Jackson’s 1984 Run: Alabama’s Political Shake‑Up

In the spring of 1984, a bold African American candidate stepped onto the national stage again. Rev. Jesse Jackson, known for his activism in civil and economic justice, sought the Democratic presidential nomination. His campaign hit Alabama hard, stirring a long‑standing Black political group called the Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC). The ADC had been a powerful voice for Black voters since the 1960s, originally formed to support Kennedy and Johnson. Some ADC leaders saw Jackson as a natural champion. Tuscaloosa attorney John England, later a state Supreme Court justice, recalled how Jackson’s sermon in Mobile—where he quoted the Bible and asked for a call to the White House—resonated deeply with Alabamians. State Senator Hank Sanders and his wife, activist Faya Rose Touré, had already known Jackson from the 1970s and regularly attended his “Black Expo” in Chicago, linking Black businesses with major corporations. Jackson also made frequent visits to Selma for the Bloody Sunday remembrance, cementing his reputation as a steady civil‑rights advocate. Yet not everyone in the ADC backed Jackson. Many members favored Walter Mondale, Jimmy Carter’s Vice President and a popular figure in the 1984 primaries. Former Birmingham mayor Richard Arrington, who credited Carter’s administration with keeping federal jobs in the city, was a firm Mondale supporter. The ADC’s decision on endorsement became contentious when Joe Reed, the organization’s long‑time leader, chose to endorse Mondale for president and Jackson for vice president—an arrangement that many felt sidelined Jackson’s candidacy.During the ADC convention in Mobile, a motion for Mondale was seconded and carried almost immediately. This swift vote angered some members, sparking heated debates that lingered beyond the meeting. Senator Vivian Figures noted that Jackson actually received more votes than Mondale, but leadership influence ultimately dictated the endorsement. England explained that Reed’s alliances with powerful groups like the Alabama Education Association tipped the scales in favor of Mondale, leaving a faction of ADC members feeling marginalized. The fallout was significant. In 1986, disaffected ADC members broke away to form the Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC), a nonpartisan group open to all races. Though some credit the endorsement dispute with sparking this split, others say it was simply a natural evolution of political thought. Both organizations eventually aligned again on key candidates, such as Jackson’s 1988 presidential bid, where both backed him and he won the Alabama primary. Jackson’s campaign left a lasting mark on Black political engagement in Alabama. Voter registration increased, and more Black candidates entered local races. Even though the ADC and ANSC’s influence has waned in recent years, their legacy of mobilizing African American voters remains a crucial chapter in the state’s political history. Jackson himself continued to visit Selma until his final years, a testament to his lifelong commitment to the region.