Leave comments below in tribute to Peter J. Harris.
Peter Jonathan Harris now flies free, soaring above us all and emanating the sense of joy he always wished for those around him. He loved his family, his poetry, and his cultural work deeply. After a year-long battle with the autoimmune disease Scleroderma, Peter sang his last praise song at 7:55 PM on Friday, October 25th, 2024, in Oviedo, Florida. He was 69 years old.
Born on April 26th, 1955, in Washington, D.C., Peter was a dedicated father to Ayana Kelly, Ketema Harris, and Adenike Harris; a cherished brother to Glenn Harris, Ron Harris (Sheila), Anna Battle (Cleveland), and Carla Harris; a loving grandfather to Jelani Harris, Jasmine Tuttobene, Kahari Kelly, Kiara Harris, and Selene Harris; and a proud uncle to a host of nieces and nephews.
Peter was a prolific poet, writer, and cultural advocate whose passion for Black culture and manhood transcended his time on this earth. He has been an award-winning cultural worker since the 1970s. Peter was the Creator, Founder, and Artistic Director of Inspiration House, which served as a platform to produce cultural, artistic, educational, and media works that featured virtuoso performers. He conducted workshops, residencies, and Inspiration House Retreats that attracted “CHANGE ARTISTS” that inspired audiences to re-enter their lives renewed and confident that creativity and imagination are indispensable tools for personal and social change.
As the founder of The Black Man of Happiness Project (2014), Peter explored the joy of Black men through creative, intellectual, and artistic expression. He authored The Black Man of Happiness: In Pursuit of My ‘Unalienable Right,’ a collection of personal essays that won the American Book Award in 2015. He was an award-winning cultural worker, a 2018 Los Angeles COLA Fellow in literary arts, and a Fellow of the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities at USC.
Peter’s poetry has been celebrated widely. His collection Bless the Ashes, published by Tia Chucha Press, earned the 2015 PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award. His other publications include Genetic Dancers: The Artistry Within African/American Fathers, a pioneering magazine that asserted African American fathers become artists through conscientious parenting, The Johnson Chronicles: Truth. My Penis. Tall Tales; Safe Arms: 20 Love/Erotic Poems (and One Oooh Baby Baby Moan); and Hand Me My Griot Clothes: The autobiography of Junior Baby, which won the PEN Oakland Award for Multicultural Literature in 1993.
He penned personal essays on manhood and masculinity in various esteemed anthologies, including Tenderheaded: A Comb-Bending Collection of Hair Stories; Black Men Speaking; Fathersongs and I Hear A Symphony: African Americans Celebrate Love, Wide Awake: Poets of Los Angeles and Beyond, Altadena Poetry Review: Anthology, and Coiled Serpent: Poets Arising from the Cultural Quakes & Shifts in Los Angeles.
Peter’s cultural contributions extended beyond his written works. He served as a publisher, journalist, educator, editor, and broadcaster working with adults and adolescents alike. As an administrator in educational and arts organizations, he managed programs, secured grants from prestigious organizations, and collaborated with partners, including the Walt Disney Company and the Hollywood Bowl.
Peter collaborated on several meaningful projects with his family. In 2011, he was a contributor to his daughter, Adenike A. Harris’, Creative Thesis, Restorative Notions: Regaining My Voice, Regaining My Father, a project that demonstrated their shared journey of healing, published by Georgia State University. In 2016, for the inaugural publication of The Happiness Project, he co-wrote Gritt Tuff Play Book: Hard Core Wisdom for Young People with his brother, Glenn Harris, Emmy-winning broadcaster and humanitarian. Also in 2016, he collaborated on and co-authored FaithWorks: An Innovative Approach to Workforce Development with his sister, Carla Harris, a book advocating for humane social service delivery.
In 2018, Peter and Adenike co-presented a TEDx Pasadena Talk, “Healing vs. Retaliation: Surviving Trauma and Sexual Abuse,” marking 15 years of collaborative work.
