Self-Reflection

Sierra Dennis

Overall, I have enjoyed the Freshman Seminar program. As a person who has attended majority white schools the majority of my academic career, I found it refreshing to finally hear MY history, the history of MY ancestors in Africa and the ancestors that were brought to the United States. Often time the only black history we received in schools is that from the Civil Right’s Movement, which is a very essential piece of our history but I loved hearing stories about Omoluabi and how Afrkaans hieroglyphics had messages that we still believe in today—speech is beauty. The ability to express ones self is “beautiful.”

Though I often had to drag myself out of bed to come to freshman seminar, it was always worth it, because I truthfully enjoyed every presentation. I especially enjoyed the “Eloquence of the Scribes,” where Dr. Benjamin explain to all us students the history of the university that we all chose to attend. Throughout the semester I found myself, when going into buildings across campus giving my friend’s short biographies of the affluent historical figure in which the building was named after.

I believe the African Burial Trip was scheduled at the perfect time in the semester because after hearing all the presentations, we finally had a interact, hands-on situation where we saw pictures and artifacts that were all a part of our history.

The Mbongi forms really helped keep me focus in class because I always genuinely wanted to know how each presenter’s information would relate to my questions, like “what was something new I could learn from their information,” or “what was the contemporary issue that related to their presentation.”

Peer Review #2

Sierra Dennis

The HUHouston2014 group’s presentation focused on how the lack of necessities and unfit living conditions had a negative impact on African slaves health and manifests itself in current health issues within the Black Community.

The thin clothing material distributed to the slaves in the winter caused frequent sickness amongst many slave communities. Many times the thin material for their clothing was simply burlap bags! This was not sufficient clothing for cold days. Slave masters only gave them clothes to determine with the slave’s gender, and often time more clothing was distributed to slaves based on their performance. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs were met but not efficiently. Shelter was provided but they were often small shacks expected to hold several families and often not adequately insolated. This is how sicknesses spread quickly; living in close quarters in cramped houses gave them considerable exposure to other sick people. They were also provided with inadequate bedding—straw beds—which caused them much discomfort at night. As previously stated, clothing was dispersed depended on status, a house slave or an outside slave. They were provided with minimal nourishment, only the scraps of food left over from the master’s dinner. The weekly food rations were often diets high in fat & starch. This type of diet created many health issues for slaves, but the diet has been continued in the modern community. Black people love “Soul Food:” macaroni and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, corn bread, etc., but this causes our community to have a high percentage of people with hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The group’s solution was to incorporate healthy foods into our diets at home.

Captive in slavery, many slaves lost their sense of self. Due to abuse, ranging from beatings to rapes, many slaves also suffered from anxiety & panic attacks. Children in slavery were dying younger and reaching puberty early, which is what we learned at the African Burial Grounds Musuem. Children at the age of four were already performing adult duties, which wore on their small, undeveloped bodies.

Peer Review #1

Sierra Dennis

The Asunteyanya group in freshmen seminar did their presentation on Race and Education with a focus on the DC Public School System. They discussed how over the past years within the DC school system the standardized test scores have lowered, with scores ranging from 1200 – 1196. The found a correlation between attendance and truancy, as attendance rates increase, truancy rates decrease.

There is a “Race Gap,” and Obama is enforcing the “No Child Left Behind” program in which unqualified teachers are fired and replaced with more qualified teacher. They mentioned how President Obama was so disappointed with the DC school system that he made a public statement saying he wouldn’t send his daughters, Sasha and Mileeya, to any of the districts schools until they improve drastically. Along with President Obama, Mayor Adrian Fenty will not allow his children to attend the elementary schools within the DC school system until the scores heighten.

The Asunteyanya group discussed alternatives for students struggling within the DC school systems. They suggested that these students could transfer to charter school, a primary or secondary school that receive public money but is not subject to the same rules or regulations as public school. Though they receive public money, they are not allowed to charge tuition to their students. The charter school that they suggested was the local middle school, Howard Middle School. Their other alternative was magnet schools, a school system that are public schools with specialized curriculums. Within a magnet school, students can begin a degree in 10^th grade.

Self Reflection

Jazzmin Tennessee

Post 10

Whoa, what a journey. These weeks passed by so fast I didn’t even realize how close we were to the end. As we bring Freshman Seminar to a close I reflect back on the day we first started, thinking that I would only learn a few things, not really thinking that this one credit hour class would do me much justice. Boy was I wrong.

            Freshman Seminar is a great opportunity to learn things you never even thought about. It was so fulfilling and so insightful and I enjoyed oh so much. Freshman Seminar has changed my views on a lot of things; it helped me to grow more into the heritage of my African ancestors. It boggled my mind left me wanting more, left me in awe over the things that I always longed to know.

            Through the presenters I was feed the life of the many glorious people who came before me I was intrigued and impressed. I have always been proud of my race and the people who sacrificed themselves to make sure I had a better life, and this class just gave me a deeper pride of the African Diaspora.

            I came to Howard University to learn more about just not my ancestors, but about my self and over the past weeks I have learned more than I ever would have at any other university. I take pride in myself and my culture, I love myself and those who paved the way for me to be here today. I am growing more and more everyday and I am glad that I was given the chance to take pride in my heritage. Freshman seminar was a great experience for me, but now it’s the end of the semester which means it’s time to go home NEW ORLEANS HERE I COME.

                                                                            Thank you for everything,

                                                                                  Jazzmin Tennessee

We Are Change

Jazzmin Tennessee
Post 9

How does gang violence effect inner city high school students in Washington, DC?

            Another fallen victim, another life gone, innocent or not who’s to say, but it shouldn’t be put in to the hands of a 13 year old who stole his mothers gun to get revenge or 16 year old who bought one off the streets so he could “handle his problems.”

            Gang violence has been going on for years and it’s not just a teenage thing, but for the most part this is the majority. Also, the group brought up the point in which males tend to join gangs more than females. People have been trying to find ways to end gang violence for years, but without anything else to do young people flock to gangs because they think it’s cool, or because it gives them something to do, some even join because they feel that it is some kind of brother/sisterhood.

            Gangs not only effect the crime rate but it also has many other effects on the community. This group brought up some very good points, even though they talked about the crime rate, and the violence, they also talked about the educational side. They spoke about the drop out rate and how it effected the graduation rate, which since 2006 has gone up.

