America has just lost one of it very remarkable sons: John Hope Franklin.

Professor Emeritus of History at Duke University, his death is a big loss for humanity. His life is an inspiration for all of us who admired his work. His death is like a library caught on fire and transformed to ashes. He was a living source of information and witnessed the changes in American society through the election of the first man of color as President of the United States. In heaven he will tell the story to those who didn’t witness this event.

One thing that I will remember of this great professor is his ability to see his own life philosophically. He was an humble man. Professor John Hope Franklin will be missed. If there was a way to resuscitate him even for a day, it would be one more day of joy for all of us who admired him. RIP Professor! Unfortunately, as the Bambara of Mali say, “Life is like a ballet performance–danced only once.”