A glimpse of the journey:
Our brother John Skief was born in West Philadelphia on July 20, 1948. Baba Skief was a disciplined child who loved to read and participate in athletics. His leadership skills flourished early as he participated in the All-City Dance Ensemble, gymnastics, the game of soccer, and track and cross-country running. During his young evolution, Baba John established city and state high jumping records throughout his high school and undergraduate tenure.
As a teenager, Baba Skief became very conscious of racism and the injustices that Black people endured in Philadelphia and throughout the country. He enthusiastically joined the ranks of the local NAACP and was directly influenced by the fiery and non-apologetic attorney and NAACP President Cecil B. Moore. During his time with the NAACP, Baba Skief courageously marched on the front lines during countless civil rights demonstrations for the empowerment of Black people.
At an early age, Baba Skief understood that properly educating Black children with their traditional African culture and the knowledge of their glorious past was the fundamental key to the success of the African village.
At an early age, Baba Skief understood that properly educating Black children with their traditional African culture and the knowledge of their glorious past was the fundamental key to the success of the African village.
Baba Skief emersed himself within the ranks of different race-based organizations that conducted Rites of Passage programs and Anti-drug and anti-violence initiatives within the Black community. Baba Skief was intellectually advanced to develop, and conduct Teacher/Staff Development workshops for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, which involved alternative learning strategies to education.
Baba Skief realized that education, as a system, has not always been our friend; indeed, the statistics of the condition of African-American education proved that the schooling system has systematically robbed Black children of their motivation, kuumba (creativity), cultural identity, and assertiveness. Baba Skief had the effective ability to teach teachers how to unlock the potential in the children sitting directly in front of them in the classroom.
Baba Skief was a man who sacrificed and dedicated his life to the task of inspiring our children to do the best they could in order to ensure their future, even the ones yet unborn.
Baba also worked very closely with the campaign to elect Philadelphia’s first Black Mayor. He served as the Campaign Coordinator and the West Philadelphia field Director for Mayor Wilson Goode. His task included, a wide range of logistical strategies, including training workers, organizing volunteers, recruiting and rallying voters. Baba Skief also worked with and assisted other Black politicians such as Louise Bishop, Chaka Fattah, William Gray, and Vincent Hughes.
Baba Skief’s travels through the continent of Mother Africa and the Caribbean Islands gave him an even greater appreciation for African History, culture, and heritage. His experience and filmed engagement would be shared and used as powerful learning tools for the multitudes of students he taught. The prolific notes from his travels have served as the nucleus for articles and publications on Black Culture and African-Centered Education.
After receiving his degree in education from Cheyney State in 1971, Baba Skief began his career in the Philadelphia Schooling System.
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