The Best and Brightest of Howard University

On Tuesday, Dr. Thornton spoke to us about being the “best and brightest of Howard”, which made me think “how can I be one of the ‘best and brightest’?”

According to Dr. Thornton, in order to become the best and brightest of Howard I must set an example for others and fulfill the Howard pledge of “Truth and Service”. Currently I am a in the process of joining a group called ULTRA Teen Choice, which is a program in which people speak to the youth of the community, promoting abstinence. Washington, DC, still has the highest rates of both new HIV infections and existing HIV infections in the nation. This program is to help youth from 6th grade to young adult make positive choices and positive friendships that will have an impact for the rest of their lives.

In order to help the community I must first set myself apart from the community. I need to know more than those in the community so that I may be able to help others. However, I must not act as if those in the community are insignificant but help them by using my education to give back to the community.

Somebody who has inspired me here at Howard would be Dr. Greg Carr. His lectures are filled with such conviction and spirit. Also he's put so much time into making the Freshman Seminar an enjoyable and enlightening experience for us. It is very inspiring because he has helped expose us to culture, and more of our African history, which causes me to wonder about my roots.

The lecture of Dr. Alvin Thorton was an encouraging one that pressured Howard students to make the best of their time at Howard in order to make the best of their lives after completing their college degree. In order to become one of the "best and brightest" that Dr. Thorton mentioned in his lecture would by fufilling Howard's pledge of "Truth and Service". In other words, I must be willing to submit my time and energy to performing at the best of my abilities while in class was well as keep in mind that there are those who are not as fortunate and are incapable of experiencing the pleasure of attending an institution such as Howard University. In this incoming week, I will be participating in Washington D.C.'s Aids Walk to help raise money for those who were diagnosed with the life-threatening STD. I am also a part of the REFRESH volunteer group that Howard students organized to provide help and support to the surrounding citizens in the DC area. Not only does volunteering make me a bigger part of Howard University, it also makes me a bigger part of the community.

By being an outstanding figure in society, (that meaning one who sets the example in his or her home, on-site work or community), one becomes what Dr. Thorton described as a "world citizen". A world citizen will influence those under, among or even above him to do what is morally good. By doing so, this act will begin to impact everyone around him. World citizenry is also deeply rooted in what one does as a national citizen. I belive Alain Locke would be a good example of a world citizen. His actions as a writer and philosopher are what motivated others to partake in the history of the Harlem Renaissance. Locke has inspired me to continue to embrace the rich history of American culture that was rudimentally developed by the actions of black citizens.

Burial Ground

I found Professor Mack’s lecture sooooooo interesting! It made me really excited for the October first trip to the African Burial Ground. I found myself captivated by all the facts and especially by his involvement in the project itself. Some of the things that he said really got my attention. He mentioned that there were over 400 bodies found but there were still tons more left undiscovered. Things like that just make you wonder about the ground that you are walking on a daily basis. When he went into great detail, through showing each photograph of skeletal remains, of how these young and old African people were buried it really opened my mind. He showed how a lot of them were buried with rituals that they brought over, which showed that, as Professor Mack stated, Africans were burying Africans. It upset me to see so many burials in which young people around my age had been buried with some kind of defect caused by the lifestyle they were forced to live. I was eager to see that there were people, like Professor Mack, who wanted to delve deeper into the lives of those bodies that were buried so long ago. 

Howard’s Convocation: An inspiring Dialogue

Howard University’s 144^th convocation proceeded as any other assembly or gathering would. From introductions to greetings to smiles, laughter and applause, Howard student body, faculty and Alumni were energized. Each year Howard brings in an orator from a respected field to speak on matters concerning the university and the student body as a whole. These annual speeches vary depending on the school climate and current obstacles. This year Howard presented Dr. Michael L. Lomax, CEO of the United College Negro Fund. His resonating speech focused on the aspect of Black youth, their educational prospects and futures.

