Mr. Mark Stephan White

MWALIMU (TEACHER) TANOMAR AKILI MUUMBA, humanist, Black cultural nationalist and author, began his life's journey on January 11, 1954. He was the firstborn of six sons. His devoted mother, Jacqueline Constance Elizabeth White, named him for a Gospel writer (Mark) and a martyred Apostle Stephen. Indeed, Muumba's destiny trekked along this path. At an early age, Muumba committed himself to challenging the injustices of the United States' policy toward Black Americans. He swore off drugs and alcohol, never imbibing, as a model and manifestation of sacrifice and sanctification to the principle of being ever vigilant in the struggle of Black people's liberation. The Black Panther Party started in October 1966 and pubescent Muumba was one of its earliest soldiers. As a young "C-5", in the Topographical Research Center movement, Muumba was devoted to the principles of conducting topographical research on the status of Black people and monitoring United States' laws such as the McCarrin Act of 1952 and the FBI's Counter Intelligence Program, COINTELPRO (1956), both empowering the government to imprison and disrupt the activities of controversial Americans, specifically including members of the Black Panther Party. Muumba was the beloved firstborn maternal grandson of the late Beatrice (nee Dailey), a renowned author and poet. Muumba sat at her feet to hone his writing skills. He was the youngest member of the Milwaukee, WI based Black Poetic Messengers and used his gift and love of writing as a vehicle for communication about the struggle. His published collection of poems, "THE ARSENAL", is a brillant and unabashedly raw treatise on the experience of black people. Following this publication, is his riveting, signature piece, "Ashe", which invokes the spirit of our ancestors to free the enslaved minds of American blacks. Muumba was an ardent observer of "Black Friday", brainchild of Tejumola "Teju" Ologboni, devoted to celebrating black art, culture and consciousness. However hyper-vigilant, Muumba was regarding the freedom of black people, his poetic works on love was a sweet balancing act that revealed a soft side well known to his brother, Ledell (d. 1979), Brent, Lyle, Clyde, Jeffrey and aunts, Brenda and Gwendolynne Moore. Muumba's uncles are Gerald, Thomas and Raymond. Uncles Claude and James and Aunt Yvonne preceded him in death. He was also bountifully blessed with the following uncles and aunts: Clyde White Jr., Ivy King, Shirley Brown, Clarence White, Willie "Babydoll" Rhodes, Dola Ann Martin, Bobbie Haver, Robert White, Lawrence White, Dorothy White, Ronald White, Jeanette White and Leslie White; Innumerable nieces, nephews and cousins were also blessed by his life and his legacy. Muumba had an extensive, extended family including the Black Poetic Messengers, Tejumola Ologboni, Michael Graham and Sandra Burrell (Gaillard). Devoted god daughters, Izmira Violet Aitch and Karma Colby, his caretaker, Doris Glosson, and C-5 Shear Winston who was a devoted "armor bearer" to the end and has been assigned to continue the legacy of chronicling our struggle. We are eternally grateful to a great and benevolent God for the precious gift that we will cherish forever, our beloved MUUMBA.

Mr. Mark Stephan White

January 11, 1954 - July 2, 2017