Celebrating Dr. Ben-Jochannan: From Eternity to Eternity

How to tribute Dr. Yosef Alfred Antonio ben-Jochannan, ＂Dr. Ben,＂ the giant; an icon, ＂master teacher,＂ scholar extraordinaire, nationalist and uncompromising gadfly in defense of Africa and her sons and daughters, is the challenge posed in this quest. Combining sugar, some spice and a little photographic nicety is a significant first step in journey to celebrate the life and work of an individual not afraid to be a consistent iconoclast in extolling the meaning and significance of Egypt and the Nile Valley African experience while challenging the distorted projection that falsely portray European origination of science, religion, art, architecture, culture, as pillars that support human creativity and progress emerging from the mists of history to high noon illumination of man’s philosophic, spiritual and moral journey. Just as the Sphinx of Ghizeh has outlasted time, Dr. Ben has remained a timeless sentinel extolling the great gift of Africans who fired the human imagination to create the dynamics of intellectual thought processes that advanced the pageantry of the human experience; he has criticized gross misrepresentation of the African historical record and as a corrective, cultivated a cadre of young minds committed to proper reconstruction and foundation of Egypt in African history placing it on a pedestal as he has placed the Black woman for whom he has shown great respect, love and affection. Dr. Ben-Jochannan brought the light of knowledge through his scholarship, lectures and so encouraged trips to Egypt enabling Africans to see and experience glory on the ancient tabula rasa their forebears had created as the first cause in human enlightenment. Beyond intellectual exercises, Dr. Ben was a great humanitarian and philanthropist who lived a long and exemplary life, and as a beacon and well-spring encouraged many to drink from his reservoir towards their own illumination. Unsung hero that he was, many African and African-American academic program and scholars owed him a huge debt that enabled these cubs to create credible and defendable scholarship in the intellectual warfare unfolding over Egypt and its legacy. Whether in writing history, challenging mis-representation in Museum showcases displays and in curricula where young minds are constantly molded, the hand of Dr. Ben must be seen as a living memorial, a beacon, and his extraordinary scholarship must remain a fountain and guidepost, constantly showing the way and defining the parameters by which African people determine their future by creating revitalized generations of strong intellectual and moral warriors guided by the philosophic and spiritual principle of Ma’at. From Abu Simbel to the Cairo Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, this Celebration of Dr. Ben-Jochannan seeks to cast some light on the path the old master has traveled, shown the way and guided untold numbers to take pride in the realization Africans can do anything others can and do it successfully because of the creativity Mother African blest and endowed them with! A long-standing student of Dr. Ben-Jochannan who traveled to Egypt with him on many occasions, Dr. Fred Monderson is an African Historian, Egyptologist and retired Educator who taught American History and Government in New York Public schools and can be reached at fredsegypt.com@fredsEgypt.com. This book is published by SuMon Publishers, P.O Box 160586, Brooklyn, New York 11216. MAKING DR. BEN’S DAY On Thursday September 6, 2012 at 9:00 AM, I visited Dr. ben-Jochannan to show him the book I wrote in his honor. Once Dr. Lewis gave me directions I worked my way there from Brooklyn, thru Manhattan and into the Bronx. I found him sitting having coffee in the dining room. Once we began examining the book in color on my computer along with the black and white version of the book sitting on the desk, I was impressed with how sharp Dr. Ben’s mind remained. At 97 years old Dr. Ben retained his sense of being as he checked the time of day.