The Journey of Kamau Miller: HipHop Composite Counterstories for Black Men Teachers

Journey-of-Kamau-Miller-cover-front-REVISED

Date of Publication: November 2023

Pages: 200

ISBN: 978-1-942774-91-4

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Dawn N. Hicks Tafari, Ph.D.

The Journey of Kamau Miller: HipHop Composite Counterstories for Black Men Teachers

The Journey of Kamau Miller: HipHop Composite Counterstories for Black Men Teachers is a powerful and deeply personal narrative that follows the life of Kamau Miller, a resilient third-grade teacher from New York City. Set against the backdrop of Edenwald Projects, the Bronx, and a HipHop-infused soundtrack, the book uncovers the hardships, triumphs, and pivotal moments in Kamau’s life.

Readers are invited into Kamau’s world as he navigates the challenges of being a Black men teacher, the impact of HipHop culture, and the journey of self-discovery. The book weaves together themes of identity, education, community, and empowerment while paying homage to the legacy of Derrick A. Bell. Written with unapologetic creativity, this work engages readers with its accessible, engaging, and thought-provoking storytelling. It’s a celebration of Black men teachers, their experiences, and the potential for change and progress in education.

Kamau Miller not only serves as a testament to the resilience and strength of Black male teachers but also as a tribute to the countless voices waiting to be seen and heard. “The Journey of Kamau Miller” offers an inspiring and transformative reading experience, shedding light on the complexities of life, love, and the pursuit of making a meaningful impact in the world of education.

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword by Dr. Marvin Lynn

Preface

Chapter 1: Just a Black Girl Minding Her Black Girl Business Out Here Crafting Composite Counterstories

Chapter 2: Tell Me About Yourself

Chapter 3: Back in the Days When I Was Young

Chapter 4: I Can’t Hug the Kids

Chapter 5: You Don’t Have to Wonder What My Motives Are

Chapter 6: Whose World is This?

Chapter 7: The Elementary School Was Where I Needed to Be

Chapter 8: I Decide What a Black Man is Everyday

Chapter 9: The Solution Has to Be a Collective Effort

Chapter 10: Inauguration Day

Chapter 11: Epilogue – A Love Letter to Black Men Teachers

Afterword by Dr. Cheryl Matias

Appendix

Notes

About the Author

A native New Yorker, HipHop Feminist, and Scholar Activist, Dr. Dawn N. Hicks Tafari is passionate about the arts, culture, education, and translating theory into practice. She has served as an elementary school teacher, a curriculum facilitator, a teacher education program coordinator, and an educational consultant for school districts, universities, and agencies across the country. She is also co-founder of the Greensboro Kwanzaa Collective and one of the co-curators of the Black Girls and Women Matter Greensboro Town Hall. Dawn’s work focuses on HipHop Feminism, Black boys and men in academic spaces, Critical Race Theory, and Kwanzaa as a site of resistance. Dr. Tafari is the 2017 recipient of the Winston-Salem State University & Wake Forest University Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Building the Dream Award and has been featured in the Winston-Salem Chronicle as “Busta Brown’s Person of the Week”. Dawn lives in Greensboro, NC with her brilliant daughters, delightful dog, and cool cat.