Bennetta Jules-Rosette

A world-renowned scholar, Dr. Jules-Rosette was a Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and served as Director of the African and African-American Studies Research Center. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in Social Relations from Radcliffe College, followed by a Master of Arts (1970) and a Doctorate (1973) in Social Relations (Sociology and Anthropology) from Harvard University.

Her scholarly work spanned contemporary African art and literature, semiotic studies of Black Paris, religious discourse, new technologies in Africa, and museum studies. In addition to numerous journal articles, she authored more than eight books and contributed extensively to academic and cultural publications worldwide.

Beyond her remarkable academic career, she was a mother who generously included her daughter in her travels throughout Africa and Europe, sharing the excitement and wonder of her research firsthand. She made holidays especially meaningful by creating cherished family traditions, and Friday nights became a beloved ritual—spent watching classic films and enjoying Chinese food together. These moments remain among her daughter’s most treasured memories.

These simple yet deeply meaningful traditions reflected who she was: intentional, curious, and committed to nurturing both knowledge and joy. Her legacy lives on through her scholarship, her students, and the enduring love she leaves behind, and she is survived by her daughter, Violaine Thompson; her son-in-law, Fred Thompson Jr.; her granddaughter, Monica Lujan; Monica’s husband, Steven Lujan; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Michael Lujan and Jessica Lujan.