Benjamin Fain Hamzah

“Benjamin Fain Hamzah was born and raised in Huntington, WV.  He serviced in the Navy and received his Bachelors Degree in education followed by a Masters degree in English and Social Studies/History.  He relocated to Lorain Ohio in 1954 and became the first black teacher in the city of Lorain. His first assignment was at Hawthorne Junior High and later he taught at Admiral King HIgh School. He was a leader in the black community and well respected by all. . . He started the chapter of CORE in Lorain and started and led the black student union at Admiral King which hosted various programs to include the city’s famous black experience program which was a exhibition of talented black students at Admiral High School.  He supported an effort and an initiative which resulted in the students getting a black History class as a part of the high school curriculum.  He also became a member of the Nation of Islam and had  introduced Islam to others  in Lorain as well.  When the  children in Atlanta were killed, Mr. Hamzah organized and led a march in the community as a protest.