Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 19, 2026

Ben Haith

Hassie Benjamin Haith Jr., also known as Boston Ben, is an American activist, social worker, and designer of the Juneteenth flag. Haith has been active in anti-crime groups since the 1980s. He is also the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation.

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Ben Haith
Haith in 2023
Born
Hassie Benjamin Haith Jr.

1942 (age 83–84)
Connecticut
Known forJuneteenth flag

Hassie Benjamin Haith Jr. (born 1942), also known as Boston Ben, is an American activist, social worker, and designer of the Juneteenth flag. Haith has been active in anti-crime groups since the 1980s. He is also the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation.

Career

Activism

Haith is a grass roots community activist who publicly identifies and critiques racial disparity.123 He is active in anti-crime activities and he has been critical of law enforcement. Throughout his life he has advocated for investigations of the police.45

In 1983, when he was 40 years old, he ran for public office for the first time. Haith ran for the District 7 city council seat, which represented a predominantly African American section of Boston. He described himself as a community activist who also owned an advertising agency with his wife. He ran his campaign out of a tent near Dudley Station Historic District.6 In 1986, he advocated for black areas of Boston to secede from the city.7

In 2008 Haith and others camped out in the empty apartments located in the Lenox Street projects and Orchard Park in Roxbury. The goal of the action was to end the "Stop Snitching" culture by getting neighbors to "drop a dime" when they saw illegal activity.8

Anti-LGBT controversy

In April 1985 Haith spoke out against a gay male couple who provided foster care for two young boys in Boston. Haith wanted publicity for his run for City Council, so he contacted the editors at the Boston Globe and complained that two boys were placed with a male couple in his neighborhood.910 Haith said that he was "completely opposed" to gay foster care because "it was a breakdown of the society and its values and morals."910 The publicity led Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis to order the boys removed from the home the next day.910 The Associated Press picked up the story, and ultimately, the gay couple lost custody of the children.11

Juneteenth

Haith founded the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation, and he led the holiday's first Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony in Boston's Roxbury Heritage State Park in 2000.312 Haith designed the Juneteenth flag in 1997,13 and in 2000 (after the addition of the text June 19, 1865), he copyrighted the design.14

Electoral history

1983 Boston City Council 7th district election
Candidates15 Preliminary election16 General election17
Votes % Votes %
Bruce Bolling 7,556 59.1 9,049 63.9
Elizabeth "Betty" Jones 1,907 14.9 5,121 36.1
Ben Haith 1,315 10.3  
Roy A. Owens 1.146 9.0  
Steven A. Wise 567 4.4  
James Joseph 302 2.4  
1991 Boston City Council 7th district election
Candidates18 Preliminary election19 General election20
Votes % Votes %
Anthony Crayton 836 18.7 3,129 57.5
Roy A. Owens 974 21.8 2,314 42.5
Althea Garrison 703 15.7  
Ben Haith 691 15.4  
James A. West 666 14.9  
Hattie Dudley 395 8.8  
Natalie E. Carithers 211 4.7  
References

References

  1. Englade, Ken (1990). Murder in Boston. London: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 978-0207169885. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  2. "Crime Crusaders Target Gang Hats". Fairbanks Daily News Miner. Associated Press. January 4, 1990. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  3. Gagosz, Alexa (June 16, 2021). "What are the symbols on the Juneteenth Flag?". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  4. "Lie Detector Tests Called for in Alleged Police Sex Assault". Nashua Telegraph. Associated Press. October 28, 1983. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  5. "New String of Murders Causes Outcry in Boston". Winchester Star. Associated Press. December 29, 1988. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  6. "District 7:Key Seat for Boston's Blacks". The Boston Globe. October 7, 1983. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  7. Drogin, Bob (November 1, 1985). "Separatist City of 'Mandela' : Boston Voting on Proposal to Let Black Areas Secede". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  8. Gelzinis, Peter (September 7, 2008). "Georgette Watson made a difference dime after dime". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  9. Ball, Carlos A. (2012). The right to be parents : LGBT families and the transformation of parenthood. New York: New York University Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-0814739303. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  10. Ball, Carlos (September 27, 2012). "When the State Discriminates". Advocate. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  11. "Homosexual Men Lose Custody of Two Boys". Associated Press. Walla Walla Union Bulletin. May 9, 1985. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  12. Kochi, Sudiksha; Yancey-Bragg, N'dea (June 18, 2021). "What is it and What to Know About This Year's Celebration". Fort Collins Coloradoan. USA Today. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  13. Philippe, McKenzie Jean. "The Juneteenth flag was created in 1997". Oprah. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  14. "Public Catalog - Juneteenth flag". Copyright Catalog (1978 to present). Library of Congress. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  15. "Candidates As They Appear On The Ballot". The Boston Globe. October 10, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
  16. "Final Results of Boston Preliminary Elections: District 7". The Boston Globe. October 12, 1983. Retrieved February 22, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
  17. "Boston Election Reslts". The Boston Globe. November 16, 1983. Retrieved February 21, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
  18. "Brighton rematch on tap in district council races". The Boston Globe. September 25, 1991. Retrieved February 24, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
  19. "City Council District Members". The Boston Globe. September 25, 1991. Retrieved February 24, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.
  20. "City Council District Members". The Boston Globe. November 6, 1991. Retrieved February 24, 2018 – via pqarchiver.com.

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