Two celebrations of Peter’s life will honor his legacy. One in Washington, D.C., of his upbringing and the other honoring his deep ties to Los Angeles. The first gathering will take place on December 21st, 2024, in Washington, D.C., while the second will honor him on what would have been his 70th birthday, April 26th, 2025, in Los Angeles. Peter’s family extends profound gratitude to all who supported him throughout his journey.
For updates on the Washington, D.C. celebration, please email
celebratepeterj.dc@gmail.com
For updates on the Los Angeles, CA celebration, please email
celebratepeterj.la@gmail.com
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to Peter’s memorials so we may celebrate his final Praise Song in the true form of Inspiration House and The Black Man of Happiness Project.
Peace Transcends…..
Whose child am I?
See my mother in my whirlpools of Holy Waters…
Feel my father in explosions of cool young stars…
Find my family in voices singing of Enlightenment…
Mother, mother…I am your Earthly Child…I hunger for safety
Oh my father…I am your Divine Child…I search for beauty
Sweet Family…I am your illuminated Child…I believe I am home
Birth glows behind my eyes…In my new voice I whisper
I am excited to know peace from every direction
I am excited to see the faces of peace
I am excited…Mother Mother…Oh My Father…Sweet Family
Peace transcends…
~Peter J. Harris
I love you my big brother!
When Ron, my former colleague, told me Peter had passed away, I was surprised, even shocked, sad and sorely disappointed.
Ron had told me decades ago that he thought Peter and I would really vibe if we got together because (I think Ron thought) we had similar sensibilities and perspectives.
Years later, Peter and I did connect and developed an online friendship through our correspondence. Ron’s insight and prediction proved to be “on point.” After reading Peter’s blog and watching his Tedx talk with Adenike, I reached out to him.
My wife and I explored with him the possibility of him becoming the Editor for our historical novel CLANDESTINE. We felt strongly, he would lend a “poetic touch” to our writing. It didn’t work out, but he offered strong insights and invaluable advice which helped us tremendously. We stayed in contact and shared tidbits.
My disappointment stems from the fact that we never met face-to-face. I know the “man-hug” would have been long and intense. Nonetheless, my wife and I feel like we were blessed to know and appreciate Peter.
He now flies free and while we will miss his physical presence, we will carry forever the warmth of his spirit with us.
Damani & Ife Keene
Peter, I miss you. You saw me as a poet when I couldn’t see that for myself. You loved me and invited me into your home to love you. You published my poem and had me read my poetry on Inspiration House. You cooked me an omelette while I painted your portrait. Your critiques at the World Stage of poems were things of beauty and compassion. You taught us how to write from the heart and not from our egos. You and I are etenally connected in Spirit and I know that your love intelligence will guide us all for the day of our lives.
Oh my Brother my brother
I’m totally stunned
I will always have space in Heart of Hearts for you and your genius contributions to all of us who’ve known you in life and and will know you through your contributions via your brilliant transformative writing !
Our love for you will survive forever in the Creator’s name Amen
I will miss your laugh, your smile, the way you always held your chin in the palm of your hands when you weee thinking. I’ll miss when you take your glasses off to look at your cell phone. I’ll miss our talks and life updates. I’ll miss your confidence boosts and reminders of my abilities. But mostly I’ll miss my daddy just because you ARE my daddy. I’ll see you in my dreams and I know you’ll forever been my greatest Ancestor. I will love you forever.
❤️
Wise beyond his years
Always easy to laugh and see the humor in the human condition, especially his own
He gave freely of himself
Knowing that love springs eternal and his still does
Rest peacefully my brother
Rest in power, Peter. I will always remember how you made me laugh. ❤️
“if there ain’t no beauty, you gotta make some beauty” words that while written and performed by EWF, you lived them through your life, your wisdom, and your words.
I miss you beyond anything I could imagine. You are my blood brother, but more importantly, I would have chosen you as a friend. I love you!
So grateful to have had the benefit of the inspiring poetry and thoughts over the years. I was an audience member at The Johnson Chronicles, collaborated on several poetry/media/dance jams and read and shared the inspirations. Rest in Peace and Power.
