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16 Facts About Jitu Weusi

1.

Jitu Weusi was born on Leslie R Campbell; October 25,1939 - May 22,2013 and was an American educator, education advocate, author, a community leader, writer, activist, mentor, jazz and art program promoter.

2.

Jitu Weusi is one of the founders of the National Black United Front, Jitu Weusi Institute for Development, and the International African Arts Festival.

3.

Jitu Weusi was born at St John's Hospital in Brooklyn.

4.

Jitu Weusi says, that from working at the newsstand he was introduced to jazz by the men that would frequent the newsstand.

5.

Jitu Weusi's cousins took him to his first jazz concert.

6.

Jitu Weusi attended Brooklyn Tech High School, and Franklin Lane High School.

7.

Jitu Weusi received a basketball scholarship to attend Long Island University where he wrote his thesis on the history of Black Swan Records, the first African American recording company.

8.

In 1968 Jitu Weusi played a significant role along with other young educators such as; Randy Tobias, Al Vann, Oliver Patterson, Leroy Lewis, Joan Eastman, and Ola Cherry for community control of public schools during the teachers strike in the fall of 1968.

9.

Jitu Weusi stated in a 1968 interview that the project of community control, and decentralization at the test schools were sabotaged by Albert Shanker, and the United Federation of Teachers.

10.

Jitu Weusi was one of the founding members of African-American Teachers Association in the late 60s.

11.

Jitu Weusi was the Headmaster for the school which was initially located at the East, 10 Claver Place, Brooklyn, NY.

12.

Jitu Weusi recorded an album, titled "Live at the East", which was named after the East in 1971.

13.

In 1999, Jitu Weusi was one of the founding members of The Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium and served as chairperson.

14.

Aminisha and Jitu Weusi met during the Ocean-Hill Brownsville School campaign.

15.

Early founders of were Sam Pinn who at the time was the Chairman of the Brooklyn Congress of Racial Equality, Al Vann, Herbert Daughtry, and as mentioned earlier Jitu Weusi who was in his early days known as Leslie Campbell.

16.

In 1989, Jitu Weusi worked on mayoral campaign of David Dinkins, the first African American Mayor of New York City.