Obituary: Jitu K. Weusi

Born on October 25, 1939, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Jitu K.Weusi, formerly known as, Leslie R. Campbell, was a longtime educator and activist for social justice.  

Jitu Weusi began his career in education with the New York City Department of Education in September of 1962. He was a founding member of the African-American Teachers Association (ATA) and was notably known for his involvement in the Ocean-hill/Brownsville conflict that proved to be instrumental in bringing about changes nationwide in community control of public education.  

In the late 60s, Jitu Weusi left the department of education and opened Uhuru Sasa Shule (Freedom Now School), the first black independent private school in New York City for inner-city youth. The school was one of the founding member schools of the Council of Independent Black Institutions (CIBI), an international umbrella organization for independent schools that advocate Afrikan-centered education.   Jitu Weusi returned to the NYC DOE in 1985 and served with many school districts and after three decades of service retired in October 2006.  

Jitu Weusi was essential in forming the New York Chapter of the National Black United Front (NBUF); African-Americans United for Political Power, which was a vital force in the election of Mayor David Dinkins; and he worked vigorously on Reverend Sharpton’s attempt to become the first black US senator from New York.    

A preservationist of African and African-American culture, Jitu Weusi, along with community backers started the EAST, a cultural organization in Brooklyn for people of African descent. The EAST Jazz venue hosted luminous musicians such as Sonny Rollins, Pharoah Saunders, Betty Carter and Leon Thomas. From the EAST emerged various other organizations that still exist today.

He is also the co-founder of the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium (CBJC), a non-profit organization of venues and individuals committed to the development and preservation of Jazz and related art forms throughout the borough of Brooklyn.  

Most recently, Jitu Weusi served as chair of the NY Chapter of NBUF; chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Central Brooklyn Jazz Consortium, Inc. (CBJC) and leader of a NY delegation to the Jazz African Heritage (JAH) 2007 pilgrimage to the Northwest Provence of South Africa.  

Jitu Weusi made his transition on May 22, 2013. He leaves to mourn his wife Angela Weusi, eight children; Kweli Campbell, Damali Campbell-Oparaji, Taifa Graves, Nandi Campbell, Makini Campbell, Hazina Dorious, Kojo Campbell, Toure Johnson and 12 grandchildren. 

Jitu Weusi was a formidable force in education for African-American children, a champion of cultural enlightenment and a vanguard of socio-cultural-political advancement. He was an icon of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, and beyond. He will be sorely missed and remembered always.