I grew up in Bakersfield, California and graduated from Bakersfield High School. I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to Stanford University where I majored in French.

I worked with Akan students and teachers in Ghana for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching French in a rural boarding high school. Being the school’s only female teacher at the time, I was placed in charge of the girls’ dormitory. I credit my students and colleagues with teaching me about my school duties and the Akan culture.

Returning to the U.S. with plans to tell Americans about Africa, I earned an MA in African history at UCLA.  As an elementary school teacher in the Eugene, Oregon public schools, I developed and taught many units on African history and culture. 

I learned quickly that there is little for young people to read about Africa and few illustrations of African cultures in any historical period. I wrote We Are Akan in response. It is a richly illustrated work of historical fiction that is also an introduction to African history. Visit me at www.dorothybrownsoper.com to hear recordings of the Akan language and see resources for educators.