Soul Children 2.0:Reflections of an AfroDigital Writing Teacher

Carmen Kynard, Ph.D.Associate Professor of English

John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY)http://carmenkynard.org

These are nine, circular stories from 2.1 to 2.9. My numbering here is more of a wordplay and an

inquiry than a numeric ordering.   I am playing with the notion of web 2.0 technologies.

The images/slides here are intended as a reminder and guide into these nine stories. I will try to move us visually into each story that I am able to embed

right onto my website.

Each narrative is grounded from who I call Soul Children 2.0 and the lesson(s) that I have learned from them. This will not be a pre-performed, pre-

rehearsed performance but a set of narratives that invite you to look at my teaching and to also look at

your own at the same time.

 

Narrative I:

“Most of My Heroes Don’t

Appear on No Stamp”

Soul Children 2.1

 

Narrative II:

“Mama Gave Birth

to the Soul

Children”

Soul Children 2.2

 

Narrative III:

“Knowledge of Myself Makes Me

a Poor Righteous Teacher”

Soul Children 2.3

 

Khaleela’s E-Portfolio“I chose these colors to have my where-I-Am-From be known, to

convey the pride I have in my nation. Throughout my e-portfolio, you will

also realize that I always include scenarios from my Jamaican parents and my country… I have the black for my background border, the green for my main page color and the gold as borders. This was done on purpose: the back is in the black to show that

the hardships are in the past; the green is on the front to show that the land and the future are ahead. The

gold borders remind me of the sparkles of the sun shining. And,

lastly, my banner says "Out Of Many One People”--- this is the motto for Jamaica. It means that even though we have many different races and backgrounds, we are still all one

people!”

Soul Children 2.3For more on digication, go to: http://digication.com

 

Angelo’s E-Portfolio“I credit my father and Johnny Cash

for helping me find myself as a writer…I used to hate essays and it

would just so happen that my English teacher didn’t...  My dilemma was putting myself in the writing… My dad knew I had to write an essay so

he asked me how it was going.  I informed him of my dilemma and the

conversation led to me asking who his hero was? When he said Johnny Cash, it surprised me.  I had never heard of him before and  I didn’t take much consideration into him being a real hero…If this guy could

turn his life around by finding himself, I sure as hell could put myself in my writing. It took me

getting inspired  by Cash’s story of personal growth to personally grow

as a writer.”

Soul Children 2.3For more on digication, go to: http://digication.com

 

Narrative IV:

“Cuz My Computer Love is the Truth Dot

Com”

Soul Children 2.4

Cover Design of a Graphic Novel by Celeste McCaw (sophomore)

 

Narrative V:

“You Cannot Hate On

Me Cuz My Mind is Free”

Soul Children 2.5

 

Narrative VI:

“So Swift You Miss

This Lyrical

Fitness”

Soul Children 2.6

 

Narrative VII:

“She's Somebody's Baby/ She's Somebody's Sister/She's Somebody's

Mama”

Soul Children 2.7

Soul Children 2.7

Believe… Your words have power (Rosibel)

Chasing Dreams (Margie)

Soul Children 2.7

One Step at a Time (Kayla)

Ferocity (Gianni)

 

Narrative VIII:

“Love Is All

Around”

Soul Children 2.8

Narrative IX:

“Let's Get It Crunk”I don`t have the skills to make the predictions about the holograms and second life vPortfolios that our

nearby-future students will be designing and composing. I only know two things. First, the college students who I see are equipped to not only handle it, but lead the way, for designing/thinking in AfroDigital,

cultural-digital, and soul-sustaining ways. Second, the college faculty who continue to deny students

these opportunities will be merely using technology to sustain a new but same-ol’ stunningly unequal system.

I intend to stick with that first scenario and explore as many possibilities as I can.

Soul Children 2.9