ROSELAND — Hundreds of mourners, including Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco, poured into Chicago State University's Emil Jones Convocation Center Saturday to pay their final respects to the director of the African American Male Resource Center, Ronald E. Harris.
The Simeon alumnus (class of ‘77) touched many lives in his 56 years. Harris died from cancer, and leaves behind a wife, Donna Edgeworth, a daughter, Noranice Harris-Robinson and three sons, Ravaughn Harris, Cameron Harris and Kyle Harris.
Harris dedicated his life to the young men he mentored on campus, part of a group called TEMBO, short for Teaching and Educating Men of Black Origin. He was appointed director of the African American Male Resource Center in 2009. The free resource center, which mostly deals with freshmen, focuses on recruitment, retention and graduation.
Student Charles Preston, 25, of Roseland, said that he and his peers knew Harris as “Baba Kwesi.”
“He dedicated his life to us,” he said. “Baba was a resource. We lost a teacher and a healer. I stand with my brothers and thank this man. He has been there for all of us. We have to be there for our people as Baba Kwesi was for us.”
Many young men took the mic and referred to Harris as their second father, someone who sacrificed a lot.
Former university president Wayne Watson said Harris played an important role on campus and will also be remembered as the one who changed the university’s name to “The Chicago State University.” He added the “the.”
Lupe Fiasco was a supporter of Harris’ work. In 2013, Harris collaborated with the Black Star Project for the “Mass Black Male Graduation and Transition to Manhood” that recognized 500 black male graduates from high schools across the country. He brought in Fiasco as the keynote speaker.
Many colleges have programs to help first-generation students, said former adjunct instructor Tacuma Roeback, who used to collaborate on events with Harris.
“You need more than programs, you need point people, you need caring people, you need compassionate peopl, and that was Ronald Kwesi Harris,” he said. “People like that are resources for young black men who are learning to navigate college.”
“He was a good man who talked to everybody,” Roeback said.
Family friend Anton Seals said Harris’ legacy will live on.
“We’ll continue that work, that’s our obligation, not because of him, but because it was given to him for all of us,” said the 42-year-old South Shore resident.
Seals' father coached at Simeon in the '70s, which is where Harris played football and ran track. Seals said his family has always known Harris, and described him as “fierce, loving, genuine,” as someone “always being committed to doing the work.”
Before coming to the university, Harris spent over 20 years working on the West Side at the Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center. He served in various roles, but prior to his departure in 2008, he was the administration program director for the prevention department.
Over the years, Harris had been both a consultant and inspirational speaker. He provided lectures, keynote addresses, workshops, seminars and trainings on cultural reclamation, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs prevention, life skills, character development and so much more, according to his obituary.
He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and attended Central State University, where he majored in education and social work.
He was the co-founder of the Citywide Coalition against Tobacco & Alcohol Billboards.
He was passionate and dedicated to the African diaspora and was the founding member of Khepera & Associates Networking Services and special project coordinator for Cobbala Productions. He was also a co-founder of Y2Kwanzaa.org. Through these associations, he was able to show thousands of Chicago children and teens, their parents and the community the celebration of Kwanzaa.
Those who knew Harris said he truly cared about black men on campus and did everything he could to guide them with his work.
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