E’ry day this month, Philly’s 7th Ward, in partnership with the Center for Black Educator Development, will highlight a “Black Educator Hall of Famer.“ But, don’t forget, e’ry month is Black History Month. February is just the Blackest. Every day is an ongoing opportunity to learn and teach the colossal impact Black educators have had on society.
Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu
Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu was born on June 15, 1953, in Chicago, IL. Kunjufu—who adopted a Swahili name in 1973—credits his parents, Eddie and Mary Brown, with affording him the encouragement, discipline, and stability that would later become the core of his program for the renewal of Black society. He is a graduate of Illinois State University and received his doctorate in business administration from Union Graduate School.
Dr. Kunjufu wasn’t formally trained as an educator in the academy. However, what Dr. Kunjufu was, an African American man, gave him enough insight to understand that something was wrong with the way Black children were educated in public schools nationwide. That led him to begin offering workshops, which became a career pivot into the role of an educational consultant. In 1980, Dr. Kunjufu founded African American Images, his consulting and publishing company, to showcase his work as an author and educational consultant.
His dedication to Black people fueled his work, which yielded over 40 books addressing best practices for educating Black youth. Those books included the seminal Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys, Restoring the Village, and Black Students: Middle Class Teachers. In one of his books, Kunjufu can be quoted as saying, “I have two grown sons and one grandson. I have dedicated my life to the uplift of African American people, particularly the African American Male.”
His works provided a searing analysis of the racial inequities embedded in the education system and offered concrete solutions to close achievement gaps, affirm Black identity, and build stronger communities. “Our children don’t need charity, they need investment,” Kunjufu often emphasized, urging educators, parents, and policymakers alike to treat Black children’s success as a national priority rather than an afterthought.
According to Dr. Bahia (Cross) Overton, executive director of the Black Parent Initiative, Dr. Kunjufu’s impact is far-reaching:
“Our community was blessed with this social and educational justice warrior who dedicated his 71 years to the liberation and elevation of our beautiful Black children… Dr. Kunjufu stated that the conspiracy against our Black males is “fundamentally rooted in the need of a white minority to control the world’s far greater population of Black people and people of color.” This isn’t conjecture, but a painful fact backed by the recounting of generations of people, their memories, and lived experience.”
Dr. Kunjufu understood that teachers were the key to the future of Black children, and therefore, more Black teachers belonged in the classroom. But Black teachers also needed proper care and cultivation to properly care for Black children. These realities fueled his work as a presenter and trainer: working with Black educators and school districts to communicate this truth on behalf of Black students.
In Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys, he wrote, “Black boys are not an endangered species; they are endangered by policies, practices, and attitudes that diminish their potential.” In Educating Black Girls, he wrote, “If we are going to successfully educate African American girls, then teachers must not only be more honest with themselves and admit their views and feelings publicly about race, culture, and gender of their students, but most important, they must take the time to examine their own prejudices and begin the learning process.”
Dr. Kunjufu was a champion of Black youth and Black education. A towering figure, indeed, Dr. Kunjufu transitioned on April 21, 2025. While no longer physically with us, his words and wisdom remain.
Happy Black History Month and make sure you read up on Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, a member of the Black Educator Hall of Fame.
