And who do I think I am?

Portrait of Afi Scruggs

I’m a writer who is transitioning into multi-media. How do you like that for an elevator speech? I left newspapers in 2001, and I’m trying to figure out new ways to do journalism.

I’ve freelanced for theroot.com, bet.com, Essence and Heart and Soul magazines. My commentary has appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.  I’m a regular contributor to Cleveland magazine.

I’ve written books: “Jump Rope Magic,” a picture book for children; “Claiming Kin: Confronting the History of an African-American Family,” a genealogical memoir; “Beyond Stitch and Bitch: Essays on Knitting and Life,” a collection of essays.

I have a veritable alphabet following my surname: B.A. (University of Chicago) Ph.D (Brown University)

I speak English and Russian. I’ve learned – and forgotten – Czech, French, Spanish and Italian.

I play piano, mandolin, guitar, hammered dulcimer. I write beats. One of my day jobs is using music to teach science, geography and history to elementary school kids. (They teach me the latest dances and the latest slang.)

I can do CSS, XHTML, Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, Audacity.

I’m overqualified and underpaid.

I’ll never get a Pulitzer. I’m dreaming about a  MacArthur Genius award.