Runoko Rashidi (born Ronnie Ross and later known as Ronald Lamar; 16 August 1954 – 2 August 2021) was a historian, essayist, author and public lecturer based in Los Angeles, California, and Paris, France.^[1][2]

Career

Rashidi was a writer and speaker who lectured on ancient Egypt, his belief in an African presence in prehistoric America, Africans in antiquity, and the African presence in Asia and other parts of the world.^[3]

Rashidi is the author of Introduction to the Study of African Classical Civilizations] (1993) and the editor of Unchained African Voices, a collection of poetry and prose by death row inmates at California's San Quentin State Prison. He is also the author or editor of 18 books, including The African Presence in Early Asia (1985, 1988, 1995), with Ivan Van Sertima, Black Star: The African Presence in Early Europe (2012) and African Star over Asia: The Black Presence in the East (2013).^[3]

Rashidi was a member of the editorial board of Africology: The Journal of Pan African Studies, and he held an honorary doctorate of divinity from Amen-Ra Theological Seminary (Los Angeles, California). He also supported the work of controversial scholars like the late Ivan Van Sertima.^[4]

Rashidi died on August 2, 2021, while on a tour of Egypt.^[5]