Attorney, author, historian leaves powerful legacy for Philadelphia and the world

Dr. Edward Robinson Jr., Esq., historian and author died on Wednesday night, June 13, after a long battle with cancer. He was 94. At the time of this death, the legendary professor was surrounded in hospice by family members and friends, including his wife of 41 years, Harriette C. Robinson.

For more than six decades, Robinson served as a teacher and mentor to some of Philadelphia’s most influential people. His mentees include Rev. William Gray Jr., former congressman and president of the United Negro College Fund; current state Senator Leanna Washington; Dr. Walter Lomax, president of the Lomax Group and owner of WURD Radio; Dr. Molefi Asante, professor of history at Temple University; the d’Zert Club founders, Ali and Helen Salahuddin; Dr. Jackie Mayfield, co-founder of Comprotax, the largest Black-owned tax preparation company in America; and his nephew, the late state Representative David P. Richardson Jr.

As an author, he wrote “Journey of the Songhai People” and “Twas the Night before Kwanzaa.” He also produced CDs and DVDs such as “Black Rhapsody” and “The Songhai Princess.” As a curriculum specialist, he designed an infused African history course for the Philadelphia School District, and the secondary and group leader curricula for the highly successful d’Zert Club. At the time of his death, he was working on the crown jewel of his works, a full-length motion picture called, “Whispers of the Medallion.”

“For generations, Robinson was 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,” said protégée Bob Lott, president and executive producer of Teamwork Productions, Inc.

As an attorney and entrepreneur, Robinson was the past-president of the Provident Home Life Insurance Company, a former member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank, deputy secretary of the State of Pennsylvania and assistant managing director of the City of Philadelphia.

“In many respects, he was a Renaissance man,” recalled state Senator Vincent Hughes. “His intellectual capacity was overwhelming. His knowledge of the true contributions and the true history of all peoples, especially Africans in the Diaspora, was encyclopedic. Hearing him retell the story of the Songhai people, which was a particular focus of his, was mesmerizing — and it was factual. This was not a made-up story; this is documented history of the incredible contributions that African people made long before colonization. He and his family have a rich tradition of social justice and making sure that African people throughout the Diaspora were recognized for the significant contributions they made. Obviously, it always draws me back to his nephew, David Richardson, who I miss on a daily basis. I’m thankful to have lived in a time that Ed Robinson was around.

At age 80, Robinson produced a “Tri-Racial Comparative Time Line” which was commissioned by the national Keystone Mercy Health Corporation. He has produced numerous documentaries, including a series sponsored by 7-Eleven Stores (Southland Corporation). He has created an art gallery consisting of “The 100 Most Notable Africans and African Americans” together with a 400-word biography of each.

Robinson’s legacy included the live recording of a 1970s Black history lecture he gave at North Philadelphia’s (then all-girls) William Penn High School. In a voice filled with admiration and respect, his corrective history lesson began with the salutation, “My beautiful young Queens....” There was a moment of shocked silence as the students took in the conservatively dressed, middle-aged business executive, and then realizing the regal greeting was really meant for them, the Queens applauded delightedly. The live performance of Robinson’s continued fight for Black survival was captured for posterity on the spoken word collection entitled, “Black Rhapsody.”

“‘Black Rhapsody’” was the conduit that led into everything,” explained Black studies scholar and author Charles L. Blockson. “He was able to penetrate the system and the scholars. The teachers couldn’t do it, and he was an ally to the African-American teachers who were down there trying to start the programs when “Black Rhapsody” came out, he took it all over. The main thing was that he was committed to music. He realized that music could penetrate the students of all levels — from African-American students as well as adults. He went into the spirituals and told the story of our history from music — which is a part of our history.”

While encouraging an auditorium full of spellbound students, “Brother Ed,” as he was called, proceeded to demolish pseudo-scientific “theories” of Black inferiority and white superiority. Robinson discussed distorted history books and its effects today on Black and white Americans. The record album of his memorable speech at William Penn High was played throughout the African-American community, and even garnered airtime on commercial, college and alternative radio stations around the globe.

