Moving at the Speed of Creativity by Wesley Fryer

Digital Witness to President Obama’s Inauguration

Renee Hall is a middle school teacher in Hugo, Oklahoma, and had the wonderful opportunity last week to witness the inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington D.C. Renee participated in our “Celebrate Oklahoma Voices” workshop this week in Oklahoma City, and created the video “A Day to Remember” with her own photographs from the inauguration. Her words and story provide a glimpse into the emotion, excitement, pride, and hope which were present last week at this historic event in the hearts and minds of those there to witness it. Renee is a digital witness to that day for all of us via her video.
Find more videos like this on Celebrate Oklahoma Voices!

I was particularly touched by the perspective Renee provided in her video, as an African-American who lived through segregation. Her quotation of Dr. King’s prophetic words on the night before he was assassinated was very fitting:

Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

One of the other participants in our workshop today mentioned how Renee’s video communicated experiences and emotions which she had not thought about or understood in the context of President Obama’s inauguration. Renee’s video is an example of how our perspectives and lives can be enriched and touched by recorded words connected to images and a little music. Digital storytelling can be powerful, and this video is certainly a case in point.

Great job Renee! Thanks for sharing your mountaintop experience in our nation’s capitol with the rest of us here on the global stage which is the Internet. 🙂

(Hat tip to Marco Torres for the phrase, “the global stage.”)

On January 20, 2008, one year before his inauguration, President Obama shared this speech at the home church of Dr. King in Atlanta. The dream is alive. “Unity is how we shall overcome.”

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