Bashir Muhammad Akinyele, Community Contributor

Bashir Muhammad Akinyele was born in Newark, NJ on January 23, 1969. He grew up in predominately Afrikan American communities of Newark and East Orange, NJ. He graduated from Newark Tech HS in 1987, and then he went on to matriculate at Essex County College (E.C.C) on a track scholarship. His first year and a half at E.C.C, he struggled academically. He could run very fast, but he had no serious interest in college. He figured to himself that after his scholarship runs out, he would leave school and join the US Marines. Two things happened in his life that would forever change his life and propel him to become a straight “A” student, graduate from E.C.C, graduate from Seton Hall University with honors, study at Columbia University’s Graduate school, become a 24 year educator, and 30 year community activist! He met two brothers. One brother named Dr. Lenworth Gunther, a history professor at E.C.C and another brother named Edward Haleem Riley, a student at E.C.C and member of the Nation of Islam. Both of these brothers were able to prick his consciousness, inspired him to become a teacher, and committed community activist in the African American community and in the human community!