Early Years
Molefi Asante was born in 1942 in Valdosta, Georgia and raised in South Central Los Angeles. His parents were members of the working class, and he was the youngest of seven children. His early years were shaped by the civil rights struggles of the time, and his parents instilled in him a strong sense of justice, equality, and self-determination.
Personal Life
Asante attended Los Angeles Community College, where he earned an Associate’s degree in Sociology in 1965. He then went on to study at California State University, Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1967. In 1971, he completed his Ph.D. in Communication Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Career
Asante worked as a professor of African-American Studies, first at San Francisco State University and then at Temple University. In 1984, he founded the first doctoral program in African-American Studies at Temple University. In addition to teaching, Asante has authored more than 50 books, including “African Intellectual Heritage: A Book of Sources” and “Kemet, Afrocentricity, and Knowledge.”
Accomplishments
Asante’s accomplishments include being a major proponent of Afrocentricity, and a leader in the Black Arts Movement. He is a champion of Black studies, and a leading advocate for the recognition of African-American contributions to the world. In addition, he has received numerous awards and honors, including the American Book Award and the NAACP Image Award.
