July 29, 2021
Born the third son of Edelta Jackson Abraham and Earl Nathan Abraham on St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., Roy embraced his grandfather Nathan Abraham's strict discipline and his father Earl's work ethic and quest to excel. While still in grade school, he showed such acumen and confidence that he acted as the de facto manager of his father's bakery, oversaw the family’s restaurant, rode racehorses competitively and fought boxing matches against men twice his age.
Roy enlisted in the US Army in 1956, joining Paratroopers 82nd airborne and marching in President Eisenhower’s inaugural parade. Most of his Military Service was spent as a US Paratrooper in Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell and Fort Devens, where he completed ranger training and won the Army welterweight championship.
Roy left the Military in 1961 and settled in Harlem, NY, where he grew as a student and an activist. He met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and became a devout follower of Malcolm X and his doctrine of black self-determination. As Borough of Manhattan Community College student government president, he helped organize student protests for tuition reduction and black studies that halted classes and inspired change. He worked with the Black Panthers and the Young Lords, and he was fired from the United States Postal Service and Chase Manhattan Bank for organizing workers.
Marriage and fatherhood brought stability to his education and career – Roy graduated with B.S. Degree from New York University and an MBA from Long Island University, and embarked upon a 20-year career with IBM – but didn’t dim his passion for activism.In fact, his commitment to activism was fueled by his deep love for family – his children, his Black community, and the entire African diaspora. He advocated tirelessly for IBM to divest from South Africa during Apartheid and was a crucial supporter of the Black United Fund, taking a leave of absence to expand their mission and eventually retiring early to work as the Fund’s Director of Campaigns. Roy never truly retired, working as an independent consultant in computer systems, education and Black liberation and writing prolifically on his laptop until all hours of the night until his illness intervened late this summer.
Roy is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sammie; their children Kenya Abraham Campbell, Ajamu Abraham and Onika Abraham Lee; his grandchildren Zweli Campbell, Njeri Campbell and Forest Lee, his beloved brother, Leslie Abraham; and many nieces and nephews, including Atiim Abraham, who was like a second son to him.
His loved ones will forever remember his essay-length text messages, salt fish and johnny cakes, epic blessings before family dinners, leather caps, his saunter, his abiding love and commitment to Black people everywhere.
“We are a Great People who must Trust and Invest in Ourselves."
~ Roy Abraham
Roy enlisted in the US Army in 1956, joining Paratroopers 82nd airborne and marching in President Eisenhower’s inaugural parade. Most of his Military Service was spent as a US Paratrooper in Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell and Fort Devens, where he completed ranger training and won the Army welterweight championship.
Roy left the Military in 1961 and settled in Harlem, NY, where he grew as a student and an activist. He met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and became a devout follower of Malcolm X and his doctrine of black self-determination. As Borough of Manhattan Community College student government president, he helped organize student protests for tuition reduction and black studies that halted classes and inspired change. He worked with the Black Panthers and the Young Lords, and he was fired from the United States Postal Service and Chase Manhattan Bank for organizing workers.
Marriage and fatherhood brought stability to his education and career – Roy graduated with B.S. Degree from New York University and an MBA from Long Island University, and embarked upon a 20-year career with IBM – but didn’t dim his passion for activism.In fact, his commitment to activism was fueled by his deep love for family – his children, his Black community, and the entire African diaspora. He advocated tirelessly for IBM to divest from South Africa during Apartheid and was a crucial supporter of the Black United Fund, taking a leave of absence to expand their mission and eventually retiring early to work as the Fund’s Director of Campaigns. Roy never truly retired, working as an independent consultant in computer systems, education and Black liberation and writing prolifically on his laptop until all hours of the night until his illness intervened late this summer.
Roy is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sammie; their children Kenya Abraham Campbell, Ajamu Abraham and Onika Abraham Lee; his grandchildren Zweli Campbell, Njeri Campbell and Forest Lee, his beloved brother, Leslie Abraham; and many nieces and nephews, including Atiim Abraham, who was like a second son to him.
His loved ones will forever remember his essay-length text messages, salt fish and johnny cakes, epic blessings before family dinners, leather caps, his saunter, his abiding love and commitment to Black people everywhere.
“We are a Great People who must Trust and Invest in Ourselves."
~ Roy Abraham