Born in Valdosta,
Georgia, on August 14, 1942, Dr. Molefe Kete Asante attended UCLA and received
his PhD at the age of 26. He is considered by many to have reached the upper
echelon of scholarship. He is also a poet, dramatist, painter and gardener.
Currently, he is Professor and chairperson of the Department of African American
Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. The opportunities of this tenure
have not been missed. His work has produced the first doctoral program in
African American Studies in the world. He is also the founder of the Afrocentric
Philosophical Movement and the Afrocentric Institute. As a writer, he has
written and published more than thirty-three books in addition to writing
more than two hundred scholarly articles. He is credited with publishing more
books than any of his contemporary peers. His works have been translated into
Spanish, French and Chinese. He reads French German, Kiswahili and some Spanish.
He is a quotable resource on issues affecting the African world including
African history, culture and philosophy and has received honorary degrees
and awards for his educational and academic achievements. He is chairperson
of the Board of GRIO, and educational magazine and founding editor of Journal
of black Studies. In other respects, he is a member of the Institute for Black
Peoples, and International Association of African Intellectuals from 4 continents.
He has spoken on more than 250 campuses. His dialectical skills are demonstrated
in his discussion of issues such as Afrocentricity, multiculturalism and Khemet.