M. K. Asante, Jr.

Infobox Celebrity


image_size = 200px
name = M.K. Asante, Jr.
caption = M.K. Asante, Jr. in Philadelphia
birth_date = November 3, 1982
birth_place = Harare, Zimbabwe
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = Writer, Filmmaker, Professor
salary =
networth =
spouse =
website = http://www.mkasante.com
imdb_id = 1802024

M.K. Asante, Jr. (born November 3, 1982) is an African-American professor, author, filmmaker and activist. Born in Harare, Zimbabwe shortly after the Liberation Struggle, he is the son of scholar Molefi Kete Asante and choreographer Kariamu Welsh. He has been described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as "a rare, remarkable talent that brings to mind the great artists of the Harlem Renaissance." [M.K. Asante, Jr. - Artist in Progress, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 30th, 2005]

Biography

Education

Asante is a graduate of The Crefeld School in Philadelphia, which he attended after being expelled from two other schools for writing politically-charged graffiti. [ [http://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/issues/2005.12.15/locallife4.html Filmmaker from Hill thrills Crefeld School kids] , ChestnutHillLocal.com, December 15, 2005] He studied film and literature at the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, earned a B.A. in Africana Studies and English from Lafayette College, and an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from UCLA School of Theater Film and Television.

Academia

At 23 years-old, Asante was appointed a professorship in the Department of English and Language Arts at Morgan State University.

Books

In 2002, Asante, Jr.,'s first collection of poems, "Like Water Running Off My Back", was published and won the Academy of American Poets Jean Corrie Prize for its title poem. Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright Charles Fuller hailed the book as "remarkable" and proclaimed Asante a leader of a new generation of African-American writers.

In October 2005, Asante's second collection of poems, "Beautiful. And Ugly Too" was published to critical acclaim. The Los Angeles Times called "Beautiful. And Ugly Too" "a thought-provoking journey down the lonely road of wisdom and whiplash."

Asante's third book, "It's Bigger than Hip-Hop," is non-fiction and will be released by St. Martin's Press on September 16th, 2008.

Films

Asante, Jr. wrote and produced the documentary 500 Years Later, winner of Best Documentary at the Pan-African Film Festival, Bridgetown Film Festival; Best Film at the International Black Cinema Film Festival; and Best International Documentary at the Harlem International Film Festival. The film also won the Breaking the Chains Award from UNESCO.

Asante wrote, directed and produced the 2008 film The Black Candle, narrated by Maya Angelou.

Works

Poetry

*"Like Water Running Off My Back" (2002)
*"Beautiful. And Ugly Too" (2005)

Non-Fiction

*"It's Bigger Than Hip Hop" (2008)

Films

*"500 Years Later" (2005)
*"The Black Candle" (2008)

Quotes

*"If you make an observation, you have an obligation." [ [http://www.thepost.ohiou.edu/Articles/News/2006/11/06/15862/ OU 'family' celebrates Kwanzaa (2006)]

References

External links

* [http://www.asante.info M.K. Asante, Jr. - Official Site]
* [http://www.asante.info/itsbiggerthanhiphop It's Bigger Than Hip Hop - Official Book Site]
* [http://www.theblackcandle.com The Black Candle - Official Movie Site]
* [http://www.500yearslater.com 500 YEARS LATER - Official Movie Site]