            Some solutions that were put out were to involve students in extracurricular activities, create and enforce programs to improve education, fieldtrips, sports, academic organizations, and mentors. The group also felt as though if the mayor was to let them know that he cares, show them that they don’t have to do this that would make a difference.

            I just hope that one day everyone will see that gangs are not cool, that taking someone’s life is not their job to do, I just hope that the young people will wake up and see that they can be so much more if only they let the gangs go.

INTERVIEW BLOG

When we began our project, we knew that we wanted to focus on the environmental harm that the lack of recycling has placed upon the New Orleans community. I interviewed my senior year environmental science teacher, Bill Wallace, and he enlightened us on the long-term affects and the future health issues this presents for the community.

What are the long-term affects this lack of recycling will have on the community?

“Truthfully, I can only reiterate what various environmentalists have discussed. Lack of recycling impacts the community and the world. Lack of recycling creates pollution, excessive CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere, which affect the global warming. In communities, trash littered in oceans and local bodies of water can affect the aquatic life, and if oil spills have not done enough damage to the aquatic life, residents who don’t recycle don’t want to add to this issue…Also lack of recycling paper now, can result in tree reduction at great rates in the future.”

How does the lack of recycling affect the health of the residents in the community?

“One of the major issues with recycling is landfills. The waste is buried now, but if recycling continues to decline at this rate, the landfills will one day be full, and where will the trash go? In the ocean? In the streets? Garbage just being dumped anywhere. This is the same issue that America encountered during the urbanization period. Sanitation was a huge issue, when trash was littering the streets and houses…it will be difficult for residents to stay healthy in such conditions.”

HUHouston2014

Jazzmin Tennessee
Post 8

How does lack of necessities and unfit living conditions have a negative impact on African slaves health and manifest in current health issues within the black community?

            African slaves were treated like they were less than human, they wee feed scraps, they were beaten and raped, they were given scraps of clothing, and infected with many diseases.

            In my opinion this group presented very well, they dug down deep and pulled out the things that we already knew but also some things that we did not. Knowing that slaves were treated so poorly was always something we all knew, but to think that many of the diseases and conditions that the black community suffers from today all started from the mistreatment of slaves is enough to make you rethink everything you do in life.

            Slaves were awarded according to performance; their clothing was better depending on how they performed. It also depended on status, the house slave would usually get better clothes, live in the house even though conditions were harsh and space was cramped. The field slave on the other hand lived in huts with no heat, very limited space and inadequate sleep habits.

            The lack of nutrition caused for many complications with slaves. It caused stress, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, all due to the foods that they consumed.

            So as a community we should learn to eat healthier, our community is know for the foods we eat but we are also the top runners for diabetes and obesity. It’s time for a major change and we should all be apart of the solution.

           

            

Chrissy Purcell-Post 10

Chrissy Purcell

Freshman Seminar

Post 10

African Burial Ground

“New York, New York, It’s a helluva town!” Wow! My first trip to New York. I had a blast. I had no clue that there was so much history in New York. Also, who knew that was so much African history in New York. It was absolutely fascinating to realize that some of the first “African Americans” actually died before they even reached land and there were so many of them too. I could never even begin to imagine how much trauma those people suffered mentally and physically just from the journey. And to think, the ones who survive actually only had harder times ahead of them. This trip made me realize that there are people who have paid for my freedom with their lives and souls. I am gracious and thankful. This whole experience was overall thought provoking and a bit self actualizing. It caused me to realize that if they had not paid their price, we would not as a race of African american people be where we are today. I mean, honestly, the president is black in a country where blacks were once second-class citizens at all times. However enlightening that fact may be, it is sobering to realize that in some respects there is segregation in other less obvious ways that we still must fight. even amongst ourselves, their is quite a bit of hate. All in all, this trip made me recognize how far we have come as a race but at the same time see how far we still have left to go. It makes me question if things ever really will be equal...

Chrissy Purcell-Post 9

Chrissy Purcell

Freshman Seminar

Post 9

Review 9-We Are Change

We Are Change gave a very ambitious, go-getting, and honest presentation. I can really appreciate them addressing a real question and not some hypothetical question that actually only refers to theories or ideas (examples: beauty, color complex, etc.). Instead they chose to address how gang violence affects inner city high school kids in the Washington, D.C. area. They raised some very important points. The first point was that many kids joined gangs for protection from other gangs that they encounter in their daily lives. We Are Change pointed out what a sad truth this is and that it occurs too often in many urban African American communities. Following these truths, We Are Change mentioned some possible solutions, which I found to be intriguing and creative solutions to what should not even be a problem in this day and age. They suggested that recreation center be built to cater to the kids who live in “dangerous” areas. The recreation center would have a mentoring program that would provide a sense of care between the older and younger generation. Consequently, this would make the kids less likely to choose the wrong path, which would be gang violence. Also, the mentoring program would make kids feel like they had a source of protection within their communities. This would deter them from feeling pressured to join gangs to preserve their own personal safety. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed We Are Change’s presentation. [Cues the applause.]

Chrissy Purcell-Post 8

Chrissy Purcell

Freshman Seminar

Post 8

Peer Review 1- Freshmen Inception

First thing off of the bat, I would like to say that I applaud this groups ambitious efforts to address the beauty complexes and myths found in the African American community. However, I would like to state that they attacked Nicki Minaj. While I am not fond of her “look”, it is a bit too overdone for me, she has a right to look any way she wants to. Consequently, I feel that it was a poor argument to attack a celebrity who has built their career around their outlandishly and physically unachievable looks and say that young black girls idolize her. It may be true that some young black girls idolize Minaj, but whose fault is that. I for one feel it is not Minaj’s fault. She cannot help if people wish to look like her and there should not be any stigmas placed on anyone who does wish to achieve her “plastic perfect” or “Barbie” look. And in addition, it is not up to Minaj to be an example for young black girls. She has a right as a human to be who she wants to be and not be judged for it. For example, one of the members of Freshmen Inception noted that Minaj wears a blonde wig to concede herself to traditional eurocentric beauty. Is it not her right to be herself? I feel like Freshmen Inception definitely skirted this issue. As I mentioned earlier, I still appreciate their deep thoughts and research on the topic. It was overall eyeopening and refreshing to my mind. Brava, ladies!

