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| We Celebrate the Life of the Passionate Advocate of Peace, Environmental Justice & Human Rights! Damu Smith (1951- 2006) |
"The Damu I Knew - Consummate NGO Activist"
by Adisaji, copyright 2009
I first met Damu Smith in the 1980s, during the early days of my
own activism work in the Washington, DC community. Damu at that
time was already a seasoned community organizer and articulate
spokesperson for a variety of causes by the time we met (he was my
senior by four years). Damu was first introduced to me by one of my
early Ikologiks students, a young woman named Imani Countess.
Imani and Damu were both involved in work related to African
Affairs, the Anti-Apartheid campaign and other decidedly
controversial causes at that time we met. Damu was quite busy in his
job at the time serving as Executive Director of the Washington
Office on Africa. Imani would herself later assume a leadership role
in that NGO upon his departure.
I noticed in my first meeting that Damu seemed much more
energetic, focused and passionate about his beliefs than I was at
that point in my life and certainly I was impressed. He was most
decidedly a staunch political activist and had less interest in some of
the spiritual, esoteric and universal components of Ikologiks theory
that seemed to him and others in the black community as not related
to the "African struggle". Yet, he showed a clear respect for me and
the work of Ikologiks while obviously not supporting it directly.
Damu, however, was always willing to meet people on "common
ground" at points where we could agree upon even if our viewpoints
were not his own. Again, I admired this openness and political
sophistication in him. Because, so many others I met in Washington,
DC at the time were dogmatist and felt threatened by anything or
anyone that did not think as they did. But, Damu was quite different
in that regard and I'm sure this is what made him loved from a broad
range of people & NGOs throughout the USA & the world.
I'll honestly never forget the time we had a heartfelt talk in 1985. I
had just recently returned from my first pilgrimage to India at the
time of this conversation. He came over to my office on Colorado
Ave. & 14th Street, NW while I was then heading up the Stress Aid
Institute of Washington Metro Area along with work with
continued work on Ikologiks. When we met that day it was discuss
some mutual projects we could develop. But, I started sharing some
of the great mystical experiences I encountered on my recent India
trip which seemed to leave him staring blankly hoping we'd return to
the agenda at hand. So I also discussed the more sobering
experience of departing India just as the infamous gas leak in
Bhopal India had taken place which peaked his interest a bit.
In 1989 we again met after another of my trips to India as I shared
with me some details about my meeting with V.T. Rajaskar a leader
in the Dalit Movement (oppressed Indians under caste). In our
chats Damu always listened attentively to me, but would immediately
reply with "that's nice, but we need your help brother with this .... we
are organizing." It was his way of saying "activism" was the key to
change. I on the other hand saw philosophy as equally important
and I guess towards the end of his life I saw a slight change in his
view. It was in one of those chats that we somehow got into a
personal discussion about our childhoods, mothers and growing up
in Public Housing Projects (him in St. Louis MO - Carr Square
Village, me in New York - Edenwald Houses). It was right at that
moment that I saw the human and more fragile side of Damu that so
often seemed to evade our past interactions. I think few ever saw
this side of him except his closest friends, daughter, or others
intimately involved with him over the years. It was after that
conversation, however, that whenever we met thereafter we always
asked each other how our moms were doing and talked about more
personal outlooks on life. I think if we weren't so caught up in our
own worlds and agendas we actually might have become good
friends. (continued to the right column)
by Adisaji, copyright 2009
I first met Damu Smith in the 1980s, during the early days of my
own activism work in the Washington, DC community. Damu at that
time was already a seasoned community organizer and articulate
spokesperson for a variety of causes by the time we met (he was my
senior by four years). Damu was first introduced to me by one of my
early Ikologiks students, a young woman named Imani Countess.
Imani and Damu were both involved in work related to African
Affairs, the Anti-Apartheid campaign and other decidedly
controversial causes at that time we met. Damu was quite busy in his
job at the time serving as Executive Director of the Washington
Office on Africa. Imani would herself later assume a leadership role
in that NGO upon his departure.
I noticed in my first meeting that Damu seemed much more
energetic, focused and passionate about his beliefs than I was at
that point in my life and certainly I was impressed. He was most
decidedly a staunch political activist and had less interest in some of
the spiritual, esoteric and universal components of Ikologiks theory
that seemed to him and others in the black community as not related
to the "African struggle". Yet, he showed a clear respect for me and
the work of Ikologiks while obviously not supporting it directly.
Damu, however, was always willing to meet people on "common
ground" at points where we could agree upon even if our viewpoints
were not his own. Again, I admired this openness and political
sophistication in him. Because, so many others I met in Washington,
DC at the time were dogmatist and felt threatened by anything or
anyone that did not think as they did. But, Damu was quite different
in that regard and I'm sure this is what made him loved from a broad
range of people & NGOs throughout the USA & the world.
I'll honestly never forget the time we had a heartfelt talk in 1985. I
had just recently returned from my first pilgrimage to India at the
time of this conversation. He came over to my office on Colorado
Ave. & 14th Street, NW while I was then heading up the Stress Aid
Institute of Washington Metro Area along with work with
continued work on Ikologiks. When we met that day it was discuss
some mutual projects we could develop. But, I started sharing some
of the great mystical experiences I encountered on my recent India
trip which seemed to leave him staring blankly hoping we'd return to
the agenda at hand. So I also discussed the more sobering
experience of departing India just as the infamous gas leak in
Bhopal India had taken place which peaked his interest a bit.
