Everyone has their own unique talents or skills, and for Dr. Kamasi Hill, that skill is storytelling.
Hill has taught a variety of courses during his time at ETHS, many of them APs, spanning from AP African American Studies to AP European History. Hill played a prominent role in the development of curriculum for the AP African American Studies course offered to ETHS juniors and seniors.
Satthapi Miller, a junior in Hill’s AP African American Studies class, is one of many who benefit from his unique teaching style. She appreciates how Hill intertwines his teaching with storytelling to make class thought-provoking and enjoyable, even though it requires a lot of listening and notetaking.
“Dr. Hill knows the class material front and back, and so he is able to [make sure that his students] understand what he is teaching. In between his lectures, he tells us stories and entertaining bits that [relate to the subject matter] to keep the class intrigued,” said Miller.
Miller also notes that the majority of students in Hill’s AP African American Studies class identify as Black. When Hill teaches about Black religion and traditions, for example, Miller feels that many students have a deeper understanding of the content because they are Black. This shared identity between Hill, his students and the material makes for a great learning environment.
“Dr. Hill is a type of teacher that I have never had before. He is one of the very few teachers who not only understands how to teach kids, but also makes class entertaining and unique in an inviting environment,” said Miller.
Hill’s talent for storytelling extends beyond the classroom. With a minor in history, a bachelor’s degree in film production and a PhD in religion and historical studies, he combines these disciplines to produce accurate and engaging content. One of his latest projects is “Born in the Struggle,” a documentary which he submitted to a film festival. Hill claims that his documentary will be accessible through his website soon.
But Hill’s passion for storytelling doesn’t stop there. Most recently, he came out with the first book in his series “A Griot’s History,” titled “The Great Migration.” The series is inspired by the griot tradition of West African oral storytellers, though Hill uses a modern, visual approach to convey his ideas.
“I’ve always been a storyteller. I am the graphic novel griot,” said Hill, proudly.
Hill’s graphic novel series is designed to serve students who struggle with traditional reading. His books offer critical historical content that is accessible to everyone.
“The move towards digital content has had some benefits, but also some unintended consequences, such as student hesitancy to read longer passages and text,” said Hill.
He realizes that students who have trouble reading should have the same opportunities to learn. He strives to keep non-traditional and English as a Second Language (ESL) readers at the forefront of his efforts. However, his series is not limited to this group of people.
“I’m being very intentional with the short length of my books. There are questions for teachers and students. There are images to wrestle with. There are pages without any text at all,” said Hill.
Hill believes that his series could be a valuable resource for students and should be offered in classrooms. For example, he recommends that teachers use the pages solely occupied by images as entry-point discussions. Despite the significant amount of time and effort spent on “The Great Migration,” Hill has savored every moment.
“This is a journey that I am enjoying because I am able to do something unique that will hopefully benefit students,” said Hill.
His first book covers the Great Migration, the movement of African Americans seeking better economic opportunities and escaping racial segregation and violence from the rural Southern United States to urban areas across the country during the 20th century. The next book in the series is set to focus on the history of West Africa, and the third will focus on the history of the Middle Passage.
One of Hill’s former ETHS students, Sedane Henderson, created the artwork for “The Great Migration.” Hill kept in contact with Henderson after he graduated from ETHS, and Henderson ultimately became the artist for his first story. Hill’s students are at the forefront of his every action, and he involves them even in personal endeavors like his creation of the series.
Hill admits that writing this first graphic novel was challenging in the beginning, as it required him to condense the surplus amount of information he wanted to communicate into a concise format with few words per page.
“The first book was difficult because I had never written one before. I had to learn through trial and error and by reading other graphic novels. I had to find my voice,” said Hill.
Though Miller has not yet read his book, she is confident that it will live up to the high standards Hill sets in the classroom. She considers herself lucky to be taught by someone who is so passionate and knowledgeable about their work.
“Dr. Hill truly knows his history,” remarked Miller, “and if his book is anything like his teaching, I can assume that it’s pretty amazing in terms of its information.”
For Hill, stories are his way of bringing history to life. His calling is to use storytelling to trigger curiosity, offer new perspectives and challenge traditional outlooks.
“I share my creativity with my students. Whether through a documentary, a film or [my role as] an educator, I tell stories.”
