[Tribute To Jitu Weusi]
Jitu Weusi, Mountain of a Man, born Les Campbell, we mourn your passing but we rejoice for your presence and lasting contributions and we honor you as we have honored Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Marcus Garvey, Rosa Parks and Sonny Carson!
Quintessential leader who would not accept the “thirty pieces of silver,” who could not be bribed, you stood tall and firm as a resolute fighter for justice and social upliftment of Black African people, irrespective!
You made your presence felt in many an arena. Educational activist, social critic and strategist confronting life’s many challenges; your contributions to your people’s march of progress earned you the “living legend” award and because of your vision our people will not perish!
Indomitable spirit, leader in education, man of unbounded integrity and insightful thinking, we honor you because you fought the good fight, you kept the faith, and in this you were a perpetual light of social conscience.
Creative genius of “The East” who innovated the African Street Festival among many creations, your place among revered ancestors assured, the pantheon of Black champions now have a new star!
Brooklyn Icon, fearless and from “The East” to Attica and Ocean-Hill-Brownsville Decentralization to the Franklin Avenue Shuttle struggle, as well as from the public school classroom to the college campus and back to the public school, your unmatched contributions for educational excellence and social justice are too numerous to mention.
With the desire for quality education as watchword and hallmark of your work of upliftment, educator, activist, headmaster, advocate, administrator, your strivings established the highest standards for intellectual development of our youth.
Guiding light, visionary with clear sightedness, the influence of your creative classroom educational activities matched the brilliance of the brightest day, inspiring many to develop skills to achieve success.
Resolute nationalist, Pan-African stalwart, your aspirations for your people’s progress were seldom surpassed; and your equally untiring efforts as member of the “Bones Committee” helped assure “the Runaway” Samuel Carson’s successful passage for internment in Ghana, West Africa, opening the “Door of Return.”
Master organizer, unquestionably in education and in Black Solidarity Day activism, politics and jazz organization, your name resounds as an effective and successful strategist of exceptional note.
Son of Brooklyn, man of integrity, fortitude and resilience, allow us to clone your image, persona and strategic thinking abilities as an effective tool in our ongoing struggle for social, political and economic empowerment for advancement of our people.
Man of action and boundless vision, though sorrowful at your passing, we celebrate your creative spirit with sweet melodic sounds similarly played by the Jazz Consortium you orchestrated and forever memories of you will be remembered through the African Street Festival, a contribution of immense proportions.
Revered leader, man of many seasons, it is our especial hope, your righteous memory, image and name will forever be a part of the history of struggle to uplift all people, particularly Black people.
We also hope the children will remember you because we honor you as father, husband, tactician and community leader for your unrelenting struggle to advance our cause and make Brooklyn a better place for them and all other residents.
Brother we salute you, we praise you, we honor you, we thank you for a brilliant, lengthy, constructive and successful life of meaningful service to the Brooklyn Community and African people worldwide.
We are grateful you inspired us to persevere in the manner of Jitu Weusi’s Way of integrity, stability, farsightedness and constructive service.
This is the name Claver Place, the place of your origins, should be named, for your life has been an effective beacon that reflected the highest illumination, standards and aspirations of the Borough of Brooklyn and the best example of Black manhood.