In 1989 we again met after another of my trips to India as I shared
with me some details about my meeting with V.T. Rajaskar a leader
in the Dalit Movement (oppressed Indians under caste). In our
chats Damu always listened attentively to me, but would immediately
reply with "that's nice, but we need your help brother with this .... we
are organizing." It was his way of saying "activism" was the key to
change. I on the other hand saw philosophy as equally important
and I guess towards the end of his life I saw a slight change in his
view. It was in one of those chats that we somehow got into a
personal discussion about our childhoods, mothers and growing up
in Public Housing Projects (him in St. Louis MO - Carr Square
Village, me in New York - Edenwald Houses). It was right at that
moment that I saw the human and more fragile side of Damu that so
often seemed to evade our past interactions. I think few ever saw
this side of him except his closest friends, daughter, or others
intimately involved with him over the years. It was after that
conversation, however, that whenever we met thereafter we always
asked each other how our moms were doing and talked about more
personal outlooks on life. I think if we weren't so caught up in our
own worlds and agendas we actually might have become good
friends. (continued to the right column)
I guess it therefore was certainly a shock for me to learn first
that he very ill and had been diagnosed with could not afford
phone calls overseas)the time I including could not afford
phone calls overseas) including one sent to WPFW radio
station where he hosted a show, but none of them
apparently reached him since I never got a reply. Soon I
gave up, being distracted by my own emerging health
problems and other issues with trying to keep Ikologiks
afloat. Those issues made me leave South Korea in March of
2006 and come to reside in Raleigh, North Carolina. So it
was soon after settling into Raleigh that in May 2006 I
received an e-mail from the co-founder of the AUM-IAIAS,
Inc. Glenn Gales informing me that Damu Smith had passed
away and they were planning a large memorial service for
him in Washington, DC that week. Due to my own financial
problems and health considerations I could not attend the
funeral or service.
I admired that even at the end of his life he was still
organizing, doing radio interviews, protesting the Bush Iraq
War, helping the victims of Katrina (Hurricane) and even
championing the cause of environmental justice from his
hospital bed. He set the standard in NGO work! Some
said it was "ego" driven years ago, but I learned that it was
not "ego" that drove him. Instead, it was his passion for the
oppressed whether in Palestine, the slums of South Africa, or
the flood victims of Katrina in New Orleans, he treated all of
them, as he would his own family with compassion.
Damu Smith made his transition on May 5, 2006 and will
be sorely missed by me and I'm sure all that knew him.
His life was a TOTAL DEDICATION TO HUMANITY!
that he very ill and had been diagnosed with could not afford
phone calls overseas)the time I including could not afford
phone calls overseas) including one sent to WPFW radio
station where he hosted a show, but none of them
apparently reached him since I never got a reply. Soon I
gave up, being distracted by my own emerging health
problems and other issues with trying to keep Ikologiks
afloat. Those issues made me leave South Korea in March of
2006 and come to reside in Raleigh, North Carolina. So it
was soon after settling into Raleigh that in May 2006 I
received an e-mail from the co-founder of the AUM-IAIAS,
Inc. Glenn Gales informing me that Damu Smith had passed
away and they were planning a large memorial service for
him in Washington, DC that week. Due to my own financial
problems and health considerations I could not attend the
funeral or service.
I admired that even at the end of his life he was still
organizing, doing radio interviews, protesting the Bush Iraq
War, helping the victims of Katrina (Hurricane) and even
championing the cause of environmental justice from his
hospital bed. He set the standard in NGO work! Some
said it was "ego" driven years ago, but I learned that it was
not "ego" that drove him. Instead, it was his passion for the
oppressed whether in Palestine, the slums of South Africa, or
the flood victims of Katrina in New Orleans, he treated all of
them, as he would his own family with compassion.
Damu Smith made his transition on May 5, 2006 and will
be sorely missed by me and I'm sure all that knew him.
His life was a TOTAL DEDICATION TO HUMANITY!
| WE LOVE YOU ALWAYS! |
http://www.wrmea.com/archives/Ju
ly_2006/0607080.html
ly_2006/0607080.html
| Damu Smith is survived by his beloved 12-year-old daughter, Asha; his sister, Sylnice Williams; brothers Richard Anthony Smith and Leslie Dudley Smith; his partner, Adeleke Foster; and a large family of friends. Asha Moore Smith Trust.Asha Moore Smith Trust. |
http://www.democracynow.org/2005/1/2
4/damu_smith_bush_doesnt_know_any
thing
4/damu_smith_bush_doesnt_know_any
thing
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte
nt/article/2006/10/05/AR2006100501850.html
nt/article/2006/10/05/AR2006100501850.html
http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2880/
Smith-Damu.html
Smith-Damu.html
http://www.britannica.com/bps/additiona
lcontent/18/24688184/Freedom-fighter-
Damu-Smith-mourned
lcontent/18/24688184/Freedom-fighter-
Damu-Smith-mourned
http://www.forusa.org/fellowship/jul-
aug%2006/DamuSmithObituary.html
aug%2006/DamuSmithObituary.html
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/press-center/r
eleases2/damu-smith-to-address-environm
eleases2/damu-smith-to-address-environm
http://www.georgecurry.com/colum
ns/damu-smith-1952-2006
ns/damu-smith-1952-2006
| Important Web-Links About Damu Smith |
| We have created this page because the main focus of Ikologiks Center for Global Studies is the celebration of "Life" or "Ankh Consciousness." We inner-stand that those that depart from this plain of consciousness due to illness, accident or old age have not really departed. The ancestors remain always with us in our hearts and minds, until the day comes when we join them in the transition. These pages will celebrate the lives of those leaving us since 2005, and beyond, rather than throughout history. |
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