Geronimo Ji-Jaga

Geronimo Ji-Jaga, formerly known as Elmer Gerard Pratt, was a prominent leader of the Black Panther Party, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, and the godfather to rapper Tupac Shakur. His life was marked by a courageous commitment to activism, wrongful imprisonment for a crime he did not commit, and eventual exoneration after serving 27 years in prison. Born on September 13, 1947, in Louisiana, Ji-Jaga became an influential figure in the fight for racial equality and community justice. After his release, he advocated for justice reform and maintained deep connections with Africa, culminating in his final wish to have his ashes scattered in Tanzania, where he passed away on June 2, 2011.