My dear soul brother in every sense of the word, you leave a gaping hole, a rent in the spacetime fabric of our existence with your departure. Gil Scott Heron vibing “Winter in Amerika” in the background as I write this- you would so relate-“nobody fighting, nobody knows what to say…The Constitution a noble piece of paper… and now Democracy is a ragtime on the corner, hoping for some rain….”
You were so deep.
It was a marvelous moment to crown you as the MHI Keynote Speaker, you were a champion, guide and advisor since its inception 30 years ago, deep appreciation for that.
It is time now, always time for those honored to have made their time, fulfilled destinies, to be released from this Earth School and all its hard lessons…
Ooooooooh so many chapters and how many deep conversations later we have had over 4 decades, hopes, dreams, ups n downs later, your life truly poetry in motion, ever upward ascending. This last round, you said you would be self observing this part of the journey, and clearly, you have reached your destination, a life filled with and emanating
A Love Supreme, claiming joy and happiness, anyway. So profound. The mischievous grin with that twinkly sparkle in your eyes, a clue to the burst your sides laughing with riff upon riff classic Peter Harris running commentary is treasured by us all. You fought the good fight and finished many races, I salute you, will miss you while cherishing so many profound moments and memories.
Long Live the Original Black Man of Happiness!
Peter, this poem moved me to tears. It’s what I needed today, and many days. Living in a body is so frustrating and mysterious and sometimes miraculous. You saw and documented all of it. Seeing the LA literary community overflow with love and grief in the wake of your passing was like watching a field bloom with sudden wildflowers. A reminder of beauty and fragility in the midst of a doom-feed. You were always strong and funny and kind, alive in every way. I am thinking of the last sentence in Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon: “If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.” I am picturing you flying now.
Peter, my dear friend. I will hold the memory of your beautiful presence in my heart always. You brought so many wonderful, memorable moments into my life. Your laughter, your praise, your calm, no-nonsense wit and brilliance were a joy to behold. I am ever so grateful to have been chosen as your friend. I wish we had more time, but rest now dear friend. With love and deepest gratitude.
A good man who helped me stand tall as a poet. Fly high we are waving. Your seed lives in us.
I will remember Peter for his courage, his creativity, and his wit, among many other very Human qualities that I admire. May he rest in peace and tranquility…
Peter was so honest in calling out anything he didn’t think was right. Yes, he had to correct me once, and I am better because of it. He is truly missed.
Please know that many share your love and respect for a wonderful human and a good friend, as do I.
On 11/3, All Souls’ Day, there was a closing reception for an exhibition at Avenue 50 Studio in Highland Park.
On this day, Studio Director Kathy Gallegos created altars to remember and honor those dear to the Studio.
Of course, Peter was held in high regard as one who often shared his words for the Ave 50 Studio community.
I find that I cannot paste my photo of Peter’s altar but I will send it to the email for his L.A. memorial
Truly, with love and in peace.
Thank you so much! I look forward to getting the photo. I appreciate Kathy for honoring our father that day.
May the ancestors embrace your liberated spirit and know that you touched many during your journey. You are free.
Brother, we worked together years ago with vulnerable youth at continuation High Schools in LA. I pushed and you listened, I inquired and you engaged me, you opened doors and I entered, together we expanded possibility. Brother we saw one another. In loving peace to you for ever more.
I write to you, Peter, full of water unshed. Remembering you always as a brother, a friend, a comrade, a father to my daughter, a gorgeous light; I remember you as the voice in the dark World Stage room that called with rough, needed love and unending truth, “Sis, read the dawn poem.” I miss you, I sing you, I hold you, I praise you. Nyesha/Shonda
“Read the damn poem.” 🙂
I know you are with me, because I remember your call,
your voice ever supportive, to help break the fall.
You speak to me now through these things that I type.
These things we call words, but like birds they take flight.
This last glimpse from your point of view
helps it to sink in, though it still feels so new.