“I remember how powerful and imaginative he was. He made you use your imagination when he talked about the history,” recalled 107.9 WRNB FM “Philly Speaks” host E. Steven Collins. “Dr. Robinson was a lion in the true sense of what a lion represents: He roared — he had a tremendous impact on young people, as witnessed by his tremendous speech at William Penn High School. He was a visionary. He was a mentor for hundreds and hundreds of men, Black men in particular. You understood why the late, great David Richardson was so powerful because he impacted Dave. He impacted a lot of young men in his time to stand up and recognize how much strength we have as African-American men.”

The Robinsons were longtime members of A.M.E.Union Church and celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary together on June 9. Robinson’s brother, Calvin Robinson, and his son, Edward W. Robinson III, preceded him in death. In addition to his wife, Robinson is survived by his daughters, Pamela Robinson-Johnson and Michelle Harman; sister, Elaine A. Richardson; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. For more information regarding Dr. Robinson, visit http://www.drrobinson.org/.

Contact staff writer Bobbi Booker at (215) 893-5749 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Services will be held June 22 for attorney, historian and author Edward W. Robinson Jr.,

Robinson died June 13, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. He was 94.

He mentored many African-American leaders in Philadelphia.

As an author, he wrote “Journey of the Songhai People” and “Twas the Night before Kwanzaa.” He also produced CDs and DVDs such as “Black Rhapsody” and “The Songhai Princess.” As a curriculum specialist, he designed an infused African history course for the Philadelphia School District, and the secondary and group leader curricula for the highly successful d’Zert Club. At the time of his death, he was working on the crown jewel of his works, a full-length motion picture called, “Whispers of the Medallion.”

As an attorney and entrepreneur, Robinson was the past-president of the Provident Home Life Insurance Company, a former member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank, deputy secretary of the State of Pennsylvania and assistant managing director of the City of Philadelphia.

At age 80, Robinson produced a “Tri-Racial Comparative Time Line” which was commissioned by the national Keystone Mercy Health Corporation. He has produced numerous documentaries, including a series sponsored by 7-Eleven Stores (Southland Corporation). He has created an art gallery consisting of “The 100 Most Notable Africans and African Americans” together with a 400-word biography of each.

Services will be held June 22 at AME Union Church, 1614 West Jefferson Street. Viewing is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Services begin at 11. Burial is in Merion Memorial Park, W. Rock Hill Road and Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd.

He touched the lives of thousands, and it was in his honor that hundreds gathered to say farewell to “a scholar with an African mission.” The funeral of Dr. Edward W. Robinson, Jr. was held Friday morning at the church in which he was born and raised, the A.M.E. Union Church, in the heart of North Philadelphia.

Just outside the church, a dozen drummers of all ages played in the midst of an oppressive heat wave. All morning, city dignitaries streamed through the church to pay respects to the educator and his family.

While his body laid in repose, images of Robinson in various stages of his life played in the background, as ushers carried baskets of fans and circulated through the aisles with bottles of cold water. The several hundred gathered fanned themselves endlessly as they comforted their hearts in the words offered by friends, colleagues and family members during the two-and-a-half hour service.

Robinson's casket, draped in a United States flag, was flanked by floral displays in the colors of the Pan-African flag — red, black and green — with one especially stunning arrangement forming the shape of the continent of Africa.

Proclamations were read from Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, State Senator Leanna Washington, and Congressman Chaka Fattah, along with resolutions from the Institute for the Preservation of Youth, the Paul Robeson House, the African American Museum of Philadelphia, Chaney University Alumni Association and the Philadelphia branch of the NAACP. Also noted in the audience were music producer and educator Kenny Gamble, producer Bob Lott, activist Pam Africa, Judge Thomasina Tynes, Rep. Dwight Evans and Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams.

Remarks were offered from every branch of Robinson's life - from political to civic to personal. Speakers included Christine Thomas Wiggins, Founder of IMHOTEP Charter School; Ali and Helen Salahuddin, founders of the D'ZERT Club; Activist Michael Coard, Esq.; African-American scholar Dr. Molefi Kete Asante; Cody Anderson, former WDAS General manager and Dr. Mildred Johnson of Virginia State University, and Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, former mayor of Philadelphia. “Dr. Robinson served his generation in an outstanding manner,” noted Goode. “The question is, who is going to serve this generation?”

