Salem State University kicked off its 86th anniversary celebration of Black History Month in February, with a special Feb. 6 appearance by renowned poet, award-winning author, speaker and filmmaker M.K. Asante.
Speaking in the MLK Room at the Ellison Campus Center, Asante not only recited some of his poetry, but talked about his journey to becoming the person that he is today.
He started off by talking about his experience during a visit to a prison in Pennsylvania for a writer's workshop. Asante said he saw first-hand how the prisoners lived, and was able to see what their prison cells looked like.
He explained how people usually have misconceptions of prisoners and their intelligence and creativity. The people he met in prison were smart, and had great stories to tell. Asante emphasized one man in particular that he met named Jordan.
Jordan was a great writer and stood out from the rest of the population. When he came across Jordan's cell he noticed something different, but couldn't quite put his finger on it, but then it finally came to him.
Jordan didn't have a bed. Asante grew angry and suggested that Jordan tell the guards about it. Jordan explained to him that he did in fact have a mattress, but he felt like in a place like this he couldn't trust comfort.
Jude Zephir, a senior at Salem State, said Asante was uplifting and was an inspiration to all of the students here.
"I only hope to accomplish half of what he has in the future, he is a great inspiration to people of color like myself," Zephir said, Asante also compared Jordan's situation to art.
"Art is supposed to remove the mattress from under us, art is suppose to make us feel uncomfortable," he said.
Asante also had many more analogies and situations that he compares to every development of creativity in his life. "If you have an observation, you have an obligation," he added.
Asante studied at the University of London, and earned his bachelor's degree from Lafayette College and a Master's of Fine Arts from the UCLA School of Film and Television.
In addition to his accomplishments in the academic field, he has written three books, has created three different films, has made appearances and spoken around the world, and has written numerous poems and spoken word pieces.
His last book, "It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop," was published by St. Martin's Press and released to the public in 2008. The "Los Angeles Times" called it "an empowering book that moves you…" Asante will also be releasing another book in 2013.
A recent film Asante completed is called "The Black Candle." He worked alongside renowned poet Dr. Maya Angelou. Asante said she was someone that has been a major inspiration to him his entire life, and working with her was one of the greatest experiences he has ever had.
What's even more amazing about Asante is he became a professor at the age of 23. Today he holds a position at Morgan State University in the English department as a professor of creative writing and film.
"One of the reasons why I do what I do is so that I can set an example for people of color to make something of themselves," he said.
During his appearance at Salem State he read a few of his poems, one of which was entitled "Two sets of notes."
He said he wrote this in regards to his experiences and observations, which he bases most of his career and life lessons on. Asante was just one part of the events that will be taking place at Salem State in honor of Black History Month. Other events involve "open mic night," a dinner, and so much more to celebrate thedifferent experiences and journeys that people of color have had to overcome through the years.
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