Spelman's Independent Scholars Visit Mrs. Ann Cooper by Anissa Douglass, C'2010

On Sunday, September 14, 2009, Young Scholars in Spelmans Independent Scholars (SIS) visited Mrs. Ann Nixon Cooper, the Wisest of the Wise among Women of Wisdom in the SIS Oral History Project the woman then President-Elect Barack Obama lifted up in his acceptance speech on November 4, 2007. As a film artist, I had the privilege of filming this remarkable learning experience.

When Mrs. Cooper welcomed my sisters and me into her home, it was apparent that Mrs. Cooper is fortunate to have had and continue to have a great deal of love in her life. She talked about her Aunt Joyce, a very proper lady; about her husband, a successful dentist; and about her daughters, who graduated from Spelman. She told the story about Papa coming home as the wood burned in the fireplace. Although her family did not have much, Mrs. Cooper made it clear that they never had a sense of need or want because they had family and they had love.

What I did learn from meeting Mrs. Cooper? That life is long. That choices we make shape our live and impact the lives of others. That happiness and gratitude are choices. That we should choose both. At 107 years of age, Mrs. Cooper defies many of the ageist notions and attitudes that shape American culture.

Are you getting these pictures? she asked me. I answered, Yes! with pride. How wonderful that she welcomed the camera and, with her beauty, helped me produce this film, a brief excerpt of our special time with Mrs. Ann Nixon Cooper, Woman of Wisdom in SIS. The longer film has been deposited in the SIS-in-LEADS archive. --

Category:

Education

Tags:

• SIS
• Spelman College
• Oral History
• Mrs. Ann Cooper
• Ann Nixon Cooper
• SIS Oral History
• Anissa Douglas

[afreespirit00]

Very precious

[IwasBorn2Win]

so precious!

[MsAshonte]

Beautiful