Rediscovering My Creative Spark: Lessons From Hip Hop, Photography, and the Classroom

Lately, I’ve been experiencing a personal renaissance of sorts. This summer was a swirl of art, music, photography, and Hip Hop—immersing myself in these worlds has reawakened my creative energy in a way I haven’t felt in years. For me, this isn’t just a personal triumph; it’s deeply connected to my work as a teacher. My job is to spark passion in young people, to get them excited about reading, writing, and storytelling. And to do that, I need to be fueled myself.

I’ve been intentional about returning to the things that bring me joy: writing, photography, storytelling, reading, and traveling. For a time, my creative energy felt dulled by the constant demands of leadership and daily responsibilities. But lately, I’ve found inspiration again—perhaps because I spend my days surrounded by young creatives, students who dream boldly about their futures. They remind me of the endless possibilities that come with curiosity, creativity, and courage.

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The Hip Hop Museum: Living History, Living Lessons

As Director of Education for The Hip Hop Museum, I get to build programs that connect history, culture, and art with education. Walking through the city and the burrough that birthed the culture—turntables that sparked revolutions, early flyers documenting community gatherings, graffiti art that told untold stories—reminds me that creativity thrives under pressure and that stories matter.

Bringing these experiences back into my teaching has been transformative. Students are having rich discussions and getting immersed in history; they’re connecting to it. They’re seeing themselves reflected in Hip Hop’s story of innovation and resilience. They’re realizing that young people—just like them—built a cultural movement that changed the world. That spark of recognition is what I’m chasing in my classroom every day.

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My Camera Is My Weapon: Empowering Young Storytellers

Another project close to my heart is My Camera Is My Weapon (MCIMW), a youth photography and storytelling program. The goal is to give young people cameras and guidance so they can document their world, their truth, their community. Photography becomes a tool for empowerment, a way to claim space and voice.

Watching students capture life through their own lens is inspiring. They notice details adults often overlook: a mural on a corner, the quiet dignity of an abandoned building, or the vibrant energy of their peers. Each photograph becomes a piece of their narrative, and with each click, they grow more confident in their ability to tell their story.

This program reminds me that storytelling doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be real. It’s a lesson I carry into my own writing and my classroom. I’ve noticed that one of the biggest writing blocks for my students is their fear of imperfection—many hesitate to start because they want their work to be flawless from the beginning. To help them move past this, I provide sentence stems with transition phrases to guide their thoughts, display examples of vivid descriptive language around the room, and showcase exemplary work from their peers. Celebrating the “genius in the room” not only builds confidence but also shows students that creativity thrives when we focus on expression rather than perfection.

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Turning the Classroom Into a Cultural Space

In suburban Atlanta, I’ve turned my classroom into a space that mirrors the mosaic of art, culture, and history I experience at The Hip Hop Museum. This isn’t just a room where learning happens; it’s an immersive experience.

When students step inside, they’re greeted by warm lighting, café-style seating, and walls lined with vibrant art. They can interact with old typewriters, run their hands over vintage suitcases, and study framed photographs that invite them into stories beyond the page. The Literacy Laboratory has become less of a traditional classroom and more like a small museum—one where every artifact, every corner, inspires curiosity.

Students don’t just sit in rows and take notes; they explore, discuss, and create. This environment invites them to see reading and writing not as assignments, but as tools to engage with the world.

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Inspiration From the Greats: Basquiat, Miles, and Zora

I’ve always drawn inspiration from artists who refused to be boxed in. Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of those figures whose courage and creativity resonate with me deeply. Basquiat diverged from the mainstream art path to create his own visual language—raw, layered, and deeply personal. His work was fueled by music and reflected in fashion, creating an aesthetic that transcended galleries and profoundly influenced global art tastes.

Miles Davis inspires me for similar reasons. While most remember him for revolutionizing jazz, he was also a painter, a visual artist who used music and style to express his ever-evolving self. Davis’ life reminds me that artistry is not confined to one medium; it’s a lifestyle, a constant reinvention.

