Lillian Williams, Ph.D., is a journalist and faculty member at Columbia College Chicago who appreciates poetry. She also is a former newspaper and television reporter who practices the craft of storytelling. In this album, she reports a range of perspectives--and styles of expression--offered by members of an American family.

This powerful spoken word, with music underneath, utilizes poetry to capture how this American family perceives the significance of Barack Obama's historic election.

The artist reports the perspectives of multiple generations within the family, ranging from the heartfelt voice of a grandmother who grew up in the segregated Deep South, to the spirited reaction of M. J., a confident 11-year-old boy who lives in St. Louis. The "M.J." tracks capture the exhilaration of a younger generation filled with hope. By contrast, the grandmother's poignant voice recalls a significant, and painful, era of history. The expressions of other family members are represented too.

This inspirational keepsake marks a defining period in United States history, and captures the voices of one family during this era. It truly is a commemorative work of art.