The Convocation was presided by President Ribeau. His introduction to the assembly brought back nostalgia of last year. His new vision and insight seemed to be taken in by many new and old faces in the crowd. The purpose of this year’s speech was to bring to light our dreams and where the African American community stands in terms of education and jobs. With many Africans jobless and many more without college degrees Dr.Lomax emphasized the urgency by which we need to make higher institutions illuminated with more black youth, helping them precede forward and brighten their careers. The invocation was lead as usual by Reverend Bernard and the vice chairwomen welcomed the assembly with her greetings. The events major speaker Dr Lomax was invited onstage with an Honorary degree: Doctor of Humane Letters. Then formally he enlightened us with a few words.

Although slow at first and soft spoken yet easy to understand, Dr Lomax brought us all back to reality. He informed us of our situation as a whole and how black colleges “need to all perform at the top of their game”. This lead him to inform us of President Ribeau’s hard work in reorganizing the institution and bringing it in the forefront of the race towards excellence. He empowered the students with his words telling them that the University was built to provide them the best experience of their lives. Students once are students forever using this ideology he geared a few words towards the Alumni and urged them to give back to Howard so that future students may benefit. Dr Lomax persuaded us to have more dialogue, a more open approach. He asked us to step up and voice our concerns and that only then will we see the outcome. Some students sat opened eyed, others were glued to his words, and others just smiled. It was a moment of acceptance, realization and a step forward.

Many students found the speech inspiring fighting for students and their voices and academics. Others thought last year’s speech was better orated. Yet the majority of students in Cramton auditorium showed their views on their faces as they applauded and walked out. The chatter remained of how “what he said was so right, they need to help us get a better education” a student said as others walked by. Many walked out with clearer visions of where they stood compared to society as a whole and how much we as an institution need to improve.

Personally, the speech was well orated and profound, from awe inspiring moments to actual critical breakdowns of the community. Dr. Lomax used numbers and percentages to show where African Americans stand in relation to others. It brought reality back into our lives. It showed us the meaning, essence and value of a good college education and a degree. His speech personified what it meant to be a student and it resonated well within the minds and hearts of the student body.

Burial Grounds

It was actually an amazing experience to find that there really is an African burial ground. One that is known and has the heritage of the past generations safe guarded within. Now we are not just throwing darts and conjuring up ideas of how things were but we get and have actual evidence of how life was for African Americans. The severe conditions we they lived in the harsh conditions in which they worked and the pressure of such work on their bodies. We learned of many types of bodily metamorphoses occurring in African slaves of those times due to slavery. These conditions resulted in lower life expectancy and deteriorating health conditions. What’s even more alarming is that around the whole burial ground we have built building and maybe even on top of the grounds a building or such might be erected. We must actively strive to preserve the findings of our past and not let society take things that are ours away from us. Howard is an active member in preserving the burial ground which I personally take proudly. I hope that Howard continues to embark on endeavors that safeguard Black culture, traditions and heritage.

The Burial Grounds

I enjoyed the lecture by Professor Mack on Tuesday. I found it exciting to learn about the African burial site in New York. Finding out that such a big part of history was buried under one of the biggest cities in the United States of America and went unnoticed for so many years gave me mixed emotions. I was excited because it was like discovering a treasure, but unfortunately people were going to desecrate that area and build something directly on top of the burial grounds. Knowing this made me very upset because it really showed how blacks have been, and still are being disrespected in America. I am glad that Howard University was selected to view the remains from the burial grounds (partially because I’m a student here). I would have been happy with any HBCU was selected to study the remains of those African slaves because it is necessary for African Americans, especially the younger generations, to be completely aware of our history and explore our history in other ways besides text books. It is inspiring to be a part of a legacy continued; it means that I am helping in the progression of humanity. I am very excited about the trip to visit the monument in October. I have no doubt that it will be an enriching experience.

