Iconic Black History Activist Dr. Ben Dies at 96

Legendary African Scholar and Egyptologist, 

Dr. Yosef A.A. ben-Jochannan, a.k.a. Dr. Ben who’s accomplishments have established him as a legendary figure in the eternal annals of Black history passed away on, Thursday March 18 at approximately 3:30 a.m.

Dr. Ben was also noted for many accomplishments such as advancing scholarship which further establishes that Black people are the indigenous inhabitants of Egypt, and dispelling the myth of a fictitious place named ‘the middle east’ ever existing. His cultural journey had it’s start from being a student of Arthur Schomburg in Puerto Rico as a teenager, to studying with Edward Wilmot Blyden in St. Croix. He also participated with Pedro Albizu Campos during Puerto Rico’s independence quest in the 1950s and suggesting African-centered reading material to Malcolm X in the early 1960s. After that, Dr. Ben went on to educating young teenaged Five Percenters at Harlem Prep during the late 1960s and  conducting his annual fact-finding tours to Egypt for over 4 decades. He also worked at Cornell University for over 15 years.

Many people picture Dr. Ben as one of the last dying breeds of ambitious individuals in support of the African-American culture. Prominent attorney and The Source‘s owner and publisher, L. Londell McMillan speaks on his encounter with the iconic activist.

“Dr. Ben was a great man and master teacher for many years. I was grateful to have him as professor at Cornell University. He also had a charming sense of humor that we all adored. Our community owes him a great amount of debt for his commitment and his scholarship. May he now rest in peace.”