Keypoints:
- Cyril Ramaphosa invited to address Jesse Jackson’s funeral in Chicago
- Jackson was a vocal global campaigner against apartheid
- US political leaders expected at large memorial ceremony
SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver remarks at the funeral of American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson in Chicago on Saturday, following a request from the Jackson family.
Tribute to an anti-apartheid ally
In a statement issued by the South African presidency, Ramaphosa praised Jackson’s decades-long activism against apartheid and his unwavering support for South Africa’s liberation struggle.
The presidency said the South African leader viewed Jackson’s ‘irrepressible campaigns against apartheid and his support for the liberation struggle’ as a major contribution to the global movement that ultimately helped dismantle white minority rule in South Africa.
Jackson died last month at the age of 84 after battling serious health complications. In recent years he had been living with a neurological condition that affected his speech and mobility, alongside a long-standing diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
A global voice for racial justice
Jackson first rose to national prominence in the United States during the civil rights era, where he emerged as one of the movement’s most recognisable organisers and advocates.
Over time, his activism expanded beyond American politics. During the 1970s and 1980s, Jackson became one of the most influential US voices calling for international sanctions against South Africa’s apartheid regime.
He frequently linked the struggle for civil rights in the United States with the broader global fight against racial injustice, arguing that international solidarity was essential to ending institutionalised discrimination.
His advocacy helped strengthen international pressure on Pretoria during the final decades of apartheid, when activists worldwide were pushing governments and corporations to isolate the South African regime economically and diplomatically.
Chicago ceremony to draw prominent leaders
The funeral events in Chicago are expected to attract leading political and cultural figures from across the United States.
A public homegoing ceremony is scheduled for Friday at the House of Hope Chicago, a venue capable of hosting around 10,000 attendees.
Organisers say several prominent Democratic Party figures are expected to attend, including former US presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton.
Musical tributes will also feature prominently in the memorial ceremonies. Singer and actress Jennifer Hudson is expected to perform, alongside gospel artists Marvin Winans and BeBe Winans.
Legacy beyond the United States
Jackson’s legacy stretches far beyond the United States, particularly in Africa where many leaders and activists credit him with helping amplify international support for the anti-apartheid struggle.
For South Africa, his advocacy symbolised the deep connections between global justice movements. By championing sanctions and mobilising international opinion, Jackson became one of the most prominent American allies of the liberation cause.
Ramaphosa’s participation in the funeral reflects the enduring significance of that relationship, highlighting how Jackson’s activism helped forge bonds between the American civil rights movement and Africa’s fight against racial oppression.
As leaders and supporters gather in Chicago to honour his life, Jackson is being remembered not only as a champion of civil rights in America but also as a global advocate for equality whose influence reached far beyond US borders.