“A great soul has passed this way,” said Asante. “A great man has lived among us.”

The amazing life that Robinson had lived and shared with those closest to him was obvious in the various titles accorded him: father, grandfather, great-grand-father, great-great grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and most importantly, husband.

Robinson's widow Harriet eschewed the podium, instead choosing to stand next to the casket as she recited a poem while holding the arm of her beloved husband of 41 years. “I wanted you for life, you and me in the wind. I never thought there would come a time that our story would end. ... Maybe all I need to know and if I listen to my heart, I'll hear your laughter once more. And so I’ve got to say I'm just glad you came my way. It's not easy to say goodbye.”

Contact Tribune staff writer Bobbi Booker at (215) 893-5749 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

When lifelong educator, philanthropist, author and keeper of the culture Edward Robinson Jr. died last June, he left a series of indelible marks, but none perhaps as great as his contributions to the world of education in general, and the study of African-American history in particular.

In fact, Robinson was such an astute historian and teacher that in 2004, the School District of Philadelphia awarded him a contract to infuse African studies into the core curriculum the district was providing. That curriculum was targeted for K-8 students, making it mandatory that each student must pass at least one course on African history as a prerequisite to graduation.

Although Robinson has passed away, his vision for infusing African history into today’s core curriculum hasn’t faded. In fact, there’s a renewed push to infuse his curriculum into every grade in the district.

Council Education Committee co-chair Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, long a proponent of this type of infusion, had a recent meeting with district superintendent William Hite Sr. about getting more of Robinson’s work into the district, and came away positive that it could happen.

“Right now, students take one course before they graduate in African history, but Hite admitted [the curriculum] remains disconnected,” Blackwell said, noting that she is in the process of locating more of Robinson’s materials, and will have a future meeting with Hite once she has done so. “But [Robinson’s curriculum] is really necessary. We’ve tried locking [young Black men] up, tried suspending them, we’ve tried to do everything, and everyone tries to talk to them. It seems what we haven’t tried – or done extensively – is teaching young people to have pride in themselves.

“If they knew who they were, they’d know they don’t have to kill themselves and kill the neighborhood.”

Specifically, Robinson’s education platform first establishes that Africans were the creators of the method of understanding mathematics, science, civics and religion - and that understanding led to the governance of the world’s first civilization. Much of Robinson’s work is also found in his book, “African Genesis Science.”

Philadelphia School District content sspecialist for social studies and African-American history Melvin Gillison, a former colleague of Robinson, said the district has always embraced numerous educational modules crafted by Robinson, and took umbrage with the notion that he or the district would eliminate or otherwise downgrade African studies in the public school system.

“In the high school course, Robinson had some say in it, but he was not involved in [its implementation]; it is still a requirement for all high school students,” said Gillison, who worked with Robinson at the district as recently as 2005. “Primarily, Robinson was directly involved in the materials for students in K-8, which was a series of modules – little booklets that each teacher got for their classroom so they could instruct students on African-American history.

“They contained background information, explained why the course is being given, how it should be done and included timelines and worksheets for students,” Gillison continued. “Each K-5 student got these modules, and they are titled ‘African and African-American History. That is still going on.”

Gillison said over time, other modules have been created and much of Robinson’s curriculum has been inserted in them. Gillison said that type of course addition is most prevalent in middle school, where the coursework is already relatively intense.

“In our middle schools where the coursework is so dense, other modules were created, and Robinson’s work is infused in that,” Gillison said. “Our curriculum for African-American studies has never been downgraded, and no memo has been sent out, and as far as I know and as long as I am here, that will never happen.

“We have always been available for conversation; people often stop by [district headquarters] to see what is in the [modules],” Gillison continued. “It troubles me that people think, believe or infer these things. We are providing excellent [African and African-American] programs, and doing things the district believes should be done.”

Contact staff writer Damon C. Williams at (215) 893-5745 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .