We collaborated with Historic Hudson Valley to create this immersive educational experience for middle and high school students to spark their imaginations with a richly detailed slice of an often overlooked history and to fan the flames of curiosity when they encounter other stories.
Kofi, an enslaved dock worker, was a real person, and one of many tried for the fires. Historical documents mention he spoke in his defense, but his actual words were never recorded. Kofi’s Fire frees him from the margins by imagining a multi-dimensional, main-character story for him that’s full of humanity, agency, and life while also inviting students to reconsider the limitations of one-sided narratives and the blindspots of canonical history.
We use the vernacular and visual style of graphic novels to connect with savvy, media-consuming kids. Vibrantly colored and lushly textured illustrations defy the usual faded portraits of the past and reinforce the current-day relevance of history.