When the United States officially inaugurates its first African American President on January 20, UQ PhD candidate Noritta Morseu-Diop will be in Washington D.C to offer her applause.
Ms Morseu-Diop will brave the US capitol’s freezing weather to witness history unfolding when president-elect Barack Obama officially takes his seat at the White House.
A UQ PhD candidate, within the School of Social Work and Human Services, Ms Morseu-Diop is currently completing an international study on the experiences of ex-incarcerated Indigenous people in Queensland and Aotearoa/New Zealand, looking at their perspectives on the effectiveness of prison rehabilitation programs.
UQ graduate Neil Willmett will also join Ms Morseu-Diop and three other Indigenous Australians in Washington D.C.
As owner of the Willmett Group, Mr Willmett provides human resource and business advice to government and business and is also the author of How to Establish a Successful Aboriginal Business in Australia, the first small business book written by an Indigenous Australian.
“As Indigenous Australians, we have been inspired and encouraged by the Human Rights, Civil Rights and Social Justice Movements of Americans for decades, especially by people like Dr Martin Luther King, Rosa Parkes, John F. Kennedy, The Freedom Riders and now Barack Obama,” Ms Morseu-Diop said.
“Coming from humble beginnings, Barack Obama has inspired us and many others around the world who are disadvantaged, disenfranchised and displaced, he has given us hope with a renewed vision for a brighter future that: yes, we too can!
“We want to be present at his inauguration to stand in solidarity with the American people in honour of their choice in choosing Barack Obama as the next President of the United States of America.”
Ms Morseu-Diop said five million people were expected to attend the inauguration.
“We will be staying with friends of friends in Washington D.C as there is basically no accommodation available,” she said.
“People are aching for a change, so although it will be absolutely freezing, I am looking forward to being caught up in the excitement.”
Ms Moresu-Diop can still recall the day president-elect Obama’s winning speech brought tears to her eyes.
“His election win was inspiring and his speech brought tears to my eyes and hope in my heart, because I never ever thought that Dr Martin Luther King’s dream to see African Americans being judged by the 'content of their character and not by the colour of their skin' being made a reality in my lifetime,” she said.
“Being the President of the most powerful country in the world and the many challenges facing him as he takes on the Presidential seat, I truly hope that Barack Obama will bring harmony, hope, peace and unity back to the people of the world and the USA.”
Media: Eliza Plant at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619)
