopeAlive! We are still winning! Will be sharing photos for the next few days.”
Also in attendance were Rev. Al Sharpton, the Mayor of New York City Bill De Blasio, Pastor Donald L. Parson, Rev. Todd Yeary and Jackson’s son Jonathan Jackson.
Jackson was presented with a birthday cake with images of himself and pictures of friends like Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali.
Jackson and his wife, Jaqueline Jackson, were hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial on Aug. 21 for COVID-19. Rev. Jackson, who has Parkinson’s disease, was asymptomatic but required several weeks of treatment at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago to fully recover. Rev. Jackson said that being vaccinated saved him from death.
“The shot took me from death,” he said. “I never had a breathing issue, respiration. It couldn’t take over me.”
Jackson also has a new book out called “Keeping Hope Alive, Sermons and Speeches by Rev. Jessie Jackson” and signed copies of his book in New York last week.
“In New York today with @real_sharpton. So grateful to him for celebrating my birthday by hosting a birthday salute and book signing tonight. Cannot wait! #KeepHopeAlive! Feel free to purchase my newest book, “Keeping Hope Alive,Sermons and Speeches by @RevJJackson.”
Happy Birthday, Rev. Jackson!.