FOCUS: Remembering Jim Campbell

Fordham, left, with Campbell, who passed away Saturday. Photo provided.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Local historian Damon Fordham remembered the full life of educator and social justice activist Jim Campbell, who passed away Saturday, in this short essay on Facebook.  We offer it as a tribute.

By Damon Fordham, republished with permission  |  Mr. James Campbell, who taught adult education with Malcolm X in the Organization of Afro American Unity, has passed at the age of 96.

I learned a lot from this man. Here are some of his gems of wisdom.

“You give a youngster the power of reading and you’ve put the world in his hands. You must read the literature of the world.  Then you can sort out what is garbage and what are gems.”

During President [Barack] Obama’s initial campaign, I complained to him about the large numbers of Black people who dismissed his run as folly. He replied, “Damon, you must remember that the experiences of many of our people has left behind a culture of despair that will take much work to overcome.” 

One of the last conversations we had was about a man he saw at church in his youth who strenuously copied notes while the preacher spoke. Mr. Campbell said that he happened to pass the man’s pew one day and saw that the man had written unintelligible gibberish. He later learned that the man was illiterate, but wanted to give the impression that he could write. “Even the least educated among us has dignity” he explained.

I once published a story in The Charleston Chronicle in my journalism days about his experiences with Malcolm X. This was his response: 

Dear Prof. Damon Fordham,

First, my compliments to you on the amount of “ink” you received for the very substantive articles over your “byline” in the most recent issue of The Chronicle, February 22, 2017.

Your contributions were enriching and complemented the instructive quality of the African American history that filled the pages of this edition. These recent copies of The Chronicle are classroom worthy; let’s hope that our local educators actively recognize this and communicate and popularize this history among their young charges. The Chronicle is a valuable teaching resource.

Secondly, many thanks for your faithful recall of the memory and interactions with Malcolm X. Additionally, your urging and popularizing of widespread use of the resources of the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture is an urgent plea. Let’s hope that there is a ‘receive and a response’. It’s another great teaching resource in this community and very accessible.

Lastly, my every best wish for your continuing scholarship with the popularization of “Our Stories.” You are doing excellent work in afield long devoid of interest, careful research, and diligent unearthing.

Damon Fordham is a local author who teaches history at The Citadel.  Have a comment?  Send to:  feedback@charlestoncurrents.com