What's good world. Listen up. This young man has something to say. Inspired by the music artist Big K.R.I.T.'s Erykah Badu-sampled, melodic track "Kings Blues", the appropriately titled King Without A Crown is a "call to arms" for a generation of "standouts in the superficial". In 2011, fresh off a college degree and shaken by a failed attempt at professional football, Atlanta-born and bred 22-year old Afu Okosun found himself at the lowest of lows. After homelessness, unemployment and "the real world" forced him even closer to God, what started out as a "vent" of sorts turned into his personal address to the world. Armed with nothing but four walls, a laptop, and a vision, K.W.A.C. was birthed. In the book, the self proclaimed "generational activist" takes you on a transparent journey into his world growing up in an African household on the south side of Atlanta and the trial and error he experienced finding his way into manhood. From there, he goes on to challenge his peers on issues such as self-identity, relationships, and purpose, to name a few. K.W.A.C.'s emotional, uncut delivery is sure to leave you speechless at times but it will also reaffirm the dream of leaders past, albeit in a new form, alive and well in this generation. Where does a generation turn when it lacks direction? Who among us will press the issues that need to be addressed? When will we step up to the responsibility of being leaders and not followers? And two years later, the question still remains... What's a King Without A Crown?
About the Author: Born and raised on the southside of Atlanta, Afu Okosun's life has been anything but mundane. An American born, African son raised by a single mother of two, he was raised with the privilege of seeing life through two lenses. Thrown into athletics at an early age, Okosun developed a passion and skill for the game of football. Okosun turned this skill into a full scholarship that afforded him the opportunity to attend college and, so he thought, fulfill his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. 5 years later, degree in hand, he was forced with the harsh reality that his lifelong goal and dream would not be obtained. Stuck between this rock and hard place, Okosun was forced to make a decision that would change the course of his life. All of his life, Okosun had displayed a sense of wisdom and maturity that surpassed his age. This quality enabled him to be seen as a confidant, mentor and counselor to many of the people in his life and those who he came in contact with. So one day while riding back home contemplating his life, as usual, he was given a thought that he had never before seen as feasible. His best friend had told him the week prior, "...man as much as you stay helping and counseling people, just imagine if you had a degree behind that and turned it into a profession..." Realizing what he needed to do, Okosun immediately set into action. Months of sleeping on couches and unemployment forced him to humble himself and find any means necessary to get on his feet. Door-to-door sales, part time retail and server jobs, along with support from loved ones, saw him get an apartment. He had nothing to his name but his car, the apartment, two couches that had been given to him...and a laptop. Thus, K.W.A.C. was birthed. The book, entitled King Without A Crown, is Okosun's introduction to the world and wake-up call for a generation. The Big K.R.I.T. inspired short read is aimed at grabbing the attention of young people just like him. The 24-year old self-proclaimed "generational activist" is using K.W.A.C. as a "call to arms" to his generation, especially young black men, to aspire for more than 15 minutes of fame, but to make an impact in the world that will be felt for generations. A "student" of the late, great Tupac Shakur, Okosun sees the need for us all to acknowledge and deal with our vices as 'Pac did, but be bold enough to do more than just enough. With role models like that, the best bet is that you've only just begun to hear about Mr. Okosun.