Kamal Ben Ali is known throughout the Washington metropolitan area as a scion of the District-based Ben’s Chili Bowl restaurant chain and for his work as an anti-violence activist, and now he’s added another feather in his cap of activities: that of an author.
Ali has written a book, “Ascend: The Black Man’s Guide to Education, Success and Purpose,” published by BAM Publishing and is in the distribution stages digitally and manually.
The chairman of the Ben’s Chili Bowl said he wrote the book because of what he observed and experienced throughout his life as an employee of his parents business as well as a man living in the national capital area.
“This is a book of intentionality, written specifically for us and by us because only we have the answers to our own upliftment,” said Ali in the book’s introduction. “Iron sharpens iron. Ascend is more than a book. More than just words on a page. It’s a lifestyle, a daily practice, and a lifelong journey.”
Ali’s book comes out as some District entrepreneurs and business leaders write books to express their thoughts on their lives, the world around them and business topics.
Andy Shallal, owner of the Busboys and Poets has written a book, “A Seat at the Table” that was released weeks before Ali’s book, while Black billionaire hotelier and sports franchise co-owner Sheila Johnson has produced “Walk Through Fire: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Triumph” in 2023.
The Rev. Keith A. Battle, senior pastor at Zion Baptist Church, wrote the book’s “Foreword” and said Ali did more than just put words on paper.
“Some people take the journey of writing a book as a life goal,” he said. “It’s kind of an aspiration, or something that is on their bucket list. But others are uniquely chosen to write and to communicate important messaging to the broader community and world through writing. Their writing is not an ambition but an assignment. For them, authorship is not just a dream, it’s a calling. Ben Ali is truly an example of the latter and ‘Ascend’ is a gift to all who are blessed by its content.”
Ali Explains the Rationale of ‘Ascend’
Ascend is written in a conversational manner with an emphasis on positive reinforcement. It contrasts with some books written by business leaders that tend to be self-promoting and preachy, and Ali wanted to avoid that.
“It is important for young people to have a game plan,” he told The Informer. “Each chapter outlines step by step ways for people to improve their lives. Black men have dealt with a lot of trauma in their lives and they need a road map on how to get things right.”
Ali, 63, said the book encourages people to control their actions and to be thankful for what they have.
“A lot of people didn’t wake up today,” he said. “We need to understand how blessed we truly are.”
Using a famous sports duo, he said it was important that people need others to succeed.
“There would be no Michael Jordan if there wasn’t a Scottie Pippen,” he said, referring to the Chicago Bulls NBA championship teams of the 1990s.
Ali touches on topics such as forgiveness, letting go of past hurts, having an attitude of gratitude, as a man thinketh, and having the faith of a mustard seed.
“We all have the tremendous capacity to grow into being the person we want to be,” he said. “If you want more, it is possible to have. God has it all available to you.”
The businessman said a book tour is in the works and he wants to go to every HBCU to promote his written work and what he is trying to do as an advocate.
“It is important that we continue to keep working on ourselves,” he emphasized.
Ali’s biggest fan— his mother, the legendary Virginia Ali, the co-founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl— loves “Ascend.”
“It is a good book,” she told The Informer at the U Street NW location, adding that her son’s book should be required reading for all young people. “You have to work hard in order to be a success. Nothing in life comes easy. It helps a lot if you have the right attitude.”
