Some word association when I think of the name Benji Chang:

Wisdom. Discipline. Tradition. Leader. Historian. Mentor. Master. Educator. Lifelong Student. Global. Journey. Purpose. Urgency. Morality. Activist. Organizer. Humility. Patience. Curiosity. Creativity. DJ. Warmth. Nurturing. Big Brother. Hero. Bad Ass Motherfucker. Beloved.

The man had incredible gifts. He was so intelligent, so creative, and so masterful at all of his various crafts (from DJing to writing to kung fu and lion dance) but the thing that stands out above all else was his selfless dedication to his community. His talent was to help you recognize your own. His talent was to uplift you. His talent was to unite people and get them to move in unison in ways that were greater than the sum of their parts. That was as true on the dance floor as it was in the dojo or the school classrooms that he taught.

He was the ultimate catalyst for energy and growth. He simply WAS inspiration. I admired the hell out of him. We all did.

My own path in life intersected Benji’s in so many ways. First as a fresh faced Taiwanese kid partying in Taipei with him on the Love Boat program back in 1999. After I attended college and became immersed in music and sociology, Benji helped me connect the dots from civil rights era songs to the social context in which they were written. It was bigger than just drum breaks and horn samples - there was always a reverence of the original message. He DJ’d parties that I threw, including my own birthday. As I matured and found my own purpose in community work, again Benji was there to support me and lend his own experience and wisdom.

I remember one of the deep topics we discussed during our last proper hang out was how the nature of political organizing had changed from the early 2000s to now, and how technology and social media was a double edged sword.

The number of folks who I can relate to as a Chinese American, music and history nerd, AND who also organized around social justice and had been doing so for decades? Not many. That’s a niche within a niche within a niche. It feels a lot lonelier around here now.

Benji, you’ll be in my heart and mind forever. Your legacy and impact are eternal, and no doubt your loving family will carry the torch for you and we will help them do so.

Farewell, and thank you for everything big brother.