Chrissy Purcell-Post 7

Chrissy Purcell

Freshman Seminar

Post 7

Self-Reflection

Overall, freshman seminar has been quite an experience. There have been moments of disgust and moments of relief and even some laughs along the way. Although I am happy to have finished the course, I can say that the experience has taught me a couple things. The first being, I really cannot stand group projects. I do not function well in groups, too bossy. In this particular case, my group members were particularly argumentative. This caused me to cede any position of power I might have claimed. At the moment, this action was quite upsetting to my naturally controlling spirit. The second lesson is my ability to be a better member of groups. However as time passed, I became more willing to accept help, criticism, and exchange ideas. In retrospect, this might be freshman seminar’s biggest accomplishment in regards to me. I have learned to become a better follower and, in turn, a better group member. The third thing it taught me was that I have a knack for presenting. The same is not true for research though. I almost present my groups findings solely and I had no problem doing it. I find presenting to be enjoyable and easy, so it was only natural that my gift of gab was used to be the voice of our groups work. All in all, I had a pretty enjoyable time with my group. And i think it would be unfair to acknowledge their contributions. Thanks Ayana, Jazzmin, Sierra, and Tearra. I <3 you guys! And so long and farewell to freshman seminar!!!

“OH YEAH I AM GOING HOME!”

Ayana Boudreaux

Post 10

Freshman Seminar

I feel like a kid lying in bed the night before Christmas anxiously waiting for Santa Claus to come down the chimney with his bag of toys. Freshman Seminar has come to an end, which to me indicates that the semester as well is coming to an end. This all simply means shrimp etouffee, gumbo, family, and New Orleans. Oh! I have truly come to understand what it means to miss New Orleans. Please don’t take my overwhelming joy as a symbol of dislike for Howard, but like Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, “There is no place like home.”

When Freshman Seminar began on Wednesday August 25 I was eager to learn about the African Diaspora. With beliefs that I would be informed about things that I had never known as well as build a closer bond to my African heritage, I entered the class with great joy. Greeted by the energetic Dr.Carr, my excitement grew. That is until the lecture began, at this point I noticed that most of the things he was speaking of I already knew. I was not expecting to be taught about the same symbols and African beliefs. Even though this action occurred frequently during all the lectures, I can say that I still obtained much knowledge of my African heritage.

Freshman Seminar has allowed me to grow as well as understand where it is I come from. I love it here at the Mecca and because of the Freshman Seminar course my reason for attending this university has been asserted. 

We are Change: “How does Gang Violence Effect Inner City High School Students in Washington D.C?”

Ayana Boudreaux

Post 9

Freshman Seminar

BANG BANG BANG!!! A distant cry, screams, an echo of a human stampede, and the sound of police sirens fill the air like the night breeze as it pierce my cheeks. While my mind wanders to know what is taking place the voice of a radio host implants imaginatively in my mind these words: “Welcome to the MURDER capitol.” Yet my surroundings resembled that of the NATIONS capitol. It’s funny how crime has its own transportation and it moves from coast to coast. Like in New Orleans crime here in Washington D.C is carried out by the young.

In order to seek an answer to this broad question: In what ways is knowledge generated by various fields of study used to develop solutions to human social problems and challenges, the freshman seminar group cleverly branded, We are Change, attempted to discover a solution to gang violence in Washington D.C. Posing the question: “How does gang violence affect inner city high school students in Washington D.C,” they began to plead a case.

Through research, We are Change, discovered that most youth in the area join gangs because they cannot overcome the pressure of gangs or they have simply come accustomed to the everyday view of gangs. In order to solve the issue of gangs they believed that implementing field trips, building sports recreation centers, having a mentor, and just a simple presence of care can help end gang violence. In my opinion it may take a while to do and cause much turmoil, but gang violence can cease.

HU Houston2014: “A Story of Change!”

Ayana Boudreaux

Freshman Seminar

Post 8

Who knew that upon entering a course that only supplies you with one credit towards your college degree, so much effort would be required to put forth. Listening to lengthy lectures, some not as intriguing as others, we were thought lessons about the African Diaspora. For each lecture students were required to type up a 250 word blog. As the semester neared the end students were also required to seek an answer to this broad question: In what ways is knowledge generated by various fields of study used to develop solutions to human social problems and challenges?

Some groups explored the African Diaspora, of which we had been taught about since the course had begun in search of a topic, while others searched the modern world. Take for instance the self-entitled group HU Houston2014.  Viewing the mistreatment of African slaves as well as the lack of what we have come to know as necessities for survival, HU Houston questioned if these traits have contributed to the Black Communities modern health issue.

Their question simply asked how did the lack of necessities and unfit living conditions have a negative impact on African slaves’ health and manifest itself in current health issues within the Black Community.

From aspects such as clothing all the way to psychological reasoning, the freshman seminar group pleaded their case. Slaves were feed the slops and what remained of the pig once the “master” received his meal. These parts were extremely fatting, which lead to obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases. Today many African Americans eat these same products killing off our ethnic race through the “master’s” unpleasant food which he gave to his workers.

Taking a second to understand modern clothes fads HU Houston2014 spoke about the hand me down clothing, similar to those that my brother gave to me on my tenth birthday. Droopy, raged, and out worn clothing that had no sense feminism. [Chuckle] I guess HU Houston proved a point. So, how could we reach a solution to this problem? Simple! Through exercise, daily movement, and education the Black Community shall survive.

African Burial Grounds Trip

Sierra Dennis

Our trip to the African Burial Grounds in New York was truly eye opening. We always hear about African slaves struggles but this museum provided detailed visuals and videos that gave us more insight into the history. One of my favorite quotes from the trip was “You may bury me in the bottom of Manhattan, I will rise. My people will get me. I will rise out of the huts of history’s shame,” stated October 4^th, 2003 at a rally by Poet Maya Angelou. This quote was directed toward the men who were discovered the bones and in a way to silence the discovery, by throw bodies in the Hudson and other area, almost destroyed parts of our African history.

One interesting thing I found out while at the Burial Grounds was that when Africans arrived to America, they were still divided up into their 12 tribes. Divided, yet, they were able to co-exist and share their cultures. It was not until the Europeans arrived that they were labeled “Africans.”

Another statue that I enjoyed was the half finished pyramid that was on Broadway that has the quote, “For all those who were lost/For all those who were stolen/For all those who were left behind/For all those who were not forgotten,” on the side of it. They Burial Ground ranger explained that this pyramid was “not finished” because our ancestors had created the base, and it was our job, generation Y’s job, to finish the top, basically to continue what they had started, and fight through the struggle.

African Burial Grounds

Jazzmin Tennessee

Post 7

This past Saturday I went on the New York trip to the African burial grounds. On the trip up to New York I was very excited to learn some new things that I never knew about before. Visiting the African burial grounds was important to me because it brought me closer to the ancestors and how they lived. I like how at the beginning we did the libations with Dr.Carr that was a really nice and peaceful moment and I really enjoyed it. One thing that I really liked about the burial grounds was the fact that they let us touch things and be interactive in the museum, because it really made me feel connected. I also really like when we went outside to the memorial site where we learned about the Sankofa symbols, and walked through the monument which from one side looks like an unfinished pyramid but from the other side looks like a ship, when we entered the monument all together to see what it would feel like to be captured for months with barely any room and maybe even a dead or dying person sitting right next to you i was overwhelmed with emotions. Something that I was expecting to see was actual burial sites and maybe even some bodies but I did enjoy it all. The trip to the burial grounds helped me to realize just how much our African ancestors went through and what they did for the country that we all live in today. This is a trip that I believe everyone should take just for the memory and the story behind the great ancestors that we know so little about. I really enjoyed the African burial grounds and I hope that everyone I know gets the chance to go one day and experience just for a moment the struggles that our ancestors went through. I now have a better understanding and an even greater appreciation for those who came before us.

"African Burial Ground: A Trip to The Mother Land on U.S Soil."

Ayana Boudreaux
Freshman Seminar
Post 7

Waking up at three forty-five in the morning just to shower and clothe myself for a trip to New York is not how I wished to start my day off after a long Friday night, but on October 16, 2010 that is exactly how my day began. As I  boarded the bus I prepared myself for a long nap so that I would be well rested once we reached the burial grounds and I forbade anyone to sit next to me taking the seat that I had reserved for my legs to lie upon. [Chuckle] In the back of my mind however, I knew that with a class of more than two hundred students, someone would have had to take a seat beside me. Luckily the guy that sat next to me was a great conversationalist.

As the buses took off for New York my seat mate and I spoke briefly about what we were about to experience. While he was looking to venture off into the streets of the Empire State, I was expecting to see something more along the lines of mummified bodies and extensive research. Too eager to sleep the two of us spoke for hours about our adventure.

Arriving in Manhattan and exiting the bus my Freshman Seminar group walked towards the African Burial Grounds. Once we reached our destination we joined in with the remaining groups from the class in a spiritual libation to our ancestors. When finished we watched a twenty minute movie about the grounds and we observed the museum area. Following that we received a lecture and historical message. Stepping inside of what I believed was a marble pyramid engraved with African Adinkra symbols, I got the chance to experience life on a slave ship. Next we walked towards a statue which was a representation of one form of way African woman dressed. There we spotted young men skateboarding along the grounds. I was outraged and to add insult to injury, as we walked closer one of the guys yelled to his buddy, “Hey hurry up before the HERD comes.” Herd! Do we look like a bunch of cattle to the Caucasian man still?

I believe that much more respect should be given to those grounds. Truly the African Burial Ground was a spiritual uplifting, but I wish that like many of the European museums and grounds dedicated to the founding fathers of this nation, that the African Burial Grounds could have much more to show or view.

Post 6-Dr. Williams

Chrissy Purcell

Freshman Seminar

Post 6

Dr. Williams Presentation

This presentation was very informational to me. It helped me to better understand what exactly what the purpose and goal of our groups is. Overall, Dr. Williams gave a brief yet comprehensive summary of what will be taking place in the weeks to come. Using the plan of action she offered, I think it will be hard for any group to not present some thing that exhibits great thought and great effort. I can only hope that my group will do justice to the task that is being asked of us. 

This brings me to my main area of concern. I am still unsure of what my group will conduct our research on. I have yet to even meet half of my group. Hopefully, they will be as dedicated as i am to coming up with some sort of presentation that meets and exceeds all of our instructors expectations. In order to achieve this, I promise to be receptive to everyones ideas and opinions, which can sometimes prove to be a problem for me. Also, I plan to be flexible and to ignore any tendencies I have to be reluctant to finish group projects alone because I feel as though no one else can do it correctly. This will give me a better chance at being a better group member because you cannot do everything alone all of the time. I must learn to trust and depend on others. This will help me in my schooling because I will become a working member of a group not the working member. 

Research and Methodology: Inscription as a Liberating Practice

Jazzmin Tennessee

Post 6

 

The final lecture, time has really gone by so fast. Dr. Williams’s presentation was like a mini review session for me. We discussed the lectures before and also what is now expected from us. We discussed the key components of the group projects and what we should do to make our projects better. We also discussed the basic components of research and how they take a major part in our projects. Dr. Williams’s presentation wasn’t the normal drawn out presentation that I expected it to be, it was actually one of my favorites because it was clear and I understood everything that was said. I was glad that she went back over all of the old presentations because I didn’t quite understand some of them the first time they were presented. Dr. Williams also gave very good advice on how to go about doing our project and the research that goes along with it. Overall Dr. Williams’s presentation was clear and informative and through this presentation I feel as though me and my group will do better research and in the end come out with a much better project. So I would just like to say Thank You Dr. Williams for your words of wisdom and advice, and giving us a better understanding of what it is that we must do, and how we must do it, I appreciate your wisdom and  accept your knowledge.

Entry 6: "Memory, Awareness, Vision"

In her presentation, Dr. Dana spoke to us about the methodology which we are supposed to be using to complete our Freshman Seminar Research assignment. Her first section was about the “Current State of Research,” and how as researchers we must ask key questions such as, “What has already been said about this topic?” “Will your research reveal something new or different?” “Can you find the answer in a reasonable amount of time?” She used their improvements in the Freshman Seminar Program as an example of how we should conduct our research; this was very informative. The panel of professors first found an issue within that current state: they did not want students to believe that their history began with slavery because that is not the case. They made suggestions on how to enlighten the students of their history before slavery. They decided to incorporated lectures into the curriculum that discuss the Ancient African World, the world of our ancestors. Dr. Carr and Dr. Dunston’s lectures were geared toward creating a “historical memory” for the students and to get an insight into their ancestors past and their theories on “speech” and “beauty;” they want the students to know that like their ancestors they have the ability to change their communities. Dr. Benjamin and Dr. Gbadegesin lectures about the “Scribes” and the “Story of Iwa” were geared to creating “awareness” within the freshman class of how the history had been institutionalized and helped create the foundation of Howard and the values which have been instilled within our race. The last part of the cycle was their “vision”: actually having the lecturers present to the students. They also introduced the concept of blog entries and the Mbongi forms to the students to receive feedback.

"Research and Methodology: Inscription as a Liberating Practice."

Ayana Boudreaux

Freshman Seminar

Post 6

Wow! The finally lecture of the Freshman Seminar, boy time really does fly whether you are having fun or not. When I heard those words I felt like a slave being freed from the shackles which held them back from the world. Now I am not saying that being in Freshman Seminar was like being enslaved because I haven’t experienced slavery, but I must say that I didn’t always look forward to attending class.

As I set back in my seat I prepared myself for what I believed would be another drawn out lecture about my African Heritage. Eager to get out of class I placed my cell phone on my desk to monitor the time. Stepping up to the podium Dr. Dana Williams began to exclaim the objectives of the day’s lecture. She was going to provide the class with the help that many of us were seeking in order to complete our group projects. This really grabbed my attention because, I am slightly skeptical about my group’s project. With open ears I aroused to the front of my seat and became very attentive as Dr. Williams began her lecture.

 Helping us to identify principle components of research and applying those components to our group project I must admit was a great idea. Dr. Dana William’s presentation was very direct and explanatory; I left out of Just Hall with a better outlook and understanding of how to construct the group project. Giving us examples of what to do was very helpful as well. I really enjoyed Dr. Williams lecture and I want to thank her for her help.

OMOLUABI: Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility

Jazzmin Tennessee

Post 5

First off I would just like to say that I really enjoyed myself during Dr. Segun Gbadegesin’s presentation. Dr. Gbadegesin spoke of Iwa or existence/ character, and how we should never lose our Iwa. This stood out to me because I feel as though your character defines who you are and if you lose your character what is left to define your existence.  He discussed the Goddess Ma ’at and the principles of Ma’ at, which are like what we know today as the Ten Commandments. The Principles of Ma’ at contain a list of forty-two confessions of things that have not been done in the honor of God. We talked about the ties that bind Ancient Egypt and the African World physically, spiritually, philosophically, metaphysically, and ethically. Dr. Gbadegesin presentation taught me about things that I probably would have never learned if I had not come to Howard University. Even though Dr. Gbadegesin has a very strong accent that prohibited me from understanding some of the things he was saying, it also made the presentation all the more interesting. So overall Dr. Gbadegesin had one of my favorite presentations because he not only gave us a sense of character and existence, he gave us a look into the lives of the ancestors that we don’t normally learn about, about the life of the great people who came before us, and the hope for the lives of the people of today and the future; I greatly appreciated Dr. Gbadegesin’s great Iwa.

“OMOLUABI: Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility”

Ayana Boudreaux

Freshman Seminar

Post 5

First allow me to begin by saying that Dr. Segun Gbadegesin presentation on the OMOLUABI: Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility was very informative. It focused on the empowerment of the young folk as shown through the eyes of the African culture. A strive to encourage youth to obtain an educate or continue the one they were seeking then applying it to service was created by his presentation. You see as stated in Dr. Segun Gbadegesin power point, “Wisdom is putting knowledge acquired through education to the service of community and not shying away from personal sacrifices when needed.”   We were also given the Principles of Ma’at, which greatly influences balance, harmony, the maintenance of order, justice, and truth.

I believe that the entire presentation was a method created to encourage as well as boost our self-confidence. I took a lot out of the presentation, but it was difficult to understand the words that Dr. Segun Gbadegesin was speaking. I mean no harm in saying this, so please excuse me. His strong accent made it difficult to comprehend his message throughout the entire session, but I tried my hardest to understand. Grasping my attention at times during the session became a task that was too hard to complete because I grew tired and my eyes became heavy as I attempted to understand his [Dr. Segun Gbadegesin] words. Sure understanding him was difficult, but regardless of his accent I took away a message of superior excellence and achievement.

Post 5

Chrissy Purcell

Freshman Seminar

Post 5

Presentation 5

I would like to start off by saying that I actually enjoyed myself during this lecture.   The lecturer spoke of things that were beneficial and helpful to our class. He spoke mostly about good character, what it means to have good character, and how to obtain good character. To me, this is one of the most relevant speeches I have heard since being in the class. I hold this opinion because it speaks directly to each individual student and not indirectly. Character and the qualities and traits one possesses affects us all directly. And for that reason alone, good character building is key to a harmonious society. Furthermore, developing character is apart of becoming an adult which is a major developmental process that all of us freshmen are experiencing right now. That made the topic of character that much more valuable as a lecture topic. Overall, I approve of this lecture. The only grievance I hold is with the fact that the lecturer had a very thick accent that made it difficult to understand everything he was saying. However, I must interject that if one paid close enough attention then extracting the general meaning of his lecture was not hard at all. 

Entry 5: "Self-Actualization & Communal Responsibility"

Last Wednesday, during freshman seminar, Dr. Segun Gbadegesin gave a compelling presentation about “Self-Actualization & Communal Responsibility.” He started his presentation by paying homage to his creator, ancestors, the class of 2014, and Ayan (drummer). He explained that there are physical, spiritual, and philosophical ties binding Ancient Egypt and the African World. He then captured our attention with the “Story of Iwa,” a great example of the importance of character. Orunmila, the Yoruba God of Wisdom, marries Iwa (means “existence/character”) and her father is Suuru (means “patience”). Well Orumila lost patience with Iwa and mistreated her so, she left him. This well-to-do man, Orunmila, had many issues in his life after she left him; he lost everything he had. In desperation, he went searching for Iwa, because he could not survive in a world without her. The moral of the story was that you can never lose Iwa (character), because without her you cannot exist. Who are we without character? Nothing. A famous quote said, “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” Good character is equated to beauty in the African World. Your character defines your future, so you have if you have control of your thoughts you can determine what kind of future you will have, because you don’t want to be like Orunmilo trying to search for Iwa. We are responsible for ourselves.

Entry 4: How Is Generation X Going to Make A Difference Today?

In his presentation, “Civil Rights, Hip-Hop, and Hope: The Power of Young People”, Dr. Alton B. Pollard III compared and enlightened us on the impact of teenagers, in previous generations and our generation, in the black community. During the Civil Rights Movement, students at high schools and colleges were involved in fighting for equal rights, and as advocates of change they convinced there parents to join in the “fight”. The “radicals”, as many were labeled, participated in marches, sit-ins, etc, letting their message be known, “enough is enough.” Fighting freedom was considered a “communal responsibility.”

Martin Luther King stated that “nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.” As the decades processed, the young people used music, poetry, paintings, etc., to express their pain and struggles. In these urban neighborhood, namely in New York City, young adults used music and dance to refrain from being involved in gangs, violence, and drugs. The Hip-Hop movement produced lyrical artists such as, KRS One, Slick-Rick, 2Pac, Erykah Badu, Biggie, McLyte, Common, Lauryn Hill, etc.

Dr. Pollard reflected on all these past methods of change, but his question to us was “what is Generation X going to do to make a change in the Black community?” He expressed that the “fights of yesterday have transformed today” and we must find new nonviolent and influential ways to fight for social justice. We “must become the prayer we pray,” we cannot just sit around waiting for change to happen. Those teenagers participating in marches, riots, sit-ins were the same age we all are now, and many of them put their lives on the line to change our community to the way it is today. Are we ready to stand up for change?

Entry 3: “The Eloquence of the Scribes”: Initiation, Expectations, and Mastery—Continuing the Legacy of Howard University

In her presentation about “The Eloquence of Scribes” this week in Freshman Seminar, Dr. Benjamin gave brief biographies of many of the historical figures that our university and campus buildings are named after. She began the presentation with slideshows of information about ancient scribes: they were people who wrote books, kept track of rations on clay in Cuneiform 2350 BC, etc. There were even medieval scribes in the 15th century, like the European author Jean Mielot.

Dr. Benjamin then informed the crowd of the many historical figures who were involved in the initial phases of the university. As students, we enter these buildings and dorms everyday : Wheatley, Douglass, Locke, Carver, Cook, etc. but many of us were unaware of the stories behind the naming of the buildings. Howard University, originally the Howard Normal and Theological School for the Education of Teachers and Preachers, was founded in 1967 by US Officer and Union General Oliver Otis Howard who also served as head of the Freedmen’s Bureau. Gen. Howard served as president of the university from 1869 to 1874.

Mordecai Wyatt Johnson, a former pastor, founder of NAACP, and Professor of Economics and History at Morehouse College, was the first black president of Howard University, and he served as president from 1926 to 1960. During the course of Johnson’s presidency, enrollment increased by 8,000 students.

Many other historical figures were important to African –American history and the foundation of our campus, like Alain Leroy Locke, Charles Drew, Lucy Diggs Slowe, Ernest Just, George Washington Carver, Lulu Vere Childers, Prudence Crandall, Phyllis Wheatley, etc. Alain Locke was the first African-American Rhodes Scholar. He was also author of the survey graphic Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro which focused on “looking at our past and using those experiences to help paint the future.”

Entry 2: “Genome”—Uniqueness

When Dr. Georgia Dunston, Ph.D., the Director of Molecular Genetics and the Chair of the Department of Microbiology in the College of Medicine at Howard University, came to present to the freshman, she was unable to get to her slideshow but she did give a great presentation. She discussed the genome, and how this entity contains an organism’s hereditary information, which gives them their ‘uniqueness’. She expressed how the genomes within all of us make us different, individually, but that we are all still connected; we are a family connected by history. Yet we cannot solely define ourselves by our skin color; we represent culture, history, knowledge, struggle, freedom of speech, etc.

During her speech, Dr. Georgia M. Dunston stated that “we [this generation] are the answers to someone’s prayers”, because our ancestors struggled from slavery to the March on Washington to Board vs. Education, so that we could have equal rights in America and be attending schools and universities such as Howard University. She expressed to us that to find our own identity “we must first know where we’ve been, to know where we are going.” We must revisit our history, look at the progress our ancestors made, and we must have hope that we can make similar, if not better, advancements in society, if we all work together in the future and not tear other blacks down when they are succeeding. We need to find our purpose: our reason to be, and with the knowledge of our history, we should be able to create our own story.

Entry 1: “Learning, Wisdom, and The African World Experience”

Our first presentation in Freshman Seminar was given by Dr. Greg Carr, a professor in African American Studies and Chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University. He spoke about his journey to Africa, and the beauty of the hieroglyphics he witnessed. Ancient Afrikaans hieroglyphics are evidence that even before blacks arrived to the New World, they believed learning was important. Dr. Carr stated that the symbol for speech was “mew.” He informed our freshman class that the terms ‘speech’ and ‘beauty’ were considered concurrently, because the Afrikaans’ hieroglyphic for beautiful was almost identical to their hieroglyphic for speech. Afrikaans believed speech and wisdom were the most beautiful gifts or qualities a human could possess. They promoted learning and teaching amongst the children. We are seeing in our society now, in 2010, that this desire to continue learning has deteriorated within our children.

Reading and freedom of speech, two of the many rights that blacks were fighting to have our fifty years ago, yet young people today are not taking advantage of this opportunity to further their education; their ancestors were murdered and mutilated for trying to read and write. We look at all these experiences in the African –American history where we were not able to attend schools, and how individuals such as Ruby Bridges, the Little Rock 9, Thurgood Marshall, etc. were figures who helped African-Americans gain the right to attend schools with white children. So, why are African-American children taking advantage of this liberty, and often suppressing the advancements of others around them?

Civil Rights, Hip-Hop and Hope: The Power of Young People

Jazzmin Tennessee
Post 4

Dr. Alton B. Pollard III had such a great presentation I was entertained the whole time. Dr. Pollard’s presentation kept my attention I believe because it was something that I was interested in. Staring with the beginning during the civil rights movements; the sit in’s, the protest and all the influential people involved and how it all starts with our youth, the young people. He talked about how change starts in the hands of the young people that the youth has the power, hence the title of his power point “The Power of Young People.” Dr. Pollard’s presentation had an affect on me because he didn’t just talk about how these people bought about change; he invited us in to see if we knew about their impact. I think that the people from Dr. Pollard’s presentation have all influenced our nation in one way or another; whether it was through protest and speeches, or black power movements, to art, poetry and music; they all paved the way for the youth of today to make even bigger change in not just this country but around the world. I really appreciate that he gave us more than just your normal it’s your time to change the world speech; he showed us that it’s possible. So as a member of the Class of 2014 I believe we are the change and our time has come. 

