KOFI'S FIRE: A Spark of Resistance

KOFI'S FIRE: A Spark of Resistance is an immersive journey into the embers of the 1741 uprising of enslaved people in New York City, through the lens of an interactive graphic novel. This purpose-driven project transcends the boundaries of traditional history books, breathing life into often overlooked figures by weaving their stories and likenesses into the fabric of a graphic novel.

Based on a true story that was documented through biased accounts, we are unsure of whether Kofi was guilty of the crime of which he was convicted. This narrative explores the totality of the case, giving face, voice, and motive to the parties involved in this real-life courtroom drama. KOFI'S FIRE was created with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, with a keen focus on humanizing and illuminating narratives sidelined by conventional textbooks.

This modern-day immersive learning platform is tailored for the discerning tastes of tech-savvy middle and high-school students. Elements like the Timeline module place the story in a larger historical context, while the Places (maps) module emphasizes clear parallels between colonial Manhattan and Greater New York and the same land today. Primary document explorers offer insight into actual testimonies from 1741, and FAQs contextualize the narrative and setting for students.

Interactive elements offer historical context for curious students, while full-color illustrations, animation, and a gripping narrative keep them immersed in the story. Created by a Black-led creative team—each member a trailblazer in their respective fields—this interactive graphic novel heralds a new era of engaging with real history. KOFI'S FIRE blends story, art, interactivity, and purpose together to create a new sort of textbook that brings history to life in the classroom.