UPDATED: Monday, June 25, 2012
ADDED VIDEO OF DR. EDWARD ROBINSON’S HOMEGOING “CELEBRATION OF LIFE”
PHILADELPHIA, PA –
UPDATED: Sunday June 17, 2012
An attorney, historian, author and professor, at the time of his death Dr. Robinson was working actively to produce a new movie titled “Whispers of the Medallion.” In 2004, he was awarded a contract with the Philadelphia Public School District to infuse African studies within the current social studies, science, and mathematics curricula from kindergarten to 8th grade for the 180,000 pupils’ school district and succeeded in making the teaching of African history mandatory for all students.
Dr. Robinson produced the best-selling historical album, Black Rhapsody, and co-authored The Journey of the Songhai People, considered by universities as a foundational history book; produced a video, an animated children’s story, The Songhai Princess, which became the winner of four national prizes; and co-authored with his wife, Harriette, the book, ‘Twas the Night Before Kwanzaa.
In addition, Dr. Robinson authored the curriculum utilized by the thousands of members of the D’Zert Club. All of Dr. Robinson’s efforts have been directed toward one goal: To effect a positive change of attitude toward the ancestral value of people of African descent by the total world society through dramatically exposing the beauty, grandeur and sophistication of ancient Egypt and the Songhai Empire.
“Dr. Edward W. Robinson Jr. avenged our ancestors for the benefit of their descendants. That’s why we must become more conscious and engage in more activism. Let’s start by buying and reading each of his books and buying and listening to his ‘Black Rhapsody” CD “” said Ceil Keller, a member of Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC).
Funeral arrangements are being made – details will be published as they are made available.
About Dr. Edward W. Robinson Jr:
An attorney, historian, author and professor, Dr. Robinson headed the Philadelphia School District Committee on African and African American studies for four years, and co-authored the guidebook, “The World of Africans and Afro-Americans” and coauthored the seminal book “Journey of the Songhai People,” which was published in 1970, is still popular today and is a part of the curriculum of several schools. He also produced the best-selling historical album, “Black Rhapsody,” which was produced in 1987 and is still selling today.
Dr. Robinson, in 2004, was awarded a contract with the Philadelphia Public School District to infuse African studies within the current social studies, science, and mathematics curricula from kindergarten to 8th grade for the 180,000 pupils’ school district and succeeded in making the teaching of African history mandatory for all students. This means that a student cannot graduate unless he passes the course in African history. It is the only school district in America, to our knowledge, that has mandatory African AND African American history taught. Dr. Robinson’s efforts were instrumental in crafting the 2005 Philadelphia School District’s curriculum policy making it mandatory for Philadelphia public school students to take an African American history course in order to graduate from high school.
Insightful programs like Soledad O’Brien’s “Black in America” specials have examined the challenges of being black in America, but Dr. Robinson constructed an African Genesis theory that not only delineates the problem but also proposes a comprehensive solution to “the race problem.” Robinson believes that “the real problem, the virus that infects all Americans black and white, is that the total society has been subliminally programmed by textbooks, motion pictures and all other media to despise the ancestral value of African Americans and all other people of African descent.”
Therefore the solution logically is the subliminal re-programming of the total society showing the truth of the beauty, grandeur and sophistication of ancestors of African Americans through dramatic motion pictures.
(Source http://www.drrobinson.org)
Thank you, Dr. Ed, for the example of your life. The struggle continues!
My deepest sympathy and condolences to Sister Harriet and the Robinson Family. Dr. Robinson was a great force in my life. Through him I learned a great amount of our past.
At the debut of “The Journey ofThe Songhai People” he and his family of writers encouraged me to become very involved in learning and teaching OUR HISTORY. I also went on to become a prolific salesman of that book. Although that was several years ago, that book is very salient to our continued STRUGGLE. Dr. Robinson and his organization and his Co-writers, me to become more knowledgeable of OUR PAST, AND THE CONTINUED STRUGGLE OF AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF AND FOR OUR PEOPLE. Because of their teachings, I have become more aware and dedicated to THE STRUGGLE OF US, THE AFRICANS BORN IN AMERIKKKA, AND THE AFRICANS IN THE DIASPORA. MAY THE CREATOR CONTINUE TO SHED HIS WISDOM UPON US!!! Amon, Ameen, Amen.
Hetep!
Dr. Robinson, despite his stature, was a warm,
Accessible and supportive man who loved this
Heritage and his people. We are all less by this
Passing, but are better for having the privilege of
having him in our lives. Rest well Warrior, rest well.