Fritz Pointer, from Oakland, California, is a graduate of Creighton University (B.A.-English) UCLA (M.A. - African History) and U. of Wisconsin, Madison (M.A. - African Literature). He has taught African Studies and English at Merritt College (Oakland, CA.) Golden Gate University (San Francisco, CA) Humboldt State University (Arcata, CA.), Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), and is presently Chair of the Department of English at Contra Costa College (San Pablo, CA). His wife, Liziwe Kunene, born in Cape Town, South Africa, is Dean of Students at California College of Arts and Crafts (Oakland, CA). They have four children: Thiyane, Somori, Nandi and Shegun. His sisters are the internationally known Pointer Sisters.