Convocation

This week the University held it's opening 144th Opening Convocation. I was not really sure what a convocation was but since it was a tradition (and we had to post a blog on it) I figured I would go to experience it. I really enjoyed the speaker, Dr. Lomax, he as very entertaining and kept the crowd listening. I really enjoyed what he said about school being a product and students being customers, I believe it is very true and many of the professors at Howard need to take that into consideration when instructing. I also liked what he said about school not banking off it's past accomplishments, because my high school was famous for doing this. I think my favorite part was seeing the men and women dressed in their robes. It truly inspired me, I can not wait until i reach that point in my life. Another point of inspiration was seening Erin Rigsby sitting on stage amongst all the distinguished men and women. She is a fellow Baltimore native and friend, and she inspires me very much.

This year's 144th Convocation at Howard University was simply astounding; it brought together students, supporters, faculty members and alumni of Howard University and other HBCUs from across the country together for one fantastic event. As a freshmen, this was my first time attending a convocation- in fact, I hadn't even heard of the word "convocation" until I heard there was one happening on Friday, and it was the reason that my Freshmen Compostion course had been suspended. The event opened with famed members clothed in colorful robes taking their seats on the center stage. Behind them was the Howard University choir and orchestra, who performed beautiful musical numbers throughout the event. Someone sitting next to me in the auditorium filled me in on what a convocation was; it is, in simply terms, a formal gathering or meeting. There were numerous representitives from many outstanding HBUCs who came out to participate. Aside from them, members from black organizations and students from Howard's pre-school and middle school were in attendance as well. It felt as if the whole of Howard- past, present and future- were all together and united as one body at Convocation.

The speaker was none other than Howard's own Dr. Lomax, who is also president of the United Negro College Fund. He spoke eloquently on how we should expound of the benefit of education of blacks- and especially black males. In one of his quotes, Dr. Lomax said that only about 11% of Howard's alumni had contributed anything to the present generation of Howard Unviersity undergrads, and how, in a sense, many were "walking the walk, but not talking the talk." Dr.L questioned how not supporting students with either their time, money or experience, will help to prepare them for their future. Instead, he asked us to realize that the next generation is meant to far supercede the current generation, and for that to happen, the present must help young children however possible. In summary, the convocation was a wonderful experince for any student, including this freshmen, to attend.

African Burial Grounds

This week's lecture on the African Burial Grounds was the best so far (besides Dr. Carr's). I was actually coherent and awake this week. I found it so fascinating how these remains had been buried for so long and people of our generation had no idea. It real illuminated how low blacks were in this society that even our sacred burial grounds were not respected. I'm sure in the past someone knew hat African remains were placed there and decided to build over it any way. I thought it was funny when Professor Mack talked about how the blacks burned the hospital down after they refused to stop taking the bodies. I also loved the fact the Howard University professors and students explored and researched the burial grounds. We are always involved in everything. This does inspire me to continue the university's legacy, I want to be apart of something monumental like this. It was also very interesting to learn about the different ways the African's "beautified" themselves with teeth decorations.

I believe Howard was chosen to lead this research because we are the top HBCU. Not just because we have high test scores and successful graduates. But, because we are active in all things dealing with black culture.

Last Tuesday was not "just another day" at Howard's mandatory Freshmen Seminar. The previous week's lecture, I believe, brought the entire student body together for one fifty-minute session. Dr. Mack taught on how African American's survived (or lived, I should really say) while slaving in European countires. As an archeologist, Dr. Mack showed the class several pictures of skeletal remains of African Americans who has suffered under the brutailty of working day-in and day-out under stressful conditions. (In fact, his entire presentation was only a collection of papers- no notes at all. This was my only major problem with the seminar...) Despite having anything written on his display, Dr. Mack was still an exemplary teacher, and I'm glad that I was there for his lecture. The doctor pointed out the contusions and seuters on a small child-sized skeleton that occured from the child placing heavy objects on the base of his or her head, and how the child could have developed mental trauma from this. He showed the misgivings of a black woman who had underwent severe injuries such as a broken wrist and bullet holes through her back as a result of unkown circumstances. She might have tried to run away from her captors, or shw could have simply broken a dish or cup while working in the kitchen of a Southern white family.

Dr. Mack's presentation was truly amazing, and those who came to the seminar and paid attention to what he was really saying could not have left the building without encountering some feeling of empathy and inter-relatedness. This makes my wait for the African Burial trip seem even more worthwhile. I feel that this adventure to this sacred memorial will only continue to open my eyes to what more my culture has in store for me.

Convocation

Today, Howard University held its 144th annual Opening Convocation. I wasn't exactly sure as to what Convocation was when I entered Crampton Auditorium, but by the end of the ceremony, I became both enlightened and motivated.

The Orator for the ceremony was the President and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, Dr. Michael L. Lomax. Dr. Lomax earned his Bachelor's Degree from Morehouse College and currently, his Doctorate from our very own Howard University. In his speech, Dr. Lomax talked about progress in students and Historically Black Colleges and Universities; competition in the workforce; and the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.)

He brought up a valid point that as the freshman class of 2015, we were 1,500 applicants out of 10,000 to be accepted and enrolled at Howard. This meant, according to Dr. Lomax, that we are the "scholars that will change the world". With that being said, he encouraged us to promote change within our communities. Dr. Lomax also discussed the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.). Since there is more of a career demand in these fields, more students should be actively engaged and consider careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. He pointed out that the unemployment rate for African Americans without a Bachelor's Degree is 16%. Dr. Lomax also informed us that we were even in competition with other countries around the world as well as within our own nation. Therefore, there is more pressure for African American students to gain the highest amount of education possible in order to compete in the corporate world.

Dr. Lax's words were both informative and inspiring. I was very pleased to have attended the convocation ceremony.

Dismemberment

I enjoyed Dr.Beatty’s lecture and the way he introduced some new facts into my life. He made sure to thoroughly discuss dismemberment from where it began and ended. I liked how he involved some students in the lecture when bringing up some of the aspects of African culture that were brought to the Americas through the Middle Passage that are still about today. Africans brought over a culture that introduced different kinds of speech, religion, cuisine, science, song, technology and music. With time the combination of both the European and African cultures, the European traditions took supremacy over most of the African traditions. In his lecture he went over the loss of African culture through The “Middle Passage” over time. When he asked “does physical abandonment lead to cultural abandonment?” it really made me think and I kind of agreed.  I felt as though most people or peoples who move as the Africans did adapt to the culture around them. Some places such as Brazil, Haiti, and Cuba some aspects of African tradition still remain.

Dr. Mario Beatty gave out class interesting details that I have never heard of before. For instance, nearly six and a half million slaves were taken from Africa and sent to America; however, even more were sent to other areas around the globe, such as the Domincan Republic. Despite the forced seperation from their homelands, Africans still embraced several cultural dynamics that are present even today. Things such as food, friendship, language or speech, and music still influenced the African way of life. In fact, they even had an impact on the way's of living of other ethnic groups. The use of African's method of agricultural culitvation with rice and the use of musical instruments such as the banjo are all central themes that Africans developed back in their original homeland. It's interesting to see the large number of dignified historians and professors who claim that everything was lost or forgotten when Africans left their home permanently and how it matches up against the amount of evidence that proves otherwise. This goes to show that we must do research on our backgrounds for ourselves to avoid any discrediting information to cloud us from are ture, historic past.

It’s fascinating to find that all areas of knowledge possess a means or ways of knowing. As mentioned in Dr Beatty’s presentation to understand the real history of Africans around the Americas and throughout the Diaspora one must understand what lens one is looking from, what one is looking for and what one is looking at. As history writers have distorted many cases of African History and we find shortage of documentation from scholars about African heritage and culture before their arrival in the Americas. We have to look at each sub colony of African arrival differently. We learned in the lecture that many Africans were brought to the Dominican or Caribbean and elsewhere. So for us to learn about the so called “lost history” we must look at each group with a learners lens not a knower’s lens. We must look at how each group brought its own identity with them and how today the African community has contributed to American culture as a whole without even noticing. Today the so called American music and other cultural norms have an African heritage. Although historians may not wish to discuss it it’s up to us to know that African culture was not destroyed but is flowing around us. We are floating in a sea of Africana heritage, from out daily values to cultures, to the music we listen in our ipod. This shows that although American society sees some of the customs as its own it’s actually the African community that has contributed their identity to further strengthen Americanism. So it should not be forgotten that African culture and traditions still live within us and we should embrace them with open hands rather than cold shoulders for our identity marks who we are and who we are not.

In this weeks seminar we discussed the transport of Africans from Africa to various places in the western hemisphere, the idea of the loss of culture because of this transport, and the African Burial Grounds. Dr. Beatty talked about how a good percentage of Africans were taken from Africa and placed in place such as the Dominicans and Caribbean. This explain the high amount of blacks in those countries today. We also discussed how many historians claim that Africans lost their culture during the Middle Passage. However, this is far from true. Fragments from African society can be seen in many areas of today's modern African American life. For example, the way we speak ( as Dr. Beatty pointed out), the food we eat, the way we interact with one another, out music, and our religion. We are not a lost group of people who just attached ourselves to the way white society was, we have out own customs and traditions. The last thing discussed was the African Burial Grounds trip which I thought was particuarly interesting beecause even though it sits on such sacred ground, I have never heard of it. Also because it was explored and researched by Howard University Students.

On this week, Dr. Gbadgesin lectured on the distinctions between wisdom, knowledge, intellect and philosophy, and how those distinctions impact various fields of study such as Communications, Fine Arts, Natural and Social Sciences, ect. He taught that most students have learned to believe that there is no reason to study black or African culture because of implcations that Africans have no real history. Dr. G believes that is the case because there are very few people who are willing to look up or research things that are told to them. Instead, many of our youth find it easier to take things at face value and believe whatever is told to them. The instructor willed for us to transform- or to challenege this way of thinking as wise people do. What determines someone who is wise and someone who has knowledge or intellect is whether or not the individual is a philosopher. Philosophers do not take things at face value alone, instead, they go deeper into the realm of the subject at hand.

Dr. Gbadgesin went on to say that wisdom and good character were very important to ancient Egyptian civilization. In fact, many Egyptian symbols of morale and wisdom (such as Ma'at and Ptahhotep) were formed before many European greats were constructed. (Plato, Socrates, ect.) Iwa, Orunmila's spouse, was an example of Egyptian virtue. In fact, when he got into a domestic argument with his wife, Orunmila had to search after Iwa desperately because his entire life had fallen to seams with Iwa not around. To conclude his lecture, Dr. Gbadgesin challenged the class to be "dew drops", which provided clear-sightedness in a chaotic situation with a calming spirit and state of mind.

Have We Abandoned Our Culture?

This week the class was graced with the intelligence and wisdom of Dr. Mario Beatty. In his lecture entitled Abandonment and Dismemberment: "Something Torn and New", Dr. Beatty raised three questions:

• Does a physical abandonment lead to a cultural abandonment?
• If you are culturally empty, what do you fill yourself up with?
• What did African culture bring to the Americas?

As I analyzed these questions I thought about my own creole heritage (not to be confused with Haitian créole), which is a mixture of the French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and Native American culture. On my mother's side my, great grandfather was one half French and one half African American. My great grandmother was one half Native American and one half African American. In my family, we celebrate our creole heritage through food, song, and language. Exploring more into my culture I found that a lot of the food that my family prepares comes from both African and French cuisine. Also creole language that my grandparents spoke came from a mixture of African, French, and Spanish. Knowing this made me realize that African slaves located in Louisiana filled themselves up with the cultures of the French, Native Americans , and Spanish. Not only did they embrace some of these other cultures, but they incorporated some of their own traditions and ideals.

Dr. Beatty also talked about Maroon societies, which were communities, usually located in the Islands and Brazil, solely governed and occupied by runaway African Slaves. These societies managed to keep concepts of their African culture like the languages, even the way they practiced medicine.

These societies also existed in Mexico, Nova Scotia, and parts of the United States like Florida.

In present day America (even though we don't realize it) African culture is very prevalent , especially for African Americans, through food, our speech patterns /Ebonics, artwork, even music and dance (I'm sure you can trace the dougie back to Africa). It is almost impossible for African culture to be abandoned or forgotten.

In Depth

In this week’s lecture Dr. Gbadegesin discussed the research question in greater depth by acknowledging different aspects of the question. He brought to light the various fields of study with examples such as Fine Arts, Divinity, Engineering and Technology, and Medical and Allied Health. Dr. Gbadegsin also made sure to distinguish and elaborate on the difference between some terms. He differentiated between knowledge and wisdom and the intellectual and the philosopher. I found his definition of wisdom to be quite interesting. I enjoyed his detail about the order of education and how it all started with The Goddess Ma’at, Pharaoh Rameses the Great, and Vizier Ptahhotep. Dr G also brought to light the original text in which some of the newer works are based such as Principles of Ma’at, The Pyramid Texts, and The Books of Instructions. The original texts were written on the tombs of pharaohs and some represented the principles and lifestyle of the Egyptian culture. Sadly, I feel as though now-a-days we probably couldn’t keep or live up to some of the Principles of Ma’t some being:

- I have not exaggerated my words when speaking

            - I have not placed myself on a pedestal

            - I have not told lies

            - I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern.

Dr. G went over the story of Iwa and the definition and value of good character. He let us know that it is the beauty of your character that truly matters. 

In this weeks lecture we discussed the story of Iwa (my personal favorite topic), the rational behind the question research question, and the African Philosophers which preceded the well-known Western Philosophers. In the story of Iwa, Orunmila mistreated his wife, Iwa, who represents existence and good character. So Iwa, leaves him and he becomes desperate and begins to look for her. I really enjoyed this story (not just because a woman made a man become desperate) because it showed how without really understanding who you are and your existence you can not go far in life. We discussed the different fields of study involved in the research question, which include: Fine Arts, Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences, Engineering, Law, Business, etc. We also discussed how before western philosophers such as Plato, Socrates, and Muhammad there were African philosophers like The Goddess Ma'at, Vizier Ptahhotep, and Pharaoh Rameses the Great. Within the rational behind the research question we talked about Academic Knowledge and how many people have disconnected African Knowledge and excellence with Human Knowledge and Excellence. This relates back to Dr. Carr's lecture.

Iwa: Who we are

Dr. Gbedegesin was the guest speaker for this week’s lecture. His lecture was fascinating and profound in the least it was thought provoking and character building. I mention the word “character” because the embodiment of his lecture was around the concept of iwa. At first I thought I was hearing a word from the movie avatar “iawa” but no, this iwa could mean many things and one of them was character. We were repeatedly told that to know ourselves we must look into ourselves and our character. Iwa is what we are. Our whole functionality circumscribes around our iwa, and a pure positive iwa results in a pure embodiment, a decent individual.

Each time I learn a new word in Freshman Seminar it makes me realize the role African American history plays in our current society and how we don’t even realize its function. Dr G’s lecture was a continuum of Dr Carr’s introduction to Egyptology and African ancestry. We were told of omoluabi, a child begotten of the chief or source of Iwa that’s what we are. All of us our own unique characters. But what makes our character? The iwa’s personification through beauty. We become beautiful through building our character through education. With our heightened understanding of the world we enrich ourselves and gain a better character.

What is character and how do we define iwa? One must fully understand these questions before one know his true meaning in life. I consider myself a student for life. I wish to absorb a variety of knowledge. I love education. These components make up my character. Knowing who and what I am shows the distinction of caring and not caring after ones character by saying this, I know that I am taking care of my Iwa.

Another interesting bit of knowledge provided by Dr G was that we were told not to mis-educate ourselves. Following this I hope to stay away from mis-education through learning from reputable sources, understanding my own identity, learning from our history and our ancestors. In other words we must understand that true beauty is through correct education of the mind. It is only than we will find ourselves taking care of our iwa.