Feature Interview: Frank James IV, Author of "From Howe Street To Accra"

In the recently released book "From Howe Street To Accra," author Frank James IV talks about his experience in the city of Accra, capital of the West African country of Ghana while producing the film "Coming To Africa." James describes how the relationships, beautiful people, and work experiences opened him up in various ways as a black man coming from America to Africa. 

“Great Books, Great Minds” recently had the opportunity to talk with James about his memorable encounters in Ghana and the significance they will forever have on his life. 

What led you to write “From Howe Street to Accra?” 

I decided to write it after having returned from Accra, Ghana to the U.S. in the summer of 2019. I had been thinking about this project while in Accra, the concept of visiting Africa and detailing my experiences. The added fact that I was working on a movie made the concept all the richer.

Did you begin writing it while in Ghana? 

Honestly, while I was in Accra I was too busy working on the film.  All I could do was take notes for the book. But when I returned to the U.S. people were curious about what I had done while in Accra. When I shared with them what I experienced and accomplished in Accra, it blew them away. The responses I received just from sharing my trip with a few people made me realize that the book concept I had while in Accra was a good one. 

Can you describe the process leading to your writing the book? 

I looked over some of the notes I had taken while in Accra and began writing the rough draft while the images and memories were still fresh in my mind. The good news is that I’ve been writing all my life, professionally for around 15 years. I have written two other books that were published: No Sell Out: Ten Years in the Life of a Black Man and Too Perfect along with having contributed articles over the years to various magazines. I also have my own column in The Milwaukee Times called, Being Frank. I am also an alumnus of DePaul University with a MA in Journalism.

What advice do you have for those interested in traveling to Ghana? 

My advice is to be prepared to be overwhelmed by the city. Accra is a major city that dispels many images that some have of the African continent. When I first walked out of the airport in Accra, I realized that I was in a big city with aspects similar to any major metropolitan area. The first 30 minutes of being in the city of Accra was a kaleidoscope of images that I’ll never forget. From the architecture of the buildings to the flow of the traffic was totally impressive to me. 

And what were the people of Ghana like? 

The people of Accra were some of the friendliest I have ever encountered. I received nothing but love, as they say, from the people I interacted with while in Accra. This positive vibe came from everyone I met. Even famous actors like Nana Ama McBrown and David Dontoh were nice and cordial towards me. I felt accepted by the people in Accra which allowed me to relax.  This vibe was of great benefit to me as I went about doing my work there. 

Tell us more about how this project in Accra came about?

It was the opportunity to go to Accra that made me accept the Assistant Director position on the film “Coming to Africa.” It turned out to be one of the best working decisions I have ever made in my life. Not so much for the chance to work on the film, but the wonderful experiences and beautiful people I met while in Accra. 

The energy and vibe you keep referring to. Can you share more? 

Sure. In my opinion, the people of Accra are the treasure. The positive vibe I picked up from everyone I met was invigorating in itself. I know many talk about the mineral deposits that Africa has as their best resource. To me, it is the people. From my observations, the people in Accra live in harmony with themselves and one another. By way of example, we went to a club one night called Kiki Bees, and the vibe, atmosphere, and the people in the place were so soothing that I couldn’t help but smile. The positive and harmonious energy I felt throughout my time in Accra helped me come back to the USA both physically and mentally stronger.

So what did you personally discover about yourself during your time there? 

I discovered in Accra that I had created walls around myself that had easily become a prison. I had shut myself off from almost everyone and everything while living a solitary lifestyle. In Accra I found myself enjoying having people around me again. I was around people for literally 24-hours a day. The beautiful vibe I received from the people of Accra enabled me to come out of my shell as they say. 

Describe what it felt like to emerge from that shell.

In my case, my shell had become a suit of armor like Iron Man. The only difference was that mine was not so cool. In Accra, I began to rethink how I viewed certain things like Hip Hop music. I also began to understand how some of my past decisions were not incorrect but rather the right choice for me at the time. More importantly, I understood that I was not a prisoner of those decisions and could do anything I wanted to now. I decided to once again step back into the world and set about living my life to my full potential. Writing “From Howe Street to Accra” was a step towards manifesting the life I have now chosen.

What sort of misconceptions do you believe people have about Africa?

I believe that one of the biggest misconceptions some people have is the level of modernization of the country. I can say for a fact that Accra has many of the physical comforts that you have in the USA. The house we stayed in, Klassic House was a mini-mansion. There were flat-screen TV’s in every room along with jacuzzi bathtubs. People in Accra drive high-end cars like Mercedes and Porsche, just like in the U.S. In any major country or city, if a person has money they live like it. 

And Accra?

In this regard, Accra is no different from any major city in the world. The one difference in Accra is the number of black people. The people there are extremely friendly and pleasant to be around. Accra has everything you would expect from a modern city.

In closing, what do you most want readers of your book to walk away with?

I want readers to come away from my book feeling good about the read. I want the reader to think, “That was an interesting and nice read.” I want the reader to also feel as if they have been to Accra through my eyes and desire to see it in real-time through their own. Once the reader finishes the book I hope they have a clearer and better concept of Accra, Ghana. If the reader had previous thoughts about visiting the country, then after reading my book they will decide to visit Accra. If the reader never thought about visiting Accra, after finishing the book maybe they will start thinking about making the trip. My final hope is that the reader says, “That Frank James IV is a pretty good writer. I’d recommend his work to other people.”