BALTIMORE, April 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On February 12, 2025, Trudie Cloyd – WHO’S WHO IN BLACK (WWIB) Director of Operations – sent an email message to Dr. Zekeh Gbotokuma. The Subject line read, “Congratulations from Who’s Who in Black Baltimore!” The short message read, “Your information has been vetted, and your photo and bio will be included in the 2025 Who’s Who in Black Baltimore 2nd Edition.” Highlight this honor on your socials by clicking below to get your custom frame. […]. The message also provided information regarding WWIB’s Book unveiling event. Excited about the news, Dr. Gbotokuma registered and reserved a Table for 10 + 10 WWIB Baltimore Books. This was done a week before the event when all tickets were sold out very quickly due to the event’s popularity. It took special arrangements by the organizers and the hotel to accommodate late registrations. Hakuna matata. In the past, Gbotokuma penned numerous op-eds and commentaries published in The AFRO American newspaper (https://afro.com/author/dr-zekeh-s-gbotokuma/). It was through this newspaper that the Who’s Who in Baltimore call for nominations was made a few months ago. The celebration of African American achievement is of utmost importance given the current sociopolitical predicament in the U.S. Reference is to the ongoing unjust war on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and democracy. The current administration has waged this unjust war through clearly racist and sexist Executive Orders such as, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (EO 14173) and “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” (EO 14563), the Smithsonian Order targeting the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Order essentially excludes Black and African American contributions to “American greatness.” The April 9 celebration of 300 honorees along with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and MD First Lady Mrs. Moore was an effective response to the “trickle-down racism” (Mitt Romney) that has permeated the MAGA modus operandi.
Dr. Zekeh Gbotokuma – one of 300 hundred WWIBB Honorees (in the Middle) and Morgan State University Colleagues at the Networking Reception at Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. From the right to the left: GCLA Dean Mbare Ngom; Prof. Ali; Prof. Gbotokuma, and a Morgan S. University student
Dr. Zekeh Gbotokuma – one of 300 hundred WWIBB Honorees (in the Middle) and Morgan State University Colleagues at the Networking Reception at Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. From the right to the left: GCLA Dean Mbare Ngom; Prof. Ali; Prof. Gbotokuma, and a Morgan S. University student
PROMOTION – After four international awards including three literary prizes for his social change book OBAMANOMICS AND FRANCISCONOMICS , Gbotokuma was delighted to earn a local one. He accepted Baltimore’s recognition as the local confirmation of his international accolades and belongingness to the city. This recognition coincided with another one, his “well-deserved” promotion to Full Professor of Philosophy at MSU, a Historically Black College & University (HBCU). In a letter to Gbotokuma, Morgan’s President Dr. David Wilson wrote, “After careful evaluation of your materials, you have been promoted to Professor in the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies […]. Congratulations on the success of your achievements in the areas of teaching, research, and service. Thank you for the contributions you have made to Morgan State University.” These two recognitions in the same year are a good reason for a double celebration with family and friends at the WWIBB Honorees Soirée.
WWIBB celebrates local African American achievement in various industries such as business, politics, tech, sports, entertainment, education, etc.
DR. GBOTOKUMA is a Congolese American, polyglot, lexicographer, three-time award-winning author – Italy 2022 & 2023; Literary Global 2023 – and globetrotter who refers to himself as a ‘cosmocitizen.’ After 12 years in Europe as An international student and worker in Italy, France, UK, and Germany, respectively, he is currently a Full Professor of Philosophy at MSU. His “extraordinary commitment to global learning and international understanding” made him the recipient of the prestigious DR. SANDYE JEAN MCINTYRE, II INTERNATIONAL AWARD 2008. He is the founding president of Polyglots in Action for Diversity, Inc. (PAD), one of “the Key Figures in the African Intellectual Revolution ( QUORA https://qr.ae/pvo3tD ), and one of Afrimpact Magazine‘s “Most Influential Persons” 2017 and 2021. His publications include, inter alia, the award-winning book, Obamanomics and Francisconomics; Global Safari; A Polyglot Pocket Dictionary of Lingala, English, French, and Italian; A Pan-African Encyclopedia.
CONTACT: Dr. Zekeh Gbotokuma, [email protected] Tel.: 443 622 3033
SOURCE Polyglots in Action for Diversity, Inc.
