Brandeis Scholar Pursues Film, Emphasizes Art and Community

Kwesi Jones, a Brandeis University Posse Scholar, is a junior pursuing a double major in African and African-American studies (AAAS), and film and television.

This past summer Kwesi was chosen as a media production intern for the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.

“It was a full-circle and transformative experience for me,” he says. “Some of my earliest understanding of art as a child was influenced by visits to the High Museum of Art. I remember my younger self walking the museum’s halls marveling at the craft and skill of the vast variety of art displayed.”

Over the summer he also discovered a screenwriting contest run by ColorCreative, an organization founded by actress Issa Rae. The contest, launched in partnership with the American Black Film Festival, tasks writers with creating an original comedy or drama pilot script.

“ColorCreative gave me a much-needed excuse to ‘put my money where my mouth is’ and work on developing a film concept,” Kwesi says, “Screenwriting is one of my great passions and I can now say, regardless of the contest results, that I have completed my first feature-length screenplay.”

“I hope to use my art to stress the principles of liberty, freedom and justice for all."

At Brandeis, Kwesi is a member of several student organizations, including the school’s slam poetry team, Poetic Justice. The group competed in the National College Union Poetry Slam Invitational last spring, making it to the semi-finalist round.

While pursuing his passions, Kwesi has also maintained a place on the dean’s list for three consecutive years. He is one of two undergraduate representatives for the AAAS department, serving as liaison between students and faculty to foster engagement.

Through all his work, Kwesi emphasizes an element of social responsibility and community.

“With a message of leadership and service," he says, “I hope to use my art to creatively stress the principles of liberty, freedom and justice for all."