"Power of Young People"

 Ayana Boudreaux 
 Post 4
 27 September 2010 

To begin I want to say that a power point of iconic African American is not an effective presentation unless words of reasoning are applied. It was not until Dr. Alton Pollard, III began to explain his reason for the images on the slide, that I became interested in the topic of discussion. However, from time to time I lost focus on the essential message because Dr. Alton Pollard, III would not cover most things in dept as he had done with other topics. Besides these few things I felt that the topic on Power of Young People was great.

From shackles to the white house, the African American culture has grown tremendously. Unfortunately, somewhere along the line the “X generation” or so they call us, has changed in ways that have not been accepted by our elders. What has not been seen by many is that the young people have been a great aspect to the African American movement. Dr. Alton Pollard, III presentation on the Power of Young People should us the ways in which young people have helped to gain freedom. Through his words he told us, the class of 2014, that it is our turn to make a change because without us the heritage that was created from blood, sweat, death, and tears means nothing. Dr. Alton Pollard, III said to us, “The blood that unites us is thicker than the water that divides us,” so basically the change comes from within us if we work together with our culture.

The Eloquence of the Scribes: Initiation, Expectations and Mastery – Continuing the Legacy of Howard University

Jazzmin Tennessee
Post 3

Let me just say that I really enjoyed Dr. Benjamin’s presentation. It was a very informative piece to me, because I never knew the story behind some of the people most of the buildings were named after or the buildings themselves, on Howard’s campus. Her whole presentation was so informative on the history and legacy of the generations of influential people of Howard University.  Dr. Benjamin’s presentation; beginning with Gen. Oliver Otis Howard himself, bringing us through a journey of educational and social impacts, showing us the history and the memories of the Howard name. This presentation made me want to learn more. I left the Just Hall auditorium more proud than ever before to say that I attend Howard University. Leaving the Ernest Everett Just Hall Auditorium I had a new knowledge of the names I look at each and every day. Living in Crandall Hall I always wondered who exactly Prudence Crandall was; and through Dr. Benjamin’s presentation I learned and now I understand her importance. Overall Dr. Benjamin’s presentation left me wanting more, wanting to be more involved more knowledgeable; and I cannot think of anything better . Even starting with the scribes of Egypt, the ancient scribes, the medieval scribe, and ending with the scribes that paved the way for Howard University to be what it is today.

 A wonderful presentation.

Dr. Pollard- Post 4

Chrissy Purcell

Freshmen Seminar

Wednesday

Post 4

Dr. Pollard’s Presentation

This presentation was not very  informational. Dr. Pollard’s data was well organized and was, also, presented decently. I would have to say he was the best presenter we have had since Dr. Carr presented during our first week. However, I do believe he had a bit of a tendency to go off on tangents. This was not helpful because with so many students in one class it can not be afforded that the orator lose focus for even a minute.  Also, I feel as though there was quite a bit of unnecessary name dropping for no apparent reason. In that I mean, the name dropping added nothing my store of knowledge. Even though, I wish it had. 

I do not wish to bash the speaker for each week; however, I feel as though that none of the orators we have had following Dr. Carr has had the presence or rhetorical use of language to command the room in a manner that would be beneficial to        all of us. I wish I had more to say about Dr. Pollard and the other speaker in a more positive light. I can admit that I do appreciate that Dr. Pollard took the initiative to play a video that he felt related to the problems and mentality of our generation. It shows that he respects that some aspect of our popular culture does deal with valid social issues. In conclusion, all that I can ask is that the powers that be reconsider the way freshman seminar is conducted so that it might better benefit students as opposed to the egos of the lecturers. 

Dr. Benjamin- Post 3

Chrissy Purcell

Freshman Seminar

Wednesday

Post 3

Dr. Benjamin’s Presentation

This lecture, while informative, was a dry, bland presentation. I was hoping for a class that was rich. Instead, all I got was a lecture about the people the buildings at Howard are named after. It did serve its purpose as an informative piece; however, I am still clueless as to how this lecture is related or interconnected with “The Eloquence of the Scribes.” Furthermore, while Dr. Benjamin did explain what a scribe is, I feel a bit confused about on idea of the power of beautiful language and voicing one’s self properly in the African and African American culture and how this relates to her naming of the names of the buildings. 

The things she explained seemed a bit rudimentary (who Howard University is named after, who the College of Arts and Sciences is named, etc.). I wish that our lectures worried more about equipping us socially, mentally, and spiritually for Howard University instead of who the buildings are named after. Subjects like talking professionally to professors, improving study habits, maturation and taking responsibility, and others make for a much more beneficial set of lectures than the ones we have had thus far, excluding Dr. Carr’s. Though I can not refute the validity of knowing the historic backgrounds of our new community as bringing the class of 2014 together, I can and do argue that there are more urgent and pressing issues at hand. With that being said, I can only hope that the upcoming lectures will be more in tune to the needs of the student body, instead of what the teacher feels is important.

The Eloquence of the Scribes

Ayana Boudreaux
Post # 3

Allow me to start off by saying that Dr. Benjamin’s lecture was by far my favorite. It was very informative and it helped me better understand the foundation of which Howard University is constructed upon. Focused the entire time on her words, I became more interested in Howard University’s history. As I listened to her words I scribbled down important point of which I intended to research.  I was unaware of the multiplicity of African American scholars for whom these very buildings are named, but Dr. Benjamin provided me with much insight. The lecture began from the very core of Howard University, Gen. Oliver Otis Howard, and then took us through an educational ride of the campus structures as well as the Alpha Chapter of the Divine Nine.

When I was asked what college I would be attending, I would hold my head up and exclaim proudly “I will be attending Howard University.” I must admit, at that time, I was not fully aware of the level of greatness that Howard possessed. This is until I attended the Freshman Seminar lecture on September 15, 2010 given by Dr. Tritobia H. Benjamin. Dr. Benjamin’s lecture entitled “The Eloquence of the Scribes,” focused on the Mecca and how it has become the institution it is today. The main purpose was to speak to the class of 2014 about our initiation into the Mecca and living up to the expectation of the Howard Legacy. As a result I have learned that there is much that I need to prove here.

Abandonment, Dismemberment and Reawakening: The History and Legacy of Howard

Jazzmin Tennessee
Post 2

I would first like to say that as interesting as the history of the genome seems, I wish that we could have gotten more out of Dr.Dunston. Her presentation wasn't what I was expecting I thought that I would learn a lot more about the genomes than I did, and how it affects and helps us develop into the people we are. Also, Dr.Dunston is a greatly respected and achieved woman, but during this presentation it really wasn't clear what she was trying to get across to us.
I was also hoping to get to the actual presentation, when I went back and looked at her power point I learned more than I did during the class session. In the power point is the statement,

"Genome-based knowledge is challenging current concepts of  health, life, and human identity, and in the process informing and facilitating human transformation."

