Reflection of Class

Like one of my peers in my group, if I had the chance to take this class again, I wouldn't. I did enjoy some of the lectures, but in the end I feel as though everything wasn't thought through thoroughly to put the class together. I couldn't enjoy the lectures as much as I'd like to, because I was too busy trying to get my Mbongi done while taking notes so I'd remember things for my blog. I also feel as though the classes earlier in the week kind of had an advantage on out Thursday class, because they had more days before the blogs were due. I did enjoy Carr and Beatty's lectures the most, they seemed to stand out more than others. I'd call my mom afterwards and tell her about the lecture and how informative it was. She always wanted to come visit to sit through a lecture. All in all, Freshman Seminar was okay. It was an experience and I would be lying if I said I didn't learn anything.

Presentation

Our section only held my group and one other so we only saw that other presentation. I liked it. Many of them were psych majors so they were very introspective. The topic was about memory and sentencing in prison. I think that both our groups could've talked for far longer than 8 minutes. I felt that I had so much more to say and I had to abruptly condense it and I really wanted to get my point across. I would've liked to have been in a larger group so I could have seen more presentations, but I was satisfied with the one I saw. My group did an amazing job putting ours together and it was an enjoyable experience all together.

Reflection

Freshman seminar as a whole is a class that I honestly would not take again if given the option. Don't get me wrong I learned a multitude of life lessons from the lectures from Carr and Beatty, but I greatly disagreed with some of the others lectures. I feel that a small level of supremacy is what I heard and it bothered me. There would be lectures when whites were blatantly out down and I feel that w don't need to put down another race to raise ourselves up. There would be kids in the class who were of caucasian decent and I would just see the uncomfortable looks on their faces and that angered me a bit. Freshman seminar was sloppily put together and though the idea of the course is understandable it should have been structured better.

"UNLEASHED" (Special Events #4)

My absolute favorite of all the shows Howard University Theater had this semester. This show far surpassed my expectations. There was high quality and tremendous talent both in the dancers and the choreographers. This Dance showcase entitled, “Unleashed: Inventive Explorations and Inhibitions” ran for too short of a time. November 18th and 19th 2011, was not enough time for the community to absorb this magnificence. I would love to see this staged again so that more can be inspired and motivated from it. The question and answer section after was a pleasant surprise for me. Seeing Interim Coordinator, Denise Saunder Thompson brought to tears by the actualization of this show thanks to a financial donor made me see the commitment she has to the excelling of her students and to the theater arts.
The ambiance created by light designer, TW Starnes was always in accurate alignment with the feeling of the piece that was being performed. It added heavily to the various moods intended by each dance. It evoked stunning when it needed to be so and soft when required and everything else in between. It was very clear that rehearsal director, Pat Thomas and assistant rehearsal director Christen Williams were dedicated. This was evidenced by the high quality of the entire performance. The last dance performed and choreographed by Kevin A. Harris was the only exception leaving me feeling a little disappointed that the quality and dedication to this last dance was lacking in passion and quality. This however was miniscule and took no glory from the magnificence of the entire show.
It was very hard to choose just one piece to focus on. I loved Alyse Johnson’s “The Cold Side of The Pillow”. This ballet spoke to me and evoked several emotions. The authenticity of this choreography was un-doubtable. I would defiantly attend her shows. However the dance that stood out in my soul the most was “The Real Cool” by Camille A Brown.
First there was blackness out of which came a blue light forming the background of the stage. The blue light was strongest at the bottom and fading into the powerful blackness of above. A silhouette was created by a powerful presence of one being on the stage. I was already pulled by the initial blackness but now a stronger force seemed to pull me. The being on stage seemed at first to be engaged in mime. This feature began to create a feeling of tension in me as the mime grew in energy. This growth was conveyed by the being’s increased speed in movement together with an intense breathing that also grew in speed juxtaposed by the music, “What a wonderful World”.
I use the word “being” because even though a “woman” is in the body fitted costume, which laced up in the back, she embodied the struggle of what seemed to be many humans consisting of both male and female. In the process of this daily struggle and repetitive motions of work and rest and work and rest and work and rest many are dislocated from their soul and humanness. In order to maintain the physical body however and all the other physicality’s that go along with this maintenance such as food, clothing and shelter most “must” be employed to gain money to pay for these things. Brown does an excellent job of portraying this struggle with abrupt rigid moves of her joints. I felt that she was a puppet on a few strings because her elbow would rise leaving her hand still dangling, then all of a sudden her head would arise and eventually her hands. The fact that the spotlight remained on her caused me to be even more engaged in the dance and to feel that I was also this being experiencing this emotion.
As the piece progressed the tension within me also progressed. I thought of the “rat race” that many in the US and other developed countries live daily. There was a repetition of her resting and then arising most times as if forced to arise. This made me think of the working human mindlessly “doing” a job with no real engagement of heart or soul followed by sleep only to be startled into action by an alarm clock the next morning with insufficient rest. As this progresses over a lifetime (and for some just a few months or years in enough) one becomes tiered and sad. The energy needed to continue to work becomes harder to find and so the resistance increases. She portrays this well with the panting breath that we hear. The resistance is seen in her face. Though her face seems to portray that of a puppet we see her human side just enough to know her anguished feelings.
As “What A Wonderful World” is playing, a haunting feeling arises in me and I am brought to tears as I feel her struggle. She seems to be building something every time she “arises”. This is conveyed with building movements she creates with her hands. Whatever she is building seems to have no true meaning to her. She seems to represent an enslaved person, a pawn in a bigger plot to which she is opposed, a puppet on a string whose body is controlled by another’s body and mind and a person opressed by a larger system.
The choreographer, Camille Brown did a superb job in conveying her intent of contradiction through music and action. In addition, the choice of costume by costume coordinators Michael Bradford and Jeleesa Greenley was well suited to this piece in which the ability to see all of her body enhanced and highlighted the intent behind the jerky movements of the figure. It also allowed us to see appreciate the rhythm of her movements.
By the end of the modern dance I am also very tiered and amazed at how much I am affected by this piece internally. My limbs even grew tiered as I anticipated an end that seemed never to come. Finally it did as the limbs of the being/puppet/dehumanized human got closer and closer to the floor in shear exhaustion. Just before the curtain fell, Brown left us with a haunting smile that was intentionally fake and highlighted by the very red lipstick. Her dramatic make up fit the performance, as we were able to see again the contradiction in expression and the real emotion of the being.
This fake smile was accompanied by a wave that left me disturbed but simultaneously stirred inside with the desire and commitment to be true to my own art and life. A renewed commitment to my own authenticity was then “Unleashed”.

