Baba Leonard Dunston

By Dr. Ron Daniels, President, IBW — Anyone who has spent meaningful time around Leonard Dunston knows that the essence of this great warrior is that he was/is a Proud Race Man, whose life’s work gave living meaning to the challenge issued by the late great Dr. James Turner that to achieve full freedom and redemption, we need people of African descent, Black People who are “of the race and for the race.” In the spirit of the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Baba Leonard Dunston was passionately, diligently, uncompromisingly, selflessly and joyfully a Proud Race Man. I first met Leonard Dunston at a retreat organized by the New York Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), convened by the legendary Cenie “Jomo” Williams at a retreat center in upstate New York. I was asked to make a presentation on the necessity of Pan Africanism. It was in the era of the 60s when Black consciousness, Black Power and Nationalism burst onto the stage and gained ascendancy in the Black Freedom Struggle in the U.S., largely influenced by the spirit of our “Black Shining Prince” El Hajji Malik El Shabazz, Malcolm X. Over the years, Leonard would occasionally recount the impact of my presentation on this conscious gathering of Black Social workers. I was also inspired and positively impacted by the African-centered vision, mission and practice of NABSW. I forged a strong relationship with NABSW and eagerly looked forward to bathing in Blackness at the magnificent annual NABSW Conferences. Attending and contributing to NABSW’s Annual Conference became a permanent fixture in my work. Ever present at the amazing NABSW Annual Conferences was a tall elegant, gracious, commanding African Queen named Rosaline Preudhomme; a strategist and events planner extraordinaire who lovingly provided invaluable support and guidance to the national leadership of NABSW. Rosaline was also a friend and stanch ally of one Leonard Dunston. They were like twins working arm and arm to aid and assist Black people with undying love; a skilled, dedicated and effective dynamic duo.

Panel on U.S. Prisons and Minorities, December 5, 2008

I subsequently learned of Leonard’s historic role as the highest ranking Black official in the administration of New York Governor Mario Cuomo, where he served as Director of Youth Services; a Cabinet position from which he and his trusted Deputy Rosaline Preudhomme masterfully demonstrated what it means to be “of the race and for the race.” Brilliantly navigating the “system,” Leonard and Rosaline dispensed much-needed resources to hundreds of worthy Black organizations, projects, institutions, initiatives and leaders across the state of New York, many of which would have been denied but for this dedicated, tenacious tandem who were determined to ensure that Black folks would benefit from their investment in the electoral political process and government as citizens. A veritable multitude of these recipients emerged as leaders in professions and careers at all levels in the state of New York and beyond. Indeed, Leonard Dunston’s tenure as a Cabinet Member in the Mario Cuomo administration is a high-water mark in his legacy as a Proud Race Man. Baba Leonard Dunston audaciously, magnanimously and humbly exuded love for Black people and Black people enthusiastically loved him back. This was never more evident than when Baba attended and participated in the Annual New York State Black Puerto Rican Hispanic and Asian Caucus in Albany; an event which attracts thousands of people from around the state. It was always one of the highlights of Baba’s life. On one occasion I hung out with him. Baba wanted to introduce me to legislators, political, labor and civil rights leaders from around the state. It was an incredibly moving experience. Scores of friends, acquaintances, leaders and luminaries from all walks of life rushed to greet Baba, shake his hand, embrace and thank him for his leadership, service, assistance, guidance or just to chop it up for a few minutes. Standing tall, debonair and dressed to the bone in elegant African attire, Baba was by far the most popular figure at this auspicious gathering; a living testimony to his invaluable contribution to improving the lives of his people, Black People.

