Best-selling author visits Renaissance Academy
Author MK Asante discusses book, Black History Month during visit
PHOENIXVILLE » “Eliminate distractions. Create possibility. Fear absolutely nothing and attack all opportunities.”
That was the advice bestselling author, MK Asante, had for students at the Renaissance Academy Charter School on Wednesday during a special presentation celebrating Black History Month.
“For me, education is something that happens 365, 24/7. It doesn’t just happen when you’re in school. In fact, much of your education happens outside of school,” Asante told the students. “I wanted to tell my story, tell the story of my city, tell the story of my family, tell the story of perseverance.”
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and raised in Philadelphia, Asante struggled within the urban decay of his community until discovering his passion for writing and the creative arts. He studied at the University of London, earned a B.A. from Lafayette College, and an M.F.A. from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television.
His book, “Buck: A Memoir,” which tells the story of his experience growing up, made the Washington Post Best Seller List in 2014 and 2015 and has won numerous literary awards. The book
is currently being adapted into a major motion picture.
His essays have been published in the New York Times and USA Today. His inspirational story “The Blank Page” is featured in the No. 1 New York Times best-seller, “Chicken Soup for the Soul: 20th Anniversary Edition.”
Asante has lectured at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, as well as hundreds of other universities. Asante is also recording artist, most recently featured on the album Indie 500 by Grammywinning producer 9th Wonder & Talib Kweli. He is also a distinguished professor at the MICA Business School in India and a tenured professor of English and Film at Morgan State University.
As part of his presentation, Asante discussed black history and the importance of celebrating it more than just one month out of the year.
“To me it’s not just about overcoming the obstacles, it’s about celebrating the culture, even before we got to America,” said Asante. “There are so many elements about black history that go beyond just America. Even within America there is so much history. The reason we have to single it out as that month or that week or whatever, is because a lot of times it gets forgotten about ... intentionally. Because of the racism in the history of this country, it’s been erased. So we have to remind, remember it and celebrate it and we have to draw attention to it. For me it’s not just a month ... Just because it’s April doesn’t mean I can’t learn about Ida B. Wells or Oscar Micheaux.”
Asante’s presentation was followed by an opportunity for students to ask him questions. Questions ranged from, “Who would you want to play you in your movie?” to “What was your biggest inspiration for writing your book?”
Once all the students’ questions had been answered, a few students had the opportunity to give spoken word presentations on empowerment that were judged by teachers and a guest judge. The friendly competition was meant to encourage students to take their experiences and turn them into expressive verses that depict empowerment.