Shabaka “Bak” Lazimba was murdered in San Diego on January 24th, 2012 by gun shot wound to the head by an unknown executioner. His murder has gone unsolved and joins the many cases of young men of color murder in this country. We hear the all-too-familiar reports and we look for someone to blame. However, we understand that the violence among the youth is only a by-product of the larger social problems in this country. Bak knew this, and that is why he lived to serve his community and spread his love with all those he crossed paths with. Love was his driving force. He had a genuine love for Africaand a complete love for humanity. With his love came a passion for true justice and a determination to fulfill purpose in being a servant to his family and community. Bak was the “go-to” man, a solid brotha. Many called on Bak for help. Whether it was to fix, build, or grow something; he answered the call and was there to help solve the problem. Bak loved spending time outside where he built gardens from the ground up literally. He was a fruitful man and brought life to that which he touched. As a father, he spread his love to his children, unselfishly accepting the blessing of raising and protecting them. It brought him happiness and joy to see that his children were doing well. Bak is surely missed, but his legacy continues because he has shared himself in the love he gave during his time here. We remember him in love and we honor him by continuing the work of building anew tomorrow. “So Old Man River don’t cry for me, I have got a running stream of love you see. So no matter what stages they put us thru, we’ll never be blue.” Bob Marley
Strength in Unity Forward-
