National

Dr. Ben’s Colleagues Reflect on His Legacy

Published

11 years ago

April 9, 2015

Oakland Post

Dr. Yosef A.A. ben-Jochannan (Courtesy Photo)

Special to the NNPA from the New York Amsterdam News

“When an old person dies, a library burns” … so goes the African proverb. March 19, Harlem’s wa’ret was incinerated. As the disheartening news spread that legendary African historian Dr. Yosef A.A. ben-Jochannan, aka Dr. Ben, had joined the ancestors early that Thursday morning, a few comrades reminisced on his glorious life and immeasurable influences.

At his father’s urging, he began studying Kemet’s (Egypt’s) past as a young man, and after many years of tenacious research, he uncovered artifacts and manuscripts revealing that Black people established Kemet thousands of years before the creation of Judaism.

“Dr. Ben’s major contribution was to take Kemet/Egypt away from the [Caucasian] intellectuals and handing it back to the Black world … backing it up with 44 books to prove what he meant,” confided colleague, professor James Small, who has worked alongside Jochannan since 1967. “He did that pretty much single-handedly. [Europeans] had completely whitewashed Black people out of the Egyptian/Kemetic civilization.”

Aleim Supreme Allah was Jochannan’s student at Harlem Preparatory Academy in 1968 through 1969, and along with Dumar and Umallah, was one of the several Five Percenters who attended his classes. “I took what I learned from him, even to UMass, and was able to speak and teach [it to others] while at our school,” he reflected. “Some young brothers became Black history professors with jewels we had gotten from Doc.”

Abiodun Oyewole, founding member of the legendary Last Poets, recalled meeting the African scholar warrior in 1969, also at Harlem Prep, during his once-a-week workshops when Oyewole was a teenaged creative writing instructor: “His voice was big and he had some information about some stuff many of us just had no idea about. I had never heard anybody speak so strongly and clearly about how great African people were and how much we contributed to the world.”

Oyewole added, “The information was like a big 1,000-watt lightbulb that illuminated your mind. He helped set the record straight about who we really were. He knew the gifts that we brought to the world. He was more interested in bringing back the regalness, royalness, grandeurs of us.”

Much mention was also made of Jochannan’s annual fact-finding tours to Kemet, which he conducted for decades, and many have said altered their lives forever.

“Dr. Ben has been going steady to Egypt … Tamary, or Tawi … and taking people there, giving them the truth about it being an African country and the people there are Africans, too,” noted street scholar Brother Sekou. “He took a bunch of people, who did not know anything about themselves, on that great and mighty walk to get the understanding of who they are and what they did, so that they can feel good [about themselves].”

He added,“Just about every [tour to Kemet] is by someone he taught. They came behind him. He’s the one who put Egypt back in Africa, in our time. He made it easy for people to say, ‘Yes, they are African!’ He’s lived a full life teaching us to know ourselves, our culture and what made us great once before, so we can become great once again.”

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Oakland Post: Week of February 11 = 17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026

Published

3 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Rising Optimism Among Small And Middle Market Business Leaders Suggests Growth for California

“Business leaders across the Pacific region continue to demonstrate a unique blend of resilience and forward-thinking, even in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty,” said Brennon Crist, Managing Director and Head of the Pacific Segment, Commercial Banking, J.P. Morgan. “Their commitment to innovation and growth is evident in the way they adapt to challenges and seize new opportunities. It’s this spirit that keeps our region at the forefront of business leadership and progress. We look forward to helping our clients navigate all that’s ahead in 2026.”

Published

2 days ago

February 14, 2026

Oakland Post

Super Scout / E+ with Getty Images.

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

Business optimism is returning for small and midsize business leaders at the start of 2026, fueling confidence and growth plans.

The 2026 Business Leaders Outlook survey, released in January by JPMorganChase reveals a turnaround from last June, when economic headwinds and uncertainty about shifting policies and tariffs caused some leaders to put their business plans on hold.

