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

In the spring of 1984, Rev. Jesse Jackson—a stalwart of civil and economic justice—returned to the national stage, vying for the Democratic presidential nomination. His campaign struck a chord in Alabama, reviving the long‑standing Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC), a Black political force since the 1960s.

Jackson’s Appeal to Alabama

• John England, Tuscaloosa attorney and future Supreme Court justice, recalled Jackson’s impassioned sermon in Mobile where he quoted the Bible and urged a “call to the White House.”
• Senator Hank Sanders and his wife, activist Faya Rose Touré, had followed Jackson since the 1970s and regularly attended his Chicago “Black Expo,” which linked Black businesses with major corporations.
• Jackson’s frequent visits to Selma for the Bloody Sunday remembrance further cemented his reputation as a steadfast civil‑rights advocate.

The ADC’s Endorsement Dilemma

Not all ADC leaders embraced Jackson. Many favored Walter Mondale, Jimmy Carter’s Vice President and a popular 1984 primary candidate.

• Former Birmingham mayor Richard Arrington backed Mondale, citing Carter’s administration for keeping federal jobs in the city.
• Joe Reed, long‑time ADC leader, endorsed 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 sparked heated debates that lingered beyond the meeting:

• Senator Vivian Figures noted 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.

Aftermath: The Birth of ANSC

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. While some credit the endorsement dispute with sparking this split, others argue it was a natural evolution of political thought.

Both organizations eventually aligned again on key candidates:

• 1988: Both ADC and ANSC backed Jackson’s presidential bid, leading him to win the Alabama primary.

Legacy

Jackson’s campaign left a lasting imprint on Black political engagement in Alabama:

• Voter registration increased dramatically.
• More Black candidates entered local races.
• Although 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 continued to visit Selma until his final years—a testament to his lifelong commitment to the region.