Remembering Jesse Jackson's iconic 'Green Eggs and Ham' 'SNL' cameo
- - Remembering Jesse Jackson's iconic 'Green Eggs and Ham' 'SNL' cameo
Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAYFebruary 17, 2026 at 9:47 PM
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Jesse Jackson, the trailblazing civil rights icon, also had comedic chops.
Since the news of his death at age 84, people on social media have been reminiscing about their favorite Jesse Jackson moments in pop culture. Among them is his 1991 cameo appearance on "Saturday Night Live."
On the late night comedy program, Jackson paid tribute to famed author Dr. Seuss, born Theodor Seuss Geisel, who had recently passed away. He did a skit reading "Green Eggs and Ham," leaving audiences roaring with laughter due to his reverend-style delivery.
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"His powerful voice brought a whole new flavor to the Dr. Seuss classic, turning a simple children’s story into a parody that was both hilarious and unforgettable," a post on Jackson's official Instagram page said.
has died. He was 84.See his family, including six children and his longtime wife, beginning here with a family portrait outside the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated at the National Civil Rights Museum on April 3, 2018 in Memphis, Tenn.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside Martin Luther King Jr., negotiated global hostage releases, and shamed corporations for their lack of corporate diversity and failure to support voting rights, has died. He was 84.See his family, including six children and his longtime wife, beginning here with a family portrait outside the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated at the National Civil Rights Museum on April 3, 2018 in Memphis, Tenn.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/J25NVnv9z7w93RWI9L9EGw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/bd6e7d4f1fef9653cd156aa986b6746d class=caas-img data-headline="See Civil Rights icon Jesse Jackson's family and history" data-caption="
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside Martin Luther King Jr., negotiated global hostage releases, and shamed corporations for their lack of corporate diversity and failure to support voting rights, has died. He was 84.See his family, including six children and his longtime wife, beginning here with a family portrait outside the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated at the National Civil Rights Museum on April 3, 2018 in Memphis, Tenn.
">The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside Martin Luther King Jr., negotiated global hostage releases, and shamed corporations for their lack of corporate diversity and failure to support voting rights, has died. He was 84.See his family, including six children and his longtime wife, beginning here with a family portrait outside the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated at the National Civil Rights Museum on April 3, 2018 in Memphis, Tenn.
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Martin Luther King III, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Jackson's son Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) walk across Edmund Pettus Bridge as they commemorate the 60th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" on March 9, 2025 in Selma, Alabama.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/H0HOZxBtpOLgQ96YE1GL3w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/6798ffcfd561492ffc65adf0508597d7 class=caas-img data-headline="See Civil Rights icon Jesse Jackson's family and history" data-caption="
Martin Luther King III, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Jackson's son Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) walk across Edmund Pettus Bridge as they commemorate the 60th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" on March 9, 2025 in Selma, Alabama.
">Martin Luther King III, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Jackson's son Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) walk across Edmund Pettus Bridge as they commemorate the 60th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" on March 9, 2025 in Selma, Alabama.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/H0HOZxBtpOLgQ96YE1GL3w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/6798ffcfd561492ffc65adf0508597d7 class=caas-img>
1 / 15See Civil Rights icon Jesse Jackson's family and history
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside Martin Luther King Jr., negotiated global hostage releases, and shamed corporations for their lack of corporate diversity and failure to support voting rights, has died. He was 84.See his family, including six children and his longtime wife, beginning here with a family portrait outside the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated at the National Civil Rights Museum on April 3, 2018 in Memphis, Tenn.
Jesse Jackson: Towering icon of civil rights dies following lengthy illness
Jesse Jackson also hosted 'SNL' years prior
Jackson also hosted "SNL" in 1984 shortly after his presidential run. He did a bit where his monologue was interrupted by buzzing feedback noise. Before he entered the control room, the white staff rushed out and swapped places with a diverse, all-Black team.
"The NBC soul brothers are taking care of it so I can relax," Jackson jokingly told the audience. "Let's get on with the show."
Longtime activist died on Tuesday morning
Rev. Jesse Jackson, speaks at a press conference near 63rd street and Sheridan on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020.
Jackson died on Tuesday morning, Feb. 17, "surrounded by his family," according to a statement from Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the non-profit organization he founded.
His death follows a lengthy fight with progressive supranuclear palsy, a condition similar to Parkinson's disease.
It also comes amidst a rising tide of white nationalism and voting-rights access issues, and follows the loss of other civil rights icons, including former Rep. John Lewis, who died in 2020.
"Reverend Jesse Jackson was not only a civil rights icon—he was family to the NAACP," the NAACP said in a statement. "His legacy sits at the heart of our work and at the center of this nation’s fight for justice. We carry his light forward."
Contributing: Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Remembering Jesse Jackson's 'Green Eggs and Ham' skit on 'SNL'
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