Midsize companies, who often find themselves more exposed to geopolitical shifts and policy changes, experienced a significant dip in business and economic confidence in June of 2025. As they have become more comfortable with the complexities of today’s environment, we are seeing optimism rebounding in the middle market nationwide – an encouraging sign for growth, hiring, and innovation. Small businesses, meanwhile, maintained steady optimism throughout 2025, but they aren’t shielded from domestic concerns. Many cited inflation and wage pressures as the top challenges for 2026 and are taking steps to ensure their businesses are prepared for what’s ahead.

Overall, both small and midsize business leaders are feeling more confident to pursue growth opportunities, embrace emerging technologies and, in some cases, forge new strategic partnerships. That bodes well for entrepreneurs in California. Here are a few other key findings from the Business Leaders Outlook about trends expected to drive activity this year:

Inflation remains the top concern for small business owners. Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, many anticipated a favorable business environment. By June 2025, however, that feeling shifted amid concerns about political dynamics, tariffs, evolving regulations and global economic headwinds.
Going into 2026, 37% of respondents cited inflation as their top concern. Rising taxes came in second at 27% and the impact of tariffs was third at 22%. Other concerns included managing cash flow, hiring and labor costs.

For middle market leaders, uncertainty remains an issue. Almost half (49%) of all midsize business leaders surveyed cited “economic uncertainty” as their top concern – even with an improved outlook from a few months ago. Revenue and sales growth was second at 33%, while tariffs and labor both were third at 31%.
And tariffs are impacting businesses costs. Sixty-one percent of midsize business leaders said tariffs have had a negative impact on the cost of doing business.
Despite challenges, leaders are bullish on their own enterprises. Though the overall outlook is mixed, 74% of small business owners and 71% of middle market companies are optimistic about their company’s prospects for 2026.
Adaption is the theme. For small business owners surveyed across the U.S., responding to continuing pressures is important in 2026. Building cash reserves (47%), renegotiating supplier terms (36%) and ramping up investments in marketing and technology are among the top priorities.
Big plans are on the horizon. A majority midsized company leaders expect revenue growth this year, and nearly three out of five of (58%) plan to introduce new products or services in the coming year, while 53% look to expand into new domestic and/or international markets. Forty-nine percentsay they’re pursuing strategic partnerships or investments.

The bottom line

Rebounding optimism among U.S. business leaders at the start of the year is setting the stage for an active 2026. With business leaders looking to implement ambitious growth plans that position themselves for the future, momentum in California could be beneficial for leaders looking to launch, grow or scale their business this year.

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COMMENTARY: The National Protest Must Be Accompanied with Our Votes

Just as Trump is gathering election data like having the FBI take all the election data in Georgia from the 2020 election, so must we organize in preparation for the coming primary season to have the right people on ballots in each Republican district, so that we can regain control of the House of Representatives and by doing so, restore the separation of powers and balance that our democracy is being deprived of.

Published

6 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper. File photo..

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

As thousands of Americans march every week in cities across this great nation, it must be remembered that the protest without the vote is of no concern to Donald Trump and his administration.

In every city, there is a personal connection to the U.S. Congress. In too many cases, the member of Congress representing the people of that city and the congressional district in which it sits, is a Republican. It is the Republicans who are giving silent support to the destructive actions of those persons like the U.S. Attorney General, the Director of Homeland Security, and the National Intelligence Director, who are carrying out the revenge campaign of the President rather than upholding the oath of office each of them took “to Defend The Constitution of the United States.”

In California, the primary comes in June 2026. The congressional races must be a priority just as much as the local election of people has been so important in keeping ICE from acquiring facilities to build more prisons around the country.

“We the People” are winning this battle, even though it might not look like it. Each of us must get involved now, right where we are.

In this Black History month, it is important to remember that all we have accomplished in this nation has been “in spite of” and not “because of.” Frederick Douglas said, “Power concedes nothing without a struggle.”

Today, the struggle is to maintain our very institutions and history. Our strength in this struggle rests in our “collectiveness.” Our newspapers and journalists are at the greatest risk. We must not personally add to the attack by ignoring those who have been our very foundation, our Black press.

Are you spending your dollars this Black History Month with those who salute and honor contributions by supporting those who tell our stories? Remember that silence is the same as consent and support for the opposition. Where do you stand and where will your dollars go?