Meet Kingsley Osei | Teacher, Author, Poet and Philanthropist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kingsley Osei and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kingsley, can you tell us about an impactful book you’ve read and why you liked it or what impact it had on you?
Growing up and throughout my high school years, I was an avid fan of the work of the late greats Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. Books such as Sula, Beloved, and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings were stories that did a phenomenal job of revealing the complexities of Black Lives. It also entailed the African American struggle and vividly painted a picture for the reader from a woman’s point of view. This, however, fascinated me in many ways during my teen years. As a result, I was very interested in books like these.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a full-time elementary teacher by day and a writer by night. I’ve been teaching for about nine years, and I must say it’s been indeed a blessing. I can truthfully say my students keep me going and motivate me as an educator, writer, and author. Every book and title I have created has been written with a purpose. I stand firmly on including diversity and characters of color in my books, so children worldwide have to relate and connect to these same characters. I believe representation is a crucial factor for kids, and it’s extremely important for them to have this connection. If they’re able to see themselves in stories, it not only inspires them to be great, but they can also achieve to be whatever they want in a sense. Although I am proud to receive numerous book awards, one thing is for sure, I am also proud to create books of this nature for them, and I’ll continue to do so. I dedicated my latest children’s book, “Eyes on the Prize,” to them. I want them to always go for their dreams and never let anyone steer them off their path. This book is a constant reminder of that!

Like my students and their source of inspiration, I want to say this wouldn’t be possible without a person who inspired me immensely earlier in my life, my fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Smith. Not only was he my first African American male teacher, but he also pushed us academically, and that remained with me forever, way into my adulthood. You work hard, and play hard was his motto. It was also the age when I truly began taking writing seriously. I had been exposed to and grown to love it in second grade, but when I entered fourth grade, my introduction to in-depth poetry and diverse titles made me have a profound love for reading and writing.

Every journey isn’t easy, though. There are always some challenges that may steer you off the road in life. For example, it hasn’t always been easy to publish my books. It can be stressful, to say the least, from tons of rejections here and there, which I’ve heard along the way from previous publishers, to the task of getting a children’s book out. However, a strong support system can be relieving at times, both with family and friends. Family is incredibly important in my eyes, and my late father was one person who always pushed me to go for my dreams – no matter what they were.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
New York City is full and rich in different cultures and diverse areas, and phenomenal nightlife spots. It’s also full of places where you can find incredible meals as well. For example, suppose I had a friend visiting for a week-long trip. In that case, some places I’d say they can visit are Angels of Harlem, Isla Cafe, Shanghai Red, Made in Puerto Rico, Inwood Bar and Grill, Havana Tacos, Olivia’s in the Bronx, Plush 101, Corner Social, Bronx Drafthouse and G-Bar. These are all great locations to grab a bite to eat and have some fun times with your friends. If you also want to get some of the best tattoos and clothing within The Bronx, some locations to visit are The Bronx Native shop and Brass Knuckles Ink. Great people and excellent service. Shout out to them!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s great to be back here on Voyage ATL. Thanks for having me again. Well, where do I begin? If I can give a shoutout, it wouldn’t necessarily be just one person. I want to take the time to acknowledge all the love and support I’ve received over the years. Whether it be from all of my fans and readers, it doesn’t stop there. Special thanks to all educators and consumers who’ve purchased my books. It feels great to see my books within your classrooms. I want to thank the Story Monsters family personally, my immediate family, my friends over at Little Tokens Foundation, my fiancee, and, most of all, my colleagues–old and new who have gone above and beyond to show me love along the way. Also, special shoutout to the one and only Shannon Griffin, a phenomenal educator and book blogger, who I had the opportunity to work on two projects over the last year.

Website: https://www.koseiofficial.shop/

Instagram: @authorkingsleyosei

Twitter: @youngkingz12

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingsleyosei12