Oculus Launchpad winning VR experience "I Am A Man" is a historical walk in the shoes of those who struggled for our civil rights.
I Am a Man! is a declaration of civil rights used as a personal statement and as a declaration of independence against oppression. During the Civil Rights Movement at the Memphis sanitation strike in 1968, "I AM A MAN!" signs were used as part of the protests for equal treatment.
Dr. Derek Ham's upcoming VR experience I AM A MAN challenges us to never forget the battles that had to be fought in order for many Americans to have civil liberties today. I AM A MAN drops you into the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike as one of the men who pushed for equality.
Virtual Reality is important and Dr. Derek Ham uses this tool to show us that we have a responsibility to never forget the history of those who fought long and hard for the freedoms we have today.
I Am a Man - Diorama of Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike - National Civil Rights Museum - Downtown Memphis - Tennessee - USA
The strike became one of the major identifiers of the broader struggles for equality within Memphis and the United States as a whole. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the Memphis strike on March 18, speaking to an audience of thousands at Mason Temple.
President Obama met former members of the strike in 2011
The free 15-minute experience will be available in April at the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. April marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. The creator of the project, Dr. Derek Ham looks to also bring this experience to schools and libraries across the country. This project was supported by Oculus Launchpad Oculus Launch Pad is a program designed to support promising VR content creators from diverse backgrounds.