Thank you for the call you initiated that day,
when I could not elaborate on what was taking me away.
I know you are listening even now as I type,
from your perch on the stars that once twinkled in your eyes.
Your eyes saw within me things of greatness beyond reason;
Now it’s my job to bring your vision to completion.
Before the red has its way with this messy array,
A prayer for strength day and night, night and day
The last line won’t rhyme, awaiting a reunion sublime.
Love you, Peter, and thank you…until we meet again.
Mr. Harris, I’m Honored for the short time we had together. You shared with me your art, your writings and productions you have completed, you inspired me. Thankful for the opportunity to have cooked for you. You will never be forgotten. BIG Love King.
Peter shared his work, his spirit, his generosity, his love with students and our campus community at Cal State Fullerton last year. He brought such a sense of gratitude and wonder with him–just an all around amazing spirit. I’m so grateful to him for all he shared.
It still feels surreal that you’ve joined the realm of the ancestors (I miss our bantering calls about projects!), but I know you’ll be continue to share your creativity and work with us. Many supportive hugs and vibrations to your family from ours.
Peter, it was always so welcome to see you at Institute for the Humanities luncheons and field trips. You always asked the most searching questions; your curiosity about so many subjects was inspiring. You loved learning about new subjects and you enlightened all of us with your presentation on the Black Man of Happiness project. We miss you, we will miss you, you are missed. What a substantial presence in the world, and so open to its beauty.
Peter J
You were The Soul Brotha to so many brothas ! You inspired us , challenged us and encouraged us to be the best version of ourselves!
Too short a time to experience your light, Peter. I know you are free and resting now. Thank you for your words of encouragement, our shared laughs, and van rides through Greensboro, PA. Til we meet again,
joy+ease🫶🏽🙏🏼💫
This is a devastating loss. What a remarkable man you were, Peter. You had such a vibrant energy, your curiosity and enthusiasm were infectious. You were incredibly generous and supportive–we did not know each other very well, but from the moment we met you showed up for me in numerous ways. Your writing gave me such a jolt of inspiration and new perspectives. I appreciated your honesty and forthrightness which always were delivered with love and compassion. I’m so very grateful to have known you.
A true Black man of Happiness. Thank you for all you have contributed in the poetry community and to our lives. You are giant who paved the way. Your words are alive and thriving. How amazing is it that we can bring you back to life over and over again by holding your book in our hands.THANK YOU. One of the best things ArtworxLA did for me was bring your incredible daughter Ade, into my world. What a pleasure it was to laugh, cry, support, and dream up projects with you both. Go onward poet! Put on a show for the heavenly angels. Your legacy remains down here. With love, from the West. – Jaz <3
My friendship with Peter goes back more than 40 years. To his family, I express the most sincere condolences from my family.
My wife, Nahuja, and I traveled from Atlanta to DC to celebrate Peter’s life. The celebration was phenomenal — and fitting!
Peter’s son, Ketema, played with my sons, Juba and Mbeja, when they were preschoolers; they’re all in their 40’s now!
Peter was a brilliant artist, with a tremendous sense of humor.
When I lost my sister a few years ago, Peter reminded me that, when his mother transitioned, I assured him that she had become a revered ancestor. Peter, you shined as an elder — and you continue to shine as a revered ancestor.
I love you Brother.
Kofi (Lomotey)
You made your mark Peter and that’s all we can do for the short time we are here. You will be missed but not forgotten. I’m glad I snapped that photo of you and V that day. Give Merilene a hug for me.
Peter J. Harris! We say your name! Time has passed but not the ache of loss or the memories that make us smile. After you passed, a few months later, so much of our beloved Altadena would be gone but not the joy and power of creativity, so we stand strong in that, #Denastrong to keep on keeping on! Giving thanks to you dear one and our friendship. I ask that you welcome our recent ancestor, S. Pearl, to the journey. Having just returned from KMT, I saw…our ancestors built for eternity. I say…This breath is fleeting, but the journey of spirit is eternal.
Axe’, Sat Nam, Ase’