Leonard G. Dunston – Oct 10, 2015, Million Man March: Justice or Else

Baba invited me to hang-out with him at this awesome event as a way of enhancing my standing as President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW) as the legacy endeavor of my life’s work. Indeed, I was deeply honored and pleased when Baba agreed to become a Charter Member of the Board of Directors of IBW shortly after it was founded in 2002. He made a firm commitment to do everything within his power to help build IBW. Baba was a stalwart pillar of support for IBW in numerous ways, but none more important, none more valuable than his role as Founder and Coordinator of the Black Family Summit (BFS). This remarkable formation was created in direct response to a request by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan that Baba convene a roundtable of the brightest and best minds in Black America to identify key issues of concern to Black people and present solutions which might be implemented collectively in the spirit of operational unity. The Minister envisioned this assembly of Black brain power being an integral component of the Millions More Movement as a follow-up to the historic Million Man March and Day of Action. Because of Baba’s enormous credibility and extensive network of relationships across the country, a broad cross-section of leaders eagerly agreed to accept the Minister’s invitation. The Roundtable was convened at Howard University, October 14, 2005. And, as you might expect, under Baba’s able leadership the roundtable was a spectacular success! Some of leaders who participated in the Howard University Roundtable had responded to an earlier appeal by Minister Farrakhan to Black professional organizations to mobilize support for victims of Hurricane Katrina. To facilitate an orderly continuation of the Roundtable process, Minister Farrakhan graciously suggested that it be housed under the auspices of IBW. With Minister Farrakhan’s blessing and the stellar leadership of Baba Leonard, what came to be the Black Family Summit emerged as a formidable umbrella formation, largely composed of socially conscious Black professional organizations.

IBW 21 forum “War on Drugs and the African-American Community”, June 17, 2011

Though BFS engaged in several meaningful collaborative initiatives, including educating Black people about the destructive impact of the War on Drugs and the urgent need for fundamental criminal justice reforms, its signature achievement was the formation of a Disaster Preparedness and Relief Task Force which aggregated the resources of socially-conscious Black professional organizations to devise culturally appropriate approaches for Black families and communities to address human and manmade disasters. The work of this largely volunteer Task Force was so effective that FEMA signed an unprecedented agreement with BFS to collaborate in serving Black communities affected by disasters. BFS is simply a phenomenal formation which was mandated by Minister Farrakhan, incubated by IBW and stands today as an independent organization as testament to the incomparable servant leadership of Baba Leonard Dunston. There is much, much more to this incredible race man, far more than can be reasonably cataloged in this modest tribute. But I am compelled to note that Baba was totally loyal and devoted to those he called or adopted as his friends, constantly extending himself to support them as a matter of principle and profound love. A stellar example of this loyalty and love was his relationship with his decades-long friends Hank Sanders and Faya Rose Toure.

Faya Rose Toure confers with Leonard Dunston during 2016 education summit at Wallace Community College in Selma (Alvin Benn, The Advertiser)

Every year, without fail, through the good years and not so good years, it didn’t matter, Faya and Hank could count on Baba to journey to Selma to selflessly and lovingly lend a helping hand wherever needed with the Annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee to assist them in their steadfast commitment to preserve and uplift the memory of “Bloody Sunday” as one of the seminal events in the history of this nation.  Baba Leonard Dunston was stanch in his loyalty to his friends. There is much, much more, but I choose to close by saluting Baba as a model family man, a devout husband and partner to the absolute heart and soul of his life, his beloved Gladys, who he lovingly called “Puddin,” the rock and stabilizer of his being; a loving, mentoring and inspirational father to Kwame and Kioka and a proud grandfather to his granddaughter Nzingha. And in the spirit of the African village, Baba and Gladys extended themselves to serve as fathers and mothers to many sons and daughters in the U.S. and the global Black Diaspora.

Board of Directors, IBW 21, May 2018

There is so much more, but I/we could never get to the bottom of the character, generosity, kindness, dedication and commitment of Baba Leonard Dunston, this extraordinary African human being. I am profoundly honored and appreciative to have known and grown because of my association and friendship with this great man. And we in the Institute of the Black World 21st Century are forever indebted to our beloved Baba Leonard Dunston for his immeasurable contribution to IBW’s evolution and development into a driving force in the ecosystem of organizations in the Global Black Diaspora. Baba, we salute you as a Proud Race Man, challenging us and future generations to be “of the race and for the race” from the glorious heights of the Ancestor Realm. Rest in Peace and Power with your beloved Puddin!

Institute of the Black World 21st Century

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