Kazemde Ajamu is an author, cultural strategist, entrepreneur, publisher and community builder. His work moves through books, business, education, media and civic leadership, but it grows from one conviction: Black people already possess knowledge, ability and experience of great value. Those strengths become collective capacity when they are connected to purpose and made available to those who follow.
Books, business, public service and community leadership are not separate lanes in Ajamu’s life. Each is part of the same effort to preserve knowledge, strengthen institutions and leave others with the capacity to continue.
Ajamu is the author of Think Black: The Manifesto and Trusting the Eyes Behind You. His writing examines cultural memory, trust, responsibility, leadership, economic and political power, and the institutions needed to carry valuable work beyond the person who began it. Grounded in African history, cultural continuity and collective responsibility, he invites readers across backgrounds into questions of history, responsibility and the choices communities must make now.
At Akoma Coffee & Books, the Black-owned cultural bookstore and coffeehouse he owns in Stonecrest, Georgia, Ajamu brings literature and community gathering into the same space. As Executive Director of Black Dot Cultural Center & Leadership Academy, he carries that purpose into youth development, literacy, leadership, civic engagement and community advancement. As Publisher of Black Dot Publishing, Inc., he supports the development and circulation of Black books and voices. Through The Urban Politician, the civic and political media platform he created and hosts, he brings public issues into conversation with community responsibility and action.
Ajamu serves as Vice Chair of the Lithonia Housing Authority and works with 100 Black Men of DeKalb County, where he co-chairs the 2027 Men’s Conference and helps shape The Bridge newsletter. Through Black Man Lab, he helps create room for Black men to speak honestly, learn from one another and grow together.
Kazemde means ambassador. He understands the name as a responsibility to connect ideas rooted in African history, culture and collective responsibility with the larger Black community without making defensiveness the first thing people encounter. The same responsibility shapes his family life. He and his wife, Robin Blount, share a blended family that includes three daughters and a son. With six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, what moves from one generation to another is more than the subject of his writing.
Across his public life, Ajamu returns to the same question: how do we build in ways that allow others to continue? His work helps Black people recognize what has survived, strengthen what remains and leave the next generation with more than individual examples of success by placing knowledge, institutions, relationships and the capacity to move forward within their reach.
A call to examine cultural identity, collective purpose and the responsibility to build.
A journey into rebuilding trust within ourselves, our families and our communities.
Originating from the vibrant streets of North Jersey, Ajamu harbored an early aspiration to effect change within his community. Initially daunted by the perceived financial barriers to making an impact, he spent two decades honing a versatile skill set in sales and marketing across the mortgage banking and automotive sectors. Parallel to his professional development, Ajamu embarked on a profound personal quest, delving into African history and socio-political issues. This exploration ignited a transformation in 1989, leading him to a path of integrating positive Black messaging into his endeavors.
Deepening his connection with his African heritage, Ajamu sought wisdom from elder Baba Mwalimu Baruti in 2012, contemplating a significant personal transformation: a name change reflecting his values and aspirations. By April 2014, with Baruti’s guidance, he embraced the name Adigun Kazemde Ajamu, symbolizing righteousness, ambassadorship, and the determination to achieve one’s desires. A naming ceremony in November 2014 further cemented his identity and leadership within the community.
In 2013, Ajamu ventured into the realm of digital media with The Urban Politician Show, partnering with producer Ronnie Burnett, Sr. This initiative marked the beginning of a prolific phase, culminating in the publication of “Think Black: The Manifesto” in 2014 and the launch of Ajamu, Inc., alongside its legacy t-shirt line, Ajamu Designs. The “Think Black…It’s Okay” collection rapidly gained traction, echoing Ajamu’s message nationwide.
Despite these achievements, Ajamu’s ambition soared higher. He envisioned a unifying platform for his people, leading to the creation of the Black Dot brand. Symbolizing the essence of Blackness, the Black Dot serves as a conduit to ancestral wisdom and collective consciousness. The Black Dot Cultural Center and Bookstore emerged as a sanctuary for community engagement, learning, and cultural celebration.
Ajamu’s commitment to uplifting the Black community is unwavering. Black Dot stands as a haven for self-expression and enlightenment, offering resources that resonate with the spirit, history, and psychological well-being of its patrons. Beyond expanding a brand, Ajamu extends his legacy through every facet of Black Dot.
Living in Lithonia, Georgia, Adigun Kazemde Ajamu is a pillar of devotion to both his family and community, affectionately hailed as Baba Kaz. Married to his beloved Robin for over two decades, he is a father to three daughters, a grandfather to six, and a great-grandfather to two. Adding to his multifaceted contributions, Baba Kaz has founded Pages to Profit Publishing, expanding his influence into the literary world. Through his nonprofit, the Black Dot Cultural Center & Leadership Academy, and engaging public talks, he advocates for education, respect among generations, and active involvement within the Black community. Baba Kaz’s relentless support for Black enterprises and his promotion of the Think Black ethos reflect a life committed to fostering empowerment and cohesion.
Invite Kazemde
Kazemde Ajamu is available for selected author talks, panel discussions, moderated conversations, workshops, and speaking engagements. Drawing from his experience as an author, bookseller, entrepreneur, civic leader, and institution builder, he brings a practical perspective to conversations about publishing, Black economics, leadership, community development, and building institutions that can continue beyond their founders.
Author Talks • Guest Speaking • Panel Discussions • Moderated Conversations • Workshops