Sunday, October 23, 2011
Homecoming
Homecoming Week
The Real HU!!!!! Homecoming week was amazing. It was everything I was expecting from the Yard Fest to the R&B concert. It was everything I was so much stuff to do and see. It was truly a huge party the from the time yard fest kicked off. I went to the R&B concert and it was worth every dollar I spent when I was there. Homecoming week for me was a time to relax from midterms and really enjoy myself. Now that Homecoming is over I am ready to do my normal routine and get back to work. The best part of Homecoming week for me was the R&B concert. The best perform for me was Avant because he gave his all during the show. Avant did not want to live the stage. This was a great week and I truly enjoyed myself.
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| Found at Howard.edu |
My Homecoming Experience
Homecoming at Howard University I do not feel like really began until Thursday. During the week before Thursday there were few people on the yard, and the campus seemed like a regular school day. However, on Thursday the yard started too transform I began too see more Howard Alumni shirts. I felt as if the campus was finally coming alive. On Friday Yardfest helped solidify the feeling that Homecoming was here. The yard was packed with people there were vendors, and all of the performances were phenomenal. Later that night there were parties and other fun events. And Saturday morning the parade and football game further aroused the feeling of Home for me as a student on the campus. In conclusion, my homecoming experience helped me further become proud of being a Howard student.
Howard's Homecoming Versus The Community's Homecoming
The reason for my title is simple. When attending yardfest, the parade, and game, there were more people from the surrounding communities, then actual students. It wasn't anything that I expected, but I still enjoyed myself. It was a sense of community and unity between African Americans, that Howard brought together. I viewed the amount of locals as both a positive and negative in some ways. I wasn't excited about the fact that I didn't get to see the majority of the students. It wasn't like highschool homecoming's where you take great pride in your school and you celebrate it together. It wasn't about Howard this weekend. More attention was shown to alumni than actual students. For example at the game, 100's of Howard current student's couldnt sit on the side with their school. I feel like students should have gotten first priority to everything. I could understand why alumni got a lot of priority seeing their financial contributions, but as students who pay tuition I think we should be granted priority especially as freshman.
Everyone told me that Howard's homecoming was the best. In many ways it trully is the best, but in some ways it's not. I think at other schools they focus on the students and the actual school and not just trying the impress the community. On a positive note, I had fun in general. It wasn't everything I expected, but overall I enjoyed myself. I attended the comedy show, the step show, the game, the parade, yardefest, and midnight madness. They were all extremly live and exciting. The celebrities was a great asset.
Reflecting back on homecoming overall it was once again another Howard experience. I enjoyed myself and I got to experience new things. I'm really sorry that the community acted the way they did and the amount of violence they called, but I'm really proud of Howard students not being involved in any of it.
Everyone told me that Howard's homecoming was the best. In many ways it trully is the best, but in some ways it's not. I think at other schools they focus on the students and the actual school and not just trying the impress the community. On a positive note, I had fun in general. It wasn't everything I expected, but overall I enjoyed myself. I attended the comedy show, the step show, the game, the parade, yardefest, and midnight madness. They were all extremly live and exciting. The celebrities was a great asset.
Reflecting back on homecoming overall it was once again another Howard experience. I enjoyed myself and I got to experience new things. I'm really sorry that the community acted the way they did and the amount of violence they called, but I'm really proud of Howard students not being involved in any of it.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Free-Write: Freshman Seminar Reflection
Freshman Seminar has been intresting to say the least. I've learned a lot about African American's and how they view themselves. Many things I did not agree with, but it was ultimately informative. During this class many intresting things has happened. For example, I just viewed by midterm grade. It was suprisingly a "U". I instantly emailed my TA because I have never missed a class, and I only missed one blog and that was because that was the week I went out of town. I can't say that freshman seminar has been a great experience, but I can at least say it was an experience. I was taught a lot about the African culture and our contribution to the world. During class I also was able to hear real life scholars that has transformed their academic knowledge ino wisdom in their particular field of study. Each speaker had their own way of teaching and they were all effective. I also think the Mbongi helped me focus and helped me keep my notes organized. Reflecting back on freshman seminar I also realized that I've learned how to think critically. I did'nt believe everything I heard in the lectures and didn't take everything that was said as the truth. I constructed my own opinion and expressed how I felt about particular lectures by talking with other students or blogs. Alltogther I learned so I think the class was a success.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
The Play
To be honest with you, I hate going to plays, musicals, etc but Mrs. Evers Boys was really good. The way that all the actors played a good roll in showing and demonstrating how things was back then was great. While watching the play, I was able to put myself and their shoes and see what it was really like, it felt so life like. With all of the audiences participation and remarks showed me that everyone was really in tuned into the show. I have never heard about this play before I had come to this school, but it was well worth watching. This play makes you want to see and experience how things were done back then, and what men had experience. The fact that the government was so deceitful with the deforming experiment put thoughts in my head that our society’s government will always be bad.
I was disappointed to know that Mrs. Evers knew about what was going to take place and still let the government continue on with its actions. This was wrong because those men showed her so much respect for her to go behind those men backs. The fact that she told them she loved them and would help them if they had needed anything to just turn around in actually be a participant in deaths. She lied to them and I know that would hurt me if I was in that position. After seeing the real her, this made me come to an conclusion that she was the worst person in their lives. Even though the doctors and governments were the main occupants in this bad transition, none of them were close to the boys than Mrs. Evers was. All that consisted in this play, in terms of the government and Mrs. Evers was so terrible and it kind of made my stomach turn. I was happy to have enjoyed this play and I hope to see a good one like this again. Thank you Howard for not making me waste my money.
Miss Evers’ Boys on October 6, 2011
I went to see the play Miss Evers’ Boys on October 6, 2011. I did not know what to expect from this play but it was great. It made me cry and laugh at the same time. The story is about the Tuskegee Experiment which was an experiment on the effects of syphilis on African American men. When this play first started I thought the goal was to solve for the syphilis but instead this men were actually being used as an experiment. Towards the end of this movie I was upset really how the government allowed this man to be used as experimental toys and not as humans. The total man in this experiment was 399 men between the ages of 21 to 60 that were told that they were being treated for bad blood. Instead the government was just watching the different side effects of syphilis. The thing that really surprised me was when I found out the government would not allow this men to receive the treatment for syphilis because they was a part of this experiment. In my eyes these man where violated because they believed this people where there to help them but instead it was all private gains.
Special Event: Miss Evers' Boys
I went to the play on Thursday night and I'm so glad I did. Overall the play was great and it was a great message. The actors did a great job at performing, mastering their chacracter, and staying in role. It was nice to go to a function where talented African Americans were doing something good to get a message across. It was also great to see so many people support them. Whether they were there because they were forced or their to support I think we all learned something that night.
The play was about the unfortunate and unjust event that took place in 1932. The U.S. Public Health Service made an experiment called, "The Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male." The experiment was done because they were trying to eliminate the whole race of African Americans. They thought that by giving black males syphilis it would eventually kill the black race. They told the participants of the study that they would provide them with free food, medical care, and burial expenses. They told them that they had "bad blood" and they were going to be cured. They used a nurse to recriute them who they called in the play Miss Ever's. Even though they eventually found they cure, they denied them it.
After reflecting on this play it just shows how poorly treated African Americans were and how eveil they were to us. They tried to act like they were helping us but they were really killing them off. This pllay puts the light on the veil done to African Americans and empasizes just one of the hardships we have faced.
The play was about the unfortunate and unjust event that took place in 1932. The U.S. Public Health Service made an experiment called, "The Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male." The experiment was done because they were trying to eliminate the whole race of African Americans. They thought that by giving black males syphilis it would eventually kill the black race. They told the participants of the study that they would provide them with free food, medical care, and burial expenses. They told them that they had "bad blood" and they were going to be cured. They used a nurse to recriute them who they called in the play Miss Ever's. Even though they eventually found they cure, they denied them it.
After reflecting on this play it just shows how poorly treated African Americans were and how eveil they were to us. They tried to act like they were helping us but they were really killing them off. This pllay puts the light on the veil done to African Americans and empasizes just one of the hardships we have faced.
Leap Science & Math school in South Africa Empowering students socially, emotionally, politically and intellectually
The lecture this week was about Leap Science & Math school in South Africa and the techniques they use to teach their students. Leap School or culturally relevant because it Validates & exalts traditional cultures (no one ashamed or feels inferior) – Act of Freedom & Justice to the Souls of African people – Colonial denied African culture. Leap also promotes & implements holistic learning, including in students communities so they are able to see how their principles play a major role. Leap school also incorporates African Epistemology in their learning environment. Leap places high emphasis on relationships and Ubuntu. This week’s lecture was surprisingly something that I was not expecting. When I first heard Leap Science & Math school I thought the lecture would be on American schools system. But, instead we wher e able to take a look in the education system of South Africa and look at how sucessful their techniques are to teach African Childern. One of the main key points I heard in this lecture was how to teach African American childern in America so that they can suceed. The second key point I heard was relationships and ubuntu is key to teaching black childern. We as a people must place a high emphasis on African Axiology.This empower students socially, emotionally, politically and intellectually. As scholars this is important because we must be able to find ways for people can be social empowered in the world. It was a great lecture and made me think about something I never thought about before.
Breona Against Howard
The lecture this week really made me criticize Howard’s education. In no way am I ungrateful of my education here, but I have been taught to think critically and that is what I do during these lectures. Each speaker in seminar teaches to students like what they say is right and the truth. They teach us off of their own experience, while failing to teach us based off of facts. When I sit in seminar I feel like black leaders are gathering “the future” and trying to make us believe that the African culture is superior to everyone else’s. Now as you read along, depending on where you stand one might feel offended. This is in no way made to offend any of the distinguished speakers or makers of Freshman Seminar, but when I realize an issue I speak on it. I’m simply stating my opinion and hopefully bringing those who read this to realization of a few things.
I am so very proud of who I am and my culture. I take pride in being African American and I could not imagine being a part of any other race. Having a none bias attitude toward my race I have come across many bias things’ during Freshman Seminar. This week especially I was shocked by how simple minded so many African American people are. We rage about how “our oppressors” show racism to us and we are offended when they call us negative name, yet we can teach in a classroom under professional circumstances and call ALL whites our oppressor. We hate to be pre judged and we hate when they categorize us as one, but we do the same thing to them. Blacks that do this are just as bad as the “oppressors.” I put the word oppressors in quotations to mock the phrase used so much during this week’s lecture by Ms. Kim Worthy. Again, absolute no disrespect to the phenomenal speaker and great teacher, but what she said was offensive. Because I was so taken back by Ms. Worthy’s usage of the word “oppressor” I had to see if I was the only one that was affected by this. Not to my surprise EVERYONE I talked to said that it was inappropriate and a form of racism. Now my problem with her using it isn’t because it was inappropriate. By all means I respect when someone states their opinion. I’m not saying she should censor what she said because it was her belief, and clearly I’m all for stating my belief. What offended me was the fact that it was so contradictory to her own teachings. As black people we learn to hate racism. By simply categorizing a group of people as one and ultimately calling them your enemies, you my friend are racist.
Kim Worthy wanted to get a point across that we must reclaim our humanity. I agree with this statement, but I disagree with how we should go about doing it. She ultimately said that we must separate ourselves from the rest of the world. (I came to this conclusion because not only did she mention it, but she talked about the school LEAP which separates black education from European education). It is ironic how we went through so much so that African American’s could go to school with whites now we want to separate because now our education is “better.” We get mad at the whites because they thought their education was better so they didn’t want us to be involved in it now we think African education is better and the can’t be involved in ours. I think it’s crazy how we put so much emphasis on whites being racist, yet we do the SAME thing. When I hear people talk about how racist “they” are and see them do the same thing, I am embarrassed because blacks are in ignorance and don’t even realize how racist they are and how they are just as bad as whites. Going back to humanity my point was this: Humanity means we are all equal. We are ALL humans. So when you want to bring the idea out that blacks must reclaim their humanity you are doing the opposite of humanity. Humanity isn’t about separating groups of people, one group alone cannot reclaim humanity it is a HUMAN responsibility. By believing that one race can reclaim humanity you are once again separating and causing division. By simply acknowledging that difference of races you are contributing to the idea of racism. When you have come to a realization that it isn’t just about black people “making it” or white people “making it” then you are beginning to remove yourself from ignorance. When one realizes it’s about us as a human race coming together then, my friend, you have passed the phase that so many African Americans are unconsciously stuck in. When God put us on this earth it, wasn’t meant for there to be competition between races. He placed us all on this earth as equals. You ever wonder why His greatest commandment is love? He wants us ALL to come together as humans. If as blacks we would stop separating ourselves we would literally change the world. We cannot control how others view us, but we can control how we view others. Again, WE.CANNOT.CONTROL.HOW.OTHERS.VIEW.US. BUT.WE.CAN.CONTROL.HOW.WE.VIEW.OTHERS. We need to stop retaliating with fire against fire. It does us no good and it just contributes to us always being divided. I am not trying to scold blacks, but I do need to emphasize how important it is for us to get this message. I know as a speaker who has studied African American history for so long it is hard to change their way of thinking, but I am begging and pleading that you realize or just consider the fact that you may be racist and by teaching this generation (us in freshman seminar) you are just prolonging racism. This is cry to ALL African American administration, teachers, professors, speakers, lectures, and experts to please, please reconsider your way of thinking and where your ideas are truly stemming from. If you think hard enough with an open mind you may see that your thoughts are those of division. And if you find yourself even possibly being racist then it’s okay. As black a person that’s what was taught, we are the superior race and we must stick together and separate ourselves from everyone else who is our “oppressors.” All you have to do is remove the ignorance and begin to think critically and bias free.
This blog was in no way meant to criticize Ms. Worthy or any other speakers. My blog today will be like no others. I have stated what others feel, but don’t have the courage to say. I have hopefully made future lectures and past lecturers reevaluate themselves and their way of thinking. I am a proud member of the black community and my blog was made because I love my people, and I would hate for us to stoop down to anyone else’s level. And if I am criticized for my blog and called a traitor of my race then I will take whatever title given, because what was stated was my opinion and my truth and I will not go back on the words I have just stated. I actually encourage others to challenge what I have said as I have just challenged Howard University. If it has to be Howard against Breona then so be it.
I am so very proud of who I am and my culture. I take pride in being African American and I could not imagine being a part of any other race. Having a none bias attitude toward my race I have come across many bias things’ during Freshman Seminar. This week especially I was shocked by how simple minded so many African American people are. We rage about how “our oppressors” show racism to us and we are offended when they call us negative name, yet we can teach in a classroom under professional circumstances and call ALL whites our oppressor. We hate to be pre judged and we hate when they categorize us as one, but we do the same thing to them. Blacks that do this are just as bad as the “oppressors.” I put the word oppressors in quotations to mock the phrase used so much during this week’s lecture by Ms. Kim Worthy. Again, absolute no disrespect to the phenomenal speaker and great teacher, but what she said was offensive. Because I was so taken back by Ms. Worthy’s usage of the word “oppressor” I had to see if I was the only one that was affected by this. Not to my surprise EVERYONE I talked to said that it was inappropriate and a form of racism. Now my problem with her using it isn’t because it was inappropriate. By all means I respect when someone states their opinion. I’m not saying she should censor what she said because it was her belief, and clearly I’m all for stating my belief. What offended me was the fact that it was so contradictory to her own teachings. As black people we learn to hate racism. By simply categorizing a group of people as one and ultimately calling them your enemies, you my friend are racist.
Kim Worthy wanted to get a point across that we must reclaim our humanity. I agree with this statement, but I disagree with how we should go about doing it. She ultimately said that we must separate ourselves from the rest of the world. (I came to this conclusion because not only did she mention it, but she talked about the school LEAP which separates black education from European education). It is ironic how we went through so much so that African American’s could go to school with whites now we want to separate because now our education is “better.” We get mad at the whites because they thought their education was better so they didn’t want us to be involved in it now we think African education is better and the can’t be involved in ours. I think it’s crazy how we put so much emphasis on whites being racist, yet we do the SAME thing. When I hear people talk about how racist “they” are and see them do the same thing, I am embarrassed because blacks are in ignorance and don’t even realize how racist they are and how they are just as bad as whites. Going back to humanity my point was this: Humanity means we are all equal. We are ALL humans. So when you want to bring the idea out that blacks must reclaim their humanity you are doing the opposite of humanity. Humanity isn’t about separating groups of people, one group alone cannot reclaim humanity it is a HUMAN responsibility. By believing that one race can reclaim humanity you are once again separating and causing division. By simply acknowledging that difference of races you are contributing to the idea of racism. When you have come to a realization that it isn’t just about black people “making it” or white people “making it” then you are beginning to remove yourself from ignorance. When one realizes it’s about us as a human race coming together then, my friend, you have passed the phase that so many African Americans are unconsciously stuck in. When God put us on this earth it, wasn’t meant for there to be competition between races. He placed us all on this earth as equals. You ever wonder why His greatest commandment is love? He wants us ALL to come together as humans. If as blacks we would stop separating ourselves we would literally change the world. We cannot control how others view us, but we can control how we view others. Again, WE.CANNOT.CONTROL.HOW.OTHERS.VIEW.US. BUT.WE.CAN.CONTROL.HOW.WE.VIEW.OTHERS. We need to stop retaliating with fire against fire. It does us no good and it just contributes to us always being divided. I am not trying to scold blacks, but I do need to emphasize how important it is for us to get this message. I know as a speaker who has studied African American history for so long it is hard to change their way of thinking, but I am begging and pleading that you realize or just consider the fact that you may be racist and by teaching this generation (us in freshman seminar) you are just prolonging racism. This is cry to ALL African American administration, teachers, professors, speakers, lectures, and experts to please, please reconsider your way of thinking and where your ideas are truly stemming from. If you think hard enough with an open mind you may see that your thoughts are those of division. And if you find yourself even possibly being racist then it’s okay. As black a person that’s what was taught, we are the superior race and we must stick together and separate ourselves from everyone else who is our “oppressors.” All you have to do is remove the ignorance and begin to think critically and bias free.
This blog was in no way meant to criticize Ms. Worthy or any other speakers. My blog today will be like no others. I have stated what others feel, but don’t have the courage to say. I have hopefully made future lectures and past lecturers reevaluate themselves and their way of thinking. I am a proud member of the black community and my blog was made because I love my people, and I would hate for us to stoop down to anyone else’s level. And if I am criticized for my blog and called a traitor of my race then I will take whatever title given, because what was stated was my opinion and my truth and I will not go back on the words I have just stated. I actually encourage others to challenge what I have said as I have just challenged Howard University. If it has to be Howard against Breona then so be it.
The NY African Burial Ground *Special Event
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| "Unearthed" by Frank Bender The African Burial Ground was discovered in lower Manhattan in 1991, when during excavation work for a new federal office building at 290 Broadway, workers discovered the skeletal remains of the first of 419 men, women and children (41% were children, indicative of the hardships endured by child slaves). During the 17th and 18th centuries, free and enslaved Africans were buried in a 6.6 acre burial ground outside the then-current boundaries of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam (which later became New York under British rule). Over the centuries, the unmarked cemetery was covered over by development and landfill (although I am skeptical that no other developers found skeletal remains previously--seems more likely to be numerous cover ups to me). Did you know that the children of freed Africans were born into slavery? Or did you know that NY state had more slaves than any other state other than South Carolina? I had generally thought of the North as populated by abolitionists, but I suppose that was in the later part of the 1800s, and it seems to me that history books seem to completely omit this earlier American history. The visitor's center showed us a 20 minute film that tells of the discovery of the African Burial Ground and the incredible hardships that were endured by millions of Africans and African Americans.  The picture above is a burial reenactment of a funeral of a child and adult slaves. |
Miss Evers' Boys * Special Event
First and foremost, Howard University has the most talented students on the face of this earth! I had never heard about this story before going to see the students' play. "The story chronicles the experience of Miss Eunice Evers, the public health nurse who attempts to aid four of the men in the study but is disillusioned by self-serving doctors and Washington bureaucracy. After money is no longer available, the doctors devise the Tuskegee Study to change the direction of their work from the treatment of syphilis to the observation of the ravages of the disease; keeping the money rolling in, all in the name of science. The doctors use deceitful tactics to prevent their patients from receiving the newly developed miracle drug penicillin, which benefits others who are not in the study." The men in the play are taken care of by Miss Evers, like a mother would care for her children, but yet she allowed such actions to take place. Many in the public health and research community will tell you that the mistrust that African Americans and other ethnic groups have, has less to do with the Syphilis Study and more to do with the overarching issue of racism in America. While some reports and research confirms this, the medical and health care communities must stay vigilant in creating health care settings that are welcoming, embracing, and respectful of all cultures. Where I am from, when you are ill, you don't go to the doctor; you use home remedies. However, I aspire to become a doctor, and I want to eliminate the mistrust of healthcare professionals within the African American community.It amazes me what people would do for the sake of keeping their title and financial stability. My heart and mind could not wrap around the fact that the U.S. government basically condoned an immoral, racist scientific experiment for forty years.
The Burial Grouds
Can you say eye opening. Going to the African Burial Cite was very touching. To see where the bodies lay and to know that there were still thousands buried under that cement was something else. Arriving in New York, I witnessed that there was not many black people in the part where we were at. When we first arrived there I really liked when Dr. Carr shared his knowledge and experience in the circle which I considered an Mbongi. I believe that we all had to feel just a little bit of sadness knowing that we were a part of a movement that was so immense. I really liked that when we went into the actual museum, that everything was so realistic better yet that we got to touch and take pictures of everything. The pieces that was in there gave us a great experience on how things had been years ago. One of the statues of the African reenacting of a ceremonial funeral was very cute.
Watching that movie in the theater really got me a feel of how things were back then. And in reality it really hurt watching what our people experienced, how hard it was for blacks to live back then. This makes me realize that I need to be grateful and thankful for the opportunities that I have been given and to not waste time because this is a blessing that I am even able to talk about. I hope that once day we will get appreciated for all the hardships that we have had to encounter. I would not mind going on this trip again and witnessing that great home feeling.
Culturally Relevant Teaching
I enjoyed the lecture instructed by Ms. Kimberly Worthy. Culturally Relevant Teaching is a pedagogy that empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically by using cultural referents to impart knowledge, skills, and attitudes. One thing Ms. Worthy said really stood out to me, "No one can teach our kids (blacks) like we can teach our kids." There is findings that back up her statement. This played a major role in my decision to attend Howard University, an HBCU, over University of Georgia. I want to give back to my rich ancestry. Had I attended UGA, they could have cared less about me visiting the NY African burial ground or the teachings of the African Diaspora. Research suggests that HBCU graduates realize higher earnings relative to non-HBCU. As such, their results lend support to the idea that HBCUs have a comparative advantage in nurturing the self-image, self-esteem and identity of graduates, which theoretically matters for labor market outcomes.
"As future educators, one of the biggest issues we deal with is how to treat children the same when they are different in so many ways." - Elizabeth Kuntz
"As future educators, one of the biggest issues we deal with is how to treat children the same when they are different in so many ways." - Elizabeth Kuntz
Sunday, October 2, 2011
What Can I Do?
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| Troy Davis was not the first, and he won't be the last. We must fight for CHANGE! |
Thankfully, I am able to attend Howard University on the Gates Millennium Scholarship. In choosing me as a recipient of the honorable, prestigious award, they evaluated my leadership ability. I am a future leader of America, but most importantly, I look forward to being a leader at Howard University. I plan on bringing financial awareness to our campus. I have big plans for my non profit organization that will reach out to D.C inner city school students.
In my eyes a citizen of the world is someone who contributes to not only their own community, but to the entire world’s one giant community as a matter of fact. One who wants to become a citizen of the world can do so by helping others around the globe. It could be impossible for someone who wants to become a citizen of the world, but they could at least try to by communicating and contributing with everyone around them. A citizen of the world is outgoing, charitable, and has rights for themselves. Citizens of the world have personal qualities in themselves and portray those certain qualities by engaging in how they can help the world.
Being a citizen, is how the people of society affect the world around them, or what people are doing to help the future generations and even the generation of today. The ancient world has had such an impact on the way we live in our societies today. We tend to forget who customized a class system and helped provide how we structure our communities. They shaped the meanings of a work ethic and the sense of doing a good deed because; it is the best way to show citizenship. No matter what year or day in age it was possible for people to show citizenship.
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| Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall |
A child born to a Black mother in a state like Mississippi... has exactly the same rights as a white baby born to the wealthiest person in the United States. It's not true, but I challenge anyone to say it is not a goal worth working for. - Thurgood Marshall
Dr. Thorton's Speech
1. What can and will you do to be a part of the "best and brightest" of Howard?
In order to be considered the"best and brightest," I feel I must first become the best me that I can be. I have come to an understanding that I'm not competing against anyone but myself. My goal in life is to reach MY fullest potential here at Howard. Being considered the best isn't something I worry myself with because I know having a goal to be better than another shows no
true ambition. My success is driven off of my own personal motivation. I choose to be the best at all I do, not because tbe best or the brightest, but because I reahed my own potential. In order to reach my fullest potential at this stage in my life I must always assert myself to take all oppurtunities available. Not only is it important to meet new people and build relationships with them, but I must also stay focused on my studies. I have to balance my social life with my academic life. In order for me to be considered the "best an brightest" that I can be, I must demonstrate leadership and be my own person. I have to be always seeking the Lord and see if His will is my will. If it isn't, I must make the neccisarry changes so that my life and actions reflects what God wants of and from me. I think it's extremely important that not only am I academically and socially secured, but I'm also secure in my relationship with God in order to be the best and the brightest by reaching MY fullest potential.
2. What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? How does your citizenship in the nation inform your world citizenry?
Dr. Thorton mentioned being a citizen of the world all throughout his speech. He said that to be a citizen one has universal rights. Those universal rights could differ from education, employement, to healthcare. He said citizens need to be granted certain basic rights and freedoms. To be a citizen of the world you must take up social space. You must make your presence known by contributiing to society. You have to be an active individual in the world to be a true citizen.
3. Identify a representative thinker of Howard. How does that figure's life work inspire you to "till and turn over the soil" which, as Dr. Thornton noted, is expected of each Howard student.
I would consider my English professor Ms. Walsh, and my Political Science teacher Ms. Kan, to be a representative thinker here at Howard. Unlike most professors every word that comes out their mouth isn't "Power to the People." They teach about the world and other cultures.
They aren't limited to just preaching about how African Americans are so great and their the best culture. I like that they don't confine in the fact that were at an HBCU. Many people feel like since were an HBCU we must focus on the African culture. Unfortunately, because
professors think that way, we arent exposed to other cultures as much as a school like Georgtown exposes their students to. They think beyond "us" and teach us to look as the world as a whole not just as an African American in the world. Students at Howard that does not
encounter one of these professors or someone like them will have a limited viewpoint and be so wrapped up in their own culture they will be ignorant to everyone else's. It is funny to me that both these professors are not of the black descent. One is Turkish and the other White. I believe that if more Afrucan American teachers would be more open to stop being so pro Afro-centic then they will open the minds of us students. As African American's all our lives we have looked on the world with a black perspective. We have showed resentment towards whites because of past events, we have seperated ourselves from the rest of the world, we have become ignorant of other cultures, we have relied on only our culture forgetting that humans must rely on each other. By seperating ourselves from the rest of the world and teacging our kids that we are the better culture we have just put more emphasis on racism. Instead of teaching us to be a good individual they teach us to be a good African American. By limiting us to one race they have done us disjustice. We need to look beyond our skin color. They always say skin color doesn't matter, but they continue to label us. If we would simply stop acknowledging the fact that we are black and their white then the difference wouldnt be so great. Ms. Kan and Ms. Walsh inspire me to "till and turn over the soil" because they too have faced racism and hardships, also not being natives of the land, yet they have managed to make a living for themselves. They have become professors at a well known institution and have made a difference in my life already. They have taught me a new way of thinking.
In order to be considered the"best and brightest," I feel I must first become the best me that I can be. I have come to an understanding that I'm not competing against anyone but myself. My goal in life is to reach MY fullest potential here at Howard. Being considered the best isn't something I worry myself with because I know having a goal to be better than another shows no
true ambition. My success is driven off of my own personal motivation. I choose to be the best at all I do, not because tbe best or the brightest, but because I reahed my own potential. In order to reach my fullest potential at this stage in my life I must always assert myself to take all oppurtunities available. Not only is it important to meet new people and build relationships with them, but I must also stay focused on my studies. I have to balance my social life with my academic life. In order for me to be considered the "best an brightest" that I can be, I must demonstrate leadership and be my own person. I have to be always seeking the Lord and see if His will is my will. If it isn't, I must make the neccisarry changes so that my life and actions reflects what God wants of and from me. I think it's extremely important that not only am I academically and socially secured, but I'm also secure in my relationship with God in order to be the best and the brightest by reaching MY fullest potential.
2. What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? How does your citizenship in the nation inform your world citizenry?
Dr. Thorton mentioned being a citizen of the world all throughout his speech. He said that to be a citizen one has universal rights. Those universal rights could differ from education, employement, to healthcare. He said citizens need to be granted certain basic rights and freedoms. To be a citizen of the world you must take up social space. You must make your presence known by contributiing to society. You have to be an active individual in the world to be a true citizen.
3. Identify a representative thinker of Howard. How does that figure's life work inspire you to "till and turn over the soil" which, as Dr. Thornton noted, is expected of each Howard student.
I would consider my English professor Ms. Walsh, and my Political Science teacher Ms. Kan, to be a representative thinker here at Howard. Unlike most professors every word that comes out their mouth isn't "Power to the People." They teach about the world and other cultures.
They aren't limited to just preaching about how African Americans are so great and their the best culture. I like that they don't confine in the fact that were at an HBCU. Many people feel like since were an HBCU we must focus on the African culture. Unfortunately, because
professors think that way, we arent exposed to other cultures as much as a school like Georgtown exposes their students to. They think beyond "us" and teach us to look as the world as a whole not just as an African American in the world. Students at Howard that does not
encounter one of these professors or someone like them will have a limited viewpoint and be so wrapped up in their own culture they will be ignorant to everyone else's. It is funny to me that both these professors are not of the black descent. One is Turkish and the other White. I believe that if more Afrucan American teachers would be more open to stop being so pro Afro-centic then they will open the minds of us students. As African American's all our lives we have looked on the world with a black perspective. We have showed resentment towards whites because of past events, we have seperated ourselves from the rest of the world, we have become ignorant of other cultures, we have relied on only our culture forgetting that humans must rely on each other. By seperating ourselves from the rest of the world and teacging our kids that we are the better culture we have just put more emphasis on racism. Instead of teaching us to be a good individual they teach us to be a good African American. By limiting us to one race they have done us disjustice. We need to look beyond our skin color. They always say skin color doesn't matter, but they continue to label us. If we would simply stop acknowledging the fact that we are black and their white then the difference wouldnt be so great. Ms. Kan and Ms. Walsh inspire me to "till and turn over the soil" because they too have faced racism and hardships, also not being natives of the land, yet they have managed to make a living for themselves. They have become professors at a well known institution and have made a difference in my life already. They have taught me a new way of thinking.
Our Political Discourse
When will the black community ever realize that education is mandatory and not just a resource that can be used. Here at Howard, I believe that to be a part of the “best and brightest” you should first off find out what your reasoning is , your purpose, what you are planning on dedicating the rest of your life to, your major. Next while finding yourself and developing into someone that has restraint and strive to be someone better and helpful to society that you do take the right courses to tend to your success. Also I believe that your activity in your school and your surrounding community helps you become a better individual and when you have that resource then you are capable of achieving anything. Like Dr. Alvin Thornton addressed in his lecture that you have to keep up your grades not just because you want to be seen as hardworking but you want to get something out of educating yourself every day, getting knowledge that you are now paying for and make it worth it. Starting your higher education at Howard is already a good start you just need to “participate” in wanting to make a difference. Take your citizenship to another level.
To be a citizen of the world is a very vague perspective but there are many stepping stools that you can take to become someone that really matters and who is persevering to make a change in someone’s life besides their own. My citizenship informs me that I have a voice and that even though there are laws and rules but that I have the capability in breaking them in order to form a better nation. I honestly think that to be called a citizen period, being that we are all mainly African American , that we should use this advantage to want to do better for our people. I remember when there was a time when “we” were not even considered to be a human being. We as African Americans should take the word citizen and change its meaning.
Sorry to say, but I have not done my research on respectable Howard Alumni but I do know of Terrance Howard, Teraji P. Henson, and I few others who have attended this university and that have made a difference. I believe that they got the respects because they came to college and proved to everyone that they were not going to be another statistic; seeing how they are all successful, and now giving back and representing what Howard University is all about. Their art of work inspires me to become someone better, that everyone can look up to in a respectful and highly way. I tend to make a difference, I just do not know how I will, yet.
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