And then there’s Zora Neale Hurston. She inspires me because she embedded herself in the communities she wrote about, finding value in the voices of everyday people. Her work was an act of preservation and amplification, ensuring stories that might have been overlooked were instead celebrated. Like Hurston, I see my work—whether in writing, photography, or teaching—as an opportunity to tell stories that matter.

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A Personal Journey Back to Curiosity

Growing up in Swainsboro, Georgia, in the 1980s, I was a curious kid surrounded by magazines my father subscribed to: Time, U.S. News & World Report, and National Geographic. Those issues became my window to a larger world. I’d pore over long-form articles about Cold War diplomacy, study charts filled with global data, and marvel at photographs of faraway cultures.

Those quiet afternoons in a small-town living room shaped my love of reading. I wasn’t forced to read; I read because I was fascinated. Back then, we had fewer distractions, but we also had space to wonder.

That sense of wonder is what I’m working to recreate for today’s students—many of whom are constantly surrounded by digital noise. I use conversation starters like buttons featuring iconic figures, striking photographs, verses of poetry, and short video clips to spark dialogue. These moments often lead to debates that evolve into rich writing prompts. My students’ experiences are filtered through TikTok, Instagram, memes, and viral challenges—so much so that a trending sound might have them chanting “Six… Sevennnnn” in unison every few hours. Rather than criticizing this social media-saturated environment, I see it as an opportunity. I look for entry points, weaving in content that is just as engaging as the world beyond our school’s walls. Through photography, immersive classroom design, and storytelling, I want them to see literature and history not as distant or irrelevant, but as deeply connected to their own lives.

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Full Circle

This season of creative renewal has reminded me that teaching is at its best when it’s alive. The Hip Hop Museum grounds me in culture and history. My Camera Is My Weapon reminds me of the brilliance of young voices. My classroom—now part café, part gallery, part studio—brings it all together.

I want my students to see reading and writing as adventures, not chores. I want them to walk into our space every day and feel like they’ve entered somewhere special, somewhere that invites them to explore. And as I rediscover my own passions, I’m reminded that inspiration is contagious. When we create environments that nurture creativity, we ignite souls that continue to be on fire for learning for years to come.

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Best Practices for Teachers

1. Create Immersive, Culturally Rich Learning Spaces

Transform your classroom into a space that feels more like a gallery or cultural center than a traditional room.

• Use warm lighting, café-style seating, and tactile artifacts (like typewriters, vintage suitcases, or art pieces) to invite exploration.
• A thoughtfully designed environment communicates that learning is an experience, not just a task. Students are more engaged when the room itself feels inspiring and purposeful.

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2. Model Authentic Creativity Over Perfection

Help students overcome the fear of “getting it wrong” by celebrating process over product.

• Provide sentence stems, transition phrases, and visual word walls to support students in starting their writing.
• Showcase exemplary student work to highlight that creativity and voice matter more than flawless first drafts.

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3. Integrate Art and Culture Across Disciplines

Draw inspiration from artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Miles Davis, and Zora Neale Hurston to spark interdisciplinary connections.

• Use visual art, music, and literature to help students see how creativity transcends mediums.
• Embed lessons about culture and history alongside core literacy instruction to deepen engagement and understanding.

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4. Empower Students as Storytellers

Encourage students to use photography, art, and writing to tell their stories and reflect their communities.

• Incorporate programs like My Camera Is My Weapon that put tools directly in students’ hands.
• Give students opportunities to document their experiences, fostering confidence and voice while building critical literacy skills.

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5. Connect Learning to Personal Passion and Real-World Experiences

Your passion fuels your teaching. When you share your own inspirations—like Hip Hop history, travel, or storytelling—students see that learning is alive.

• Bring authentic stories from your life and community into lessons.
• Design experiences that show students that reading, writing, and history are deeply relevant to their own journeys.