MUSE Gold

2024

KOFI'S FIRE: A Spark of Resistance

Entrant Company

Blue Telescope

Category

Website - Nonprofit

Client's Name

Historic Hudson Valley

Country / Region

United States

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.

Credits

VP of Programs & Engagement / Historic Hudson Valley
Elizabeth L. Bradley
K-12 Program Coordinator / Historic Hudson Valley
Julia Butterfield
Research Librarian / Historic Hudson Valley
Catalina Hannan
Curatorial Coordinator / Historic Hudson Valley
Caitlin Monaco
Director of Education / Historic Hudson Valley
Nicole Wallace
Program Manager for Sunnyside & Philipsburg Manor / Historic Hudson Valley
Rob Yasinsac
Senior Creative Technologist / Blue Telescope
Ron Cunningham
Senior Media Experience Producer / Blue Telescope
Leslie Dann
Creative Producer / Blue Telescope
Anthony DeRita
Creative Director / Blue Telescope
William
Lead Illustrator / Blue Telescope
Velicia Gourdin
Creative Software Developer / Blue Telescope
Carly Hayter
Graphic Novel Writer & Educational Content Consultant / Blue Telescope
Deirdre Lynn Hollman
Principal, Managing Director / Blue Telescope
Trent Oliver
Creative & Motion Designer / Blue Telescope
Reese Patillo
Background Illustrator, Storyboard Artist & UX Designer / Blue Telescope
Kristen Williams
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