Jesse Jackson scandal resulted in a daughter
Jesse Jackson, a major figure in the U.S. civil rights movement, died peacefully on February 17, 2026, at 84. A Baptist minister and two-time Democratic presidential candidate,
he spent over five decades advocating for racial equality, economic justice, and voting rights.
His personal life drew attention in 2001 when he acknowledged an extramarital relationship that led to the birth of his daughter, Ashley,
with Karin Stanford of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Jackson said, “I fully accept responsibility, and I am truly sorry for my actions,”
adding he had tried to resolve the matter privately with his family.
Ashley Laverne Jackson later built her own career as an actress and producer, earning an MFA from University of Southern California’s
Peter Stark Producing Program. After his passing, she honored him, writing, “I find myself unspooling the threads of your legacy while weaving my own.”
Jackson’s legacy blends public activism with personal complexity, leaving a lasting mark on American history.
