Abraham Bassford. Image: The Bay Ridge Museum Facebook page.
Freedom Rider Abraham Bassford IV, or Brahm as he was generally known, died in Chicago on Dec. 17, 2025, at the age of 89.
Brahm’s life was one of activism and service. Besides joining the Freedom Rides in 1961, risking jail and beatings at the hands of white “law” and mobs, he worked for civil rights in a variety of ways. He was a member of the Student Peace Union throughout the 1960s and a conscientious objector during the War in Vietnam. In his later years he was active with many radical organizations, including News and Letters Committees.
A New Yorker who went to Stuyvesant High School and Wagner College, he moved to Milwaukee and then Chicago with the Socialist Party. His was a varied work life, including working as a social services caseworker in New York City and Evanston, Ill., mail carrier, church custodian and a Cook County election judge.
Before the 2008 Presidential election, a young Black woman activist insisted that Brahm, with his history as a Freedom Rider, appear at a rally along with youth who were debating not voting. She knew he would, from his own personal experience, remind them of the cost of securing the vote for Black people.
In his later years, Brahm was also active in the Jane Addams Senior Caucus. The liberation Christian and welcoming United Church of Rogers Park, which he attended for many years, will hold a service dedicated to him on Feb. 22 at 11:30 AM.
Brahm’s was a life well-lived and he will be missed.
–Kaitlin
This is a beautiful obituary for a man whose belief in and service to humanity found expression in so many ways throughout his life.
He was always very nice and welcoming to me when I attended the United Church of Rogers Park between 2008-2012, and what an ironic surprise to learn he was also plugged in with News & Letters at some point!