Dr. James Fisher, Champion For Justice And Inclusion, Passes

Staff Report

Dr. James Adolphus Fisher, a pioneering historian of Black California, passed away June 20 at the age of 82.

Born in Wharton, Texas, on Oct. 13, 1942, Dr. Fisher was part of the Great Migration westward, as his family relocated to Stockton in search of greater opportunities. After graduating from Edison High School in 1960, the family settled in Sacramento, where he began his academic journey at Sacramento City College. He went on to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s in history at Sacramento State.

Deeply drawn to the overlooked narratives of Black life in the American West, Dr. Fisher developed a lifelong passion for uncovering the social and political history of African Americans in California. He later earned his doctorate in history from Stony Brook University, where his groundbreaking dissertation, “A History of the Political and Social Development of the Black Community in California, 1850–1950,” laid the foundation for future scholarship in the field. His work remains a cornerstone in the study of Black California and helped establish a vital framework for understanding African American experiences in the broader context of western U.S. history.

In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Dr. Fisher was deeply engaged in the social justice movements of the 1960s. He participated in protests against the Vietnam War and became an active member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), one of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations. Recognizing that the national civil rights struggle had uniquely local dimensions, Dr. Fisher worked with the Sacramento chapter of CORE to confront racial injustice in his own community. The chapter organized campaigns to pressure local businesses that refused to hire African Americans and fought persistently to end discriminatory housing practices that segregated neighborhoods and denied Black families equal access to opportunity.

Yet it was in education that Dr. Fisher made his most enduring contributions. Influenced by the Black Nationalist movement and the demands of Black student activists in the late 1960s, he championed efforts to reshape academic curricula to reflect the history, culture and intellectual traditions of people of African descent. Drawing inspiration from the pioneering ethnic studies programs launched at Merritt College and San Francisco State, Dr. Fisher played a pivotal role in establishing ethnic studies courses at Sacramento City College.

His work helped lay the foundation for a more inclusive and honest educational experience – one that affirmed the centrality of African American history to the American story and the global significance of Africa.

During his tenure as an instructor at Sac City, Dr. Fisher helped launch the Oak Park School for Afro-American Thought, an innovative effort to bring college-level courses directly into the heart of Sacramento’s Oak Park community. This experience deepened his belief in the power of community-based education and further convinced him that the movement to build Independent Black Institutions (IBIs) offered a more transformative path forward. In that spirit, he joined his future wife, Cheryl Ann Fisher, and her colleagues in founding Shule Jumamose, an African-centered Saturday school rooted in Black cultural pride and self-determination.

Located in a craftsman-style home in Oak Park, Shule Jumamose became a hub for cultural and intellectual activity, hosting Sacramento’s first Black Film Festival and one of the city’s earliest public Kwanzaa celebrations. In a lasting act of community stewardship, Dr. Fisher and his late wife eventually gifted the home that housed Shule Jumamose to the Eta Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Following his time teaching at Sacramento City and lecturing at UC Davis, Dr. Fisher transitioned into a career as a public historian. He brought his historical expertise to state service, working first with the Office of Historic Preservation and later in the Architectural History Department at Caltrans, where he helped document and preserve California’s diverse historical landscape.

Dr. Fisher was a passionate lover of jazz, blues, and the written word in all its forms. An avid reader and lifelong learner, he found joy and meaning in the rhythms of music and ideas. He frequently co-hosted the blues radio program “The Original Blues Brothers” on KDVS 90.3 in Davis, alongside his son, Dr. Damany Fisher, and his late brother, Ples Fisher. It was a joyful collaboration that reflected his deep love for family and the blues tradition.

Dr. James Fisher was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cheryl Ann (Smith) Fisher; his sister, LaVon (Fisher) McDaniel; and his brother, Ples Fisher. He was cherished and admired by his family, who regarded him as both a guiding light and a source of unwavering support.

He is survived by his daughter Hallie A. Fisher (from a previous marriage); his daughter Dr. Maisha T. Winn (Dr. Lawrence T. Winn); and his son Dr. Damany M. Fisher (Dr. Danica Tisdale Fisher). He leaves behind a loving legacy in his grandchildren: Jasmine Frye, Obasi Winn, Zafir Winn, Asa Fisher, and Anansa Fisher. He was a proud uncle to a host of nieces and nephews.