Again rising to reader Raf Stevens’ challenge for me to present more examples of good storytelling in this space, I give you another one that is making the social-media rounds.
This one could not be more different from my first entry, posted earlier this week, “The Closet.”
While that one was a video/digital story, this one is an oral performance (although it is a video of an oral performance).
While my first selection used very few spoken words, this one depends on spoken words. The spoken words give it a huge portion its power.
The rest of its power comes from the delivery by actor, singer, writer, and composer Daniel Beaty, illustrating just how much a teller can bring to a story.
Like my first pick, this one is relatively short — two minutes and 35 seconds.
It is also classified as Def Jam poetry — but it undeniably tells a story.
The story draws the listener in and builds to a powerful climax that includes its audience. Commenters have used words and phrases like “brilliant,” “riveting,” “beautiful,” and “the most passionate, powerful, intense. genuine, wise and meaningful message”
Here is Knock, Knock: