M. K. Asante facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
M. K. Asante
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Asante speaking at Amend Conference in 2024
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| Born | November 3, 1982 Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Occupation |
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television University of London, SOAS Lafayette College |
| Genre | Memoir, creative nonfiction, poetry, hip-hop, African-American literature, documentary |
| Notable works | Buck: A Memoir; Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony |
| Parents | Molefi Kete Asante and Kariamu Welsh |
| YouTube information | |
| Subscribers | 67,900 |
| Total views | 33.4 million |
| Subscriber and view counts updated as of 3 June 2025. | |
M. K. Asante (born November 3, 1982) is an American author, filmmaker, and professor. He also writes songs and performs music. He is well-known for his best-selling book, Buck: A Memoir, which came out in 2013. His second memoir, Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony, was published in 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Education
M. K. Asante was born in Harare, Zimbabwe. He grew up in Philadelphia, USA. His father, Molefi Kete Asante, is a scholar, and his mother, Kariamu Welsh, is a choreographer.
Asante went to The Crefeld School in Philadelphia. He later studied film and literature at SOAS University of London. He earned a degree in Africana Studies and English from Lafayette College. He also received a master's degree in screenwriting from UCLA School of Theater Film and Television.
Career Highlights
M. K. Asante has had a busy career as a writer, filmmaker, and musician. He has created many different types of works.
Writing Books
Asante has written five books. His most famous book is Buck: A Memoir. This book, published in 2013, tells the story of his challenging youth in Philadelphia.
Buck became a popular book. It was chosen by Barnes & Noble as a "Discover Great New Writers" selection. It also appeared on The Washington Post's bestseller list in 2014 and 2015. The famous poet Maya Angelou, who was Asante's mentor, praised Buck. She said it was a story about "surviving and thriving with passion, compassion, wit, and style."
His second memoir, Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony, was released in May 2024. Reviewers have praised this book. Kirkus Reviews called it a "passionate, moving, spirited" book about how art can help people. Library Journal gave it a top review, saying it was a "treasure" and "likely to become a classic."
Making Films
Asante is a Sundance Institute Feature Film Fellow. This means he is working on turning his memoir Buck into a movie.
He wrote and produced a documentary called 500 Years Later in 2005. This film is about the history of slavery. It won an award from UNESCO.
Asante also directed and produced The Black Candle in 2012. This documentary is about Kwanzaa. Maya Angelou helped write and narrate it.
In 2021, he helped write short films for the NBA Finals on ABC. These films were directed by Spike Lee.
Giving Lectures and Writing Essays
M. K. Asante has given important talks at many universities. These include Yale University and Harvard University. He has also given graduation speeches at places like UCLA.
His work is featured in a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibit is called Changing America: 1968 and Beyond.
He has written essays for major newspapers and websites. These include USA Today and The New York Times. His essays cover topics like art, hip hop, and technology.
Creating Music
Asante is a recording artist. He was featured on the song "Bangers" from the album Indie 500. This album was made by Talib Kweli and 9th Wonder.
He also founded Wonderful Sound Studios.
As a songwriter, he wrote lyrics for the official Monday Night Football anthem. This song is called "In the Air Tonight." It is a cover of a song by Phil Collins. The new version is performed by Snoop Dogg, Chris Stapleton, and Cindy Blackman Santana.
Teaching and Academia
M. K. Asante became a professor at Morgan State University when he was 23. He became a tenured professor (meaning he had a permanent position) just three years later. He is currently an associate professor there. He teaches creative writing and film. In 2017, he was also a special professor at the MICA (Institute of Strategic Marketing and Communication) in India.
In 2021, he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from Morgan State University. In 2025, he received an honorary degree from Lafayette College.
TV Shows
Asante hosts and helps produce While Black with MK Asante. This is a docuseries made for Snapchat. The show shares stories from young Black Americans. It has been watched by nearly 17 million viewers.
TV Performances
Asante has performed on television for large audiences. In November 2020, he performed "We the Eagles" on ESPN's Monday Night Football. Over 11 million people watched this performance.
In May 2021, he performed "Skate or D.I.E." at the 2021 Dew Tour Skateboarding Olympic qualifier on NBC.
In October 2021, he helped write, produce, and star in the introduction for an ESPN Monday Night Football game. He was backed by the Morgan State University Marching Band. This introduction was also seen by 11.4 million viewers.
Awards and Honors
M. K. Asante has received many awards for his work.
- 2002: Jean Corrie Poetry Prize – Academy of American Poets
- 2005: Best Documentary (500 Years Later) – Pan African Film Festival
- 2006: Best International Documentary (500 Years Later) – Harlem International Film Festival
- 2007: Breaking the Chains Award (500 Years Later) – United Nations' UNESCO
- 2009: Langston Hughes Award from the Langston Hughes Society
- 2013: Discover Great New Writers (Buck: A Memoir) – Barnes & Noble
- 2014: Washington Post Bestseller List (Buck: A Memoir)
- 2014: Alex Award finalist (Buck: A Memoir) – American Library Association
- 2014: Feature Film Program Fellow – Sundance Institute
- 2014: Outstanding Literary Work – Autobiography finalist (Buck: A Memoir) – NAACP Image Awards
- 2014: In the Margins Book Award (Buck: A Memoir)
- 2015: Washington Post Bestseller List (Buck: A Memoir)
- 2017: Distinguished Professor-in-Residence – MICA (Institute of Strategic Marketing and Communication)
- 2020: Best in Social Activism (Finalist) – Shorty Awards (While Black with MK Asante)
- 2021: Presidential Citation – MSU Distinguished Achievement Award – Morgan State University
- 2024: Sports EMMY for Outstanding Opening/Tease – "In the Air" Monday Night Football – Sports Emmy Awards
- 2024: Earphones Award - AudioFile (Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony)
- 2024: Outstanding Audiobook Narration - American Library Association (Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony)
- 2025: In the Margins Book Award for Nonfiction (Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony)
- 2025: Honorary Degree, Doctor of Arts – Lafayette College
Books by M. K. Asante
- Like Water Running Off My Back (2002)
- Beautiful. And Ugly Too (2005)
- It's Bigger Than Hip Hop (2008)
- Buck: A Memoir (2013)
- Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony (2024)
Films by M. K. Asante
- 500 Years Later (2005)
- The Black Candle (2008)
- Buck (in development)
TV Shows by M. K. Asante
- While Black with MK Asante (2019–2021)
- Free Tuition with MK Asante (2020–2021)
- Paid in Full (2024)
Music by M. K. Asante
Songwriting
- 2023-2026: "In the Air Tonight" – for Monday Night Football
Albums
- 2015: Buck: Original Book Soundtrack
Singles
- 2013: "The Color Grey"
- 2014: "My Victory" (featuring Maya Angelou)
- 2014: "The Bulletin"
- 2015: "Young Bucks"
- 2020: "We the Eagles"
- 2021: "Skate or D.I.E."
Features
- 2013: "Godz N The Hood"
- 2015: "Rap Psalms"
- 2015: "Bangers"
- 2016: "Runnin"
