My Camera Is My Weapon: Visual Storytelling, Hip Hop Pedagogy, and Youth Empowerment Through the Lens
Location
Boston 2&3
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
My Camera Is My Weapon is a media literacy and storytelling program developed by a large, culturally based nonprofit dedicated to preserving Hip Hop culture. Designed for youth in urban communities, the program uses photography and videography as tools for counterstorytelling, allowing students to document their lived experiences, express their multiple identities, and challenge dominant narratives. Rooted in culturally sustaining pedagogy, Hip Hop education, and social justice frameworks, this initiative empowers students to become critical observers and creators within their communities. This session will introduce participants to the core structure of the program, highlight student-created visual work, and include a brief hands-on activity focused on framing and visual storytelling. Presenters will explore how technology integration, combined with identity-centered approaches, can transform classrooms, afterschool spaces, and museum-based learning environments into platforms for authentic expression and civic engagement. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for using media and the arts to elevate youth voice, build critical consciousness, and create more inclusive, culturally responsive learning spaces.
Keywords
Counterstorytelling; Culturally responsive pedagogy; Youth voice; critical consciousness
Professional Bio
Dr. Andre Benito Mountain is an educator, author, and Director of Education for a national nonprofit dedicated to preserving Hip Hop culture. He helps lead My Camera Is My Weapon, a youth media program that integrates Hip Hop pedagogy, visual storytelling, and social justice education. A former principal and curriculum coordinator, Dr. Mountain currently teaches in metro Atlanta and serves as an adjunct professor at SUNY Old Westbury. His work focuses on culturally sustaining practices that empower youth through literacy, identity development, and creative expression.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Mountain, Andre B., "My Camera Is My Weapon: Visual Storytelling, Hip Hop Pedagogy, and Youth Empowerment Through the Lens" (2026). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 83.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2026/2026/83
My Camera Is My Weapon: Visual Storytelling, Hip Hop Pedagogy, and Youth Empowerment Through the Lens
Boston 2&3
My Camera Is My Weapon is a media literacy and storytelling program developed by a large, culturally based nonprofit dedicated to preserving Hip Hop culture. Designed for youth in urban communities, the program uses photography and videography as tools for counterstorytelling, allowing students to document their lived experiences, express their multiple identities, and challenge dominant narratives. Rooted in culturally sustaining pedagogy, Hip Hop education, and social justice frameworks, this initiative empowers students to become critical observers and creators within their communities. This session will introduce participants to the core structure of the program, highlight student-created visual work, and include a brief hands-on activity focused on framing and visual storytelling. Presenters will explore how technology integration, combined with identity-centered approaches, can transform classrooms, afterschool spaces, and museum-based learning environments into platforms for authentic expression and civic engagement. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for using media and the arts to elevate youth voice, build critical consciousness, and create more inclusive, culturally responsive learning spaces.