The power point also discusses The National Human Genome Center (NHGC) at Howard University, something that I would have personally liked to learn more about during the class discussion.178The power point also discusses the Paradigm Shift which discusses:
Medical      vs      Biology
Disorder             Order/Process
What's Wrong    What's Right
Isolated Parts     Integrated Systems
Disease              Health
Death and dying  Life and living
To me this was kind of like a chart of right and wrong/good and bad, this would have been another very interesting topic to me. With that being said I wish I learned more from and understood more of Dr.Dunston's presentation.

Learning, Wisdom, and the African World Experience!

Ayana Boudreaux

First, I would like to begin by saying, WOW! Dr. Carr can only be described as energetic and vibrant; his lesson spoke to me in ways that I could not imagine. I liked the fact that Dr. Carr made sure that every eye in the room was focused on him and that everyone’s ears were open.  All though he spoke quickly to make sure that he could get his point across in the limited time, I was still able to obtain the message in which he was conveying.  However, from prior involvement in church, I was aware of some of the things spoken about within the lecture. As a result of my prior knowledge, the lecture came off as more of a refreshments course.  

Dr. Carr’s lecture was based upon the wisdom, learning, and the African world experiences. He spoke of the Sankofa symbol, which is a bird with its head and neck turned in the opposite direction from its body. This adinkra symbol, originating from West Africa, means “go [and] get it.”  Now the things that most interested me were the pathways of Djehuty and Seshat. All our lives we have been told so many lies and to find out that academics/education was actually of the African proves to me even more that my people are great and if it had not been for them, America would not be the building block it is today. Through HBCUs [Historically Black Colleges and Universities] like Howard, Spellman, Morehouse, Xavier University of Louisiana, and etc. the intellectual works and magnificent abilities of the African people continue to blossom.

Learning, Wisdom and the African Experience: An Mbongi

Jazzmin Tennessee

Post 1

First off I would just like to say that i absolutely love Dr.Carr's presentations. Dr.Carr was the energy that I needed for that day.

This presentation taught me about not just the roots that began in Africa, but also the the ones that were planted here in America. Something that I always wanted to do was learn some of the African language, I have always been interested in learning more about the African culture; and this presentation made me even more interested in the subject. The thing that stood out to me the most was when Dr.Carr spoke about Djehuty  a scribe the creator of alphabets, and Seshet the creator of the number system. Learning about how the people of Africa had such an impact of our world and society today makes me want to dig deeper and learn more. I encourage everyone to take time to learn more about the roots and importance of the role of Africa, the impact and the affect that the people had and still have this day. I also encourage everyone to sit in on one of  Dr.Carr's presentations or in one of his classes because his passion for the history of the African and African American culture makes you want to learn more about it; all in all this class session was my favorite so far.

The Human Genome

 Ayana Boudreaux

First, I want to say that the actions of the human genome seem very interesting, but Dr. Dunston method of teaching did not make show the genome’s greatness. She was so wrapped up in the excitement of the theory itself that she could not convey her message to us the way in which she intended. In my opinion this was by far the worst lecture I have ever received. By these words I mean no harm or disrespect; however I must speak the truth. I believe that Dr. Dunston is a great woman/achiever, but once you have reached that level of success you must be able to tell others the stories in which you have studied clearly.

Now all though I did get much out of the lecture, I did however find it very interesting that Howard University has its own gene research lab. From the works of the individuals involved in that lab there have come great things such as the findings and taking care of the African remains found in New York. Many of the students and staff of Howard University word tiresomely to make sure that the remains were properly respected. As a resolute of their efforts a memorial stands on the site where the bones were discovered.

Finally, I do believe in the genome theory and the role it has played within the history of the African American race. I just wish that Dr.Dunston would have been able to explain it to the class better.

Dr. Duston- Post 2

Chrissy Purcell

Freshmen Seminar

Wednesday

Post 2

Dr. Dunston

First, I would like to say that while I do not wish to disrespect Dr. Dunston, her teaching methods, or the material she presented. Secondly, I would like to say that her lectures was one of the least captivating that I have ever been to. I really wish that I could have gotten a more enriching experience from this lecture. I do not blame Dr. Dunston; I believe that this problem has more to do with the size of the class. The large class sizes do not allow the students to become involved enough in the class. This poses another problem; it becomes very hard for me to become enveloped in the topic that is being discussed. 

Now that that topic has been addressed, I want to talk about genomes. I found it very interesting that Howard University has its own gene research lab. It allows scientists to research the differences and similarities between African-American genomes and African genomes. I wish that the lecture had not been as crowded as it was. Perhaps if it were not, I would have gotten a bit more from this one. I had to sit on the floor due to overcrowding from the cancelled Labor Day class. That contributed to me not having a lot to say about this lecture or lecturer. However, I greatly appreciate the efforts put forth by Dr. Dunston and the Freshman seminar teaching staff to try and impart some knowledge on us. 

Dr. Carr- Post 1

Chrissy Purcell

Freshman Seminar

Wednesday 

Post 1

Dr. Carr’s Presentation

Dr. Carr gave us an amazing presentation, so much so that I attended this lecture twice.  Dr. Carr was an energizing breath of fresh air; he held a clear and concise voice in all of his points. As any good speech should be, Dr. Carr’s way of speaking was greatly captivating. It made me want to listen, learn, and use the knowledge he gave me to enhance and advance my community and my life.

The things that stuck me the most, in my opinion, were the cacophonous African words Dr. Carr taught us. I personally am not too fond of the African languages; however, after Dr. Carr’s presentation I can honestly say that I am now quite fond of all of the terms that we discussed. In his teachings about how slavery was just black peoples turn on bottom because we had for so many years had been on top. Africans were the rulers and teachers of the world for so long, which is something I never really thought about. Also, this concept is something I find great solace and comfort. Dr. Carr’s lecture has helped me develop a new point of view. Furthermore, he removed me from some of the stigmas I associated with African people and African ways. Now, I am more accepting of a part of me I was not formerly comfortable with. Overall, attending any of Dr. Carr’s lectures is highly recommended I thoroughly enjoyed myself.