In memory of Leland (Tulani) Jackson—a man whose life was a scroll of service, scholarship, and sacred care.

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Leland Jackson—known to many as Tulani—was a man of profound depth, unwavering discipline, and sacred devotion to the liberation of Black youth. His life was a scroll of service, etched with the ink of scholarship, mentorship, and ancestral clarity. He walked with purpose through classrooms, lecture halls, radio stations, and sacred spaces, always centering the restoration of dignity and belonging.

Mr. Jackson held a Master of Arts in Inner City Studies Education from Northeastern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Communications from the University of Texas at Austin. But his education did not end with degrees—it extended into hieroglyphs, into the sands of Egypt, into the spiritual architecture of African civilizations. He studied not just history, but memory. Not just facts, but freedom.

As a counselor at Benjamin E. Mays Academy and Kennedy-King College, and through his roles at Malcolm X College, Olive Harvey, and the Metropolitan Career Center, Mr. Jackson shaped generations. He was not merely an educator—he was a guardian. A mentor. A mirror. He guided youth through the fog of displacement, offering structure, care, and cultural clarity. He spoke with conviction about African spirituality, the motion picture industry, and the sacred responsibility of Black educators. His lectures on Kwanzaa, gang activity, comic book racism, and the cultural impact of rap music were not just informative—they were transformative.

He moderated political forums, recorded proceedings at scholarly conferences, and gave voice to the silenced through radio programming and public commentary. His presence was both ceremonial and strategic—he knew when to speak, when to listen, and when to guide. He was a student of the ancestors and a teacher to the future.

The sanctuary now known as Bes & Beset carries his rhythm. It is named in honor of the ancient protectors he revered, and in honor of the man who embodied their spirit. Mr. Jackson believed in preparing youth to become “masters of the universe”—not through domination, but through discipline, dignity, and divine alignment.