Jimmy Harris

1927-2005

Jimmy Harris was born in Morgan City, Louisiana. As a young man he served as a paratropper in the Korean War. He later returned to his hometown and used the skills he had gained in the army to defend his community against klan violence. He was a staunch advocate of the Black community's right to self defense.

Jimmy opened a barber shop and kept that shop in the same place for over forty years, becoming a community institution. His barbershop was always crowded, with people gathered more to hear his stories than to get their hair cut. Jimmy's shop was a place people went to hear political discussions, local news, or some of Jimmy's legendary jokes.

He was an influencial leader in his community for generations. Jimmy always took time to teach the youth, and was a major influence on a young geronimo ji Jaga. Jimmy convinced him to go into the army to learn to fight so that he could return and help Jimmy and others protect the community. During geronimo's illegal incarceration, Jimmy kept news clippings on the walls of his shop and constantly kept geronimo's fate on the minds of the local community. In 1999, Jimmy joined with geronimo and local attorney Ed Jones, and founded the Kuji Foundation. Jimmy served as Chairman of the Board from the organization's inception until his death.