“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf.” (Special Events #2)

Can I start this blog with an “Ouuuuuuuuuuuu”? The semi darkness, coziness, the leaves of the set and the bark of the tree along with the sad music provided an intimate vibration that was irresistible. Upon entry one could not help but be astounded by the realness of the tree and the leaves. The Environmental Theater Space was the perfect place for this play. It was hard for anyone to choose where to sit in this black box space. For everywhere was filled with various possibilities for different visual perspectives of the performance.
This space, though a black box, was made into a thrust stage also. The seats were arranged on three sides of the space and the back wall was used in the creation of the set as well as an entrance and exit of the performers. They also used the door the audience used.
The circle of stones in the middle of the set seemed to hold magical power, mystery and secrets. It seemed to represent a center for not only stage a spacing reasons but also as a local to bring the women and their experiences together. Throughout the play the women gathered around this at various points to share stories, to remember, to cry, to dance to commune. It was like a well of memories “…and magic” as lady in Blue would say.
There was so much to absorb before the play began. The audience sat with great anticipation as we all felt like part of what was about to take place. The blackness enveloped us and there was thunder. “Spirits of the wind I can feel you in my skin” was just the energy created by this production.
Sound designer, Cresent Haynes proved showed superb skill in this field throughout the entire piece. The choice of music and sound effects through out the production seemed to be precisely in tune with the mood of the particular moment. “Porcelain Doll” was an excellent choice for the beginning of this choreopoem by Ntozake Shange. The sound of trains during “I Used to Live in The World” was seamless and very appropriate. The sound effects gave strong support to this poem and helped bring it to life.
George H. Epting’s work together with the work of sound designer, Haynes, created an un-forgettable ambiance for this presentation. Light designer, Epting, showed his strengths many times. A few that stand out was at the beginning when he used the blue to create a felling of somberness and seriousness. As the dancers danced the lighting gently supported their expressions and was able to seduce us into becoming one with the spirit that they seemed to conjure. Other periods where he showed his expertise was during lady in Yellows first poem about “Graduation Night”. He put the spotlight directly on the ladies who transformed two benches into a car. The fact that he made everything else dark and focus the lights on only that spot the audience was also able to focus all their attention on only that one spot.
The costume design seemed to be wanting more. The all black skin fitting suits may have worked better had they fit the women better or had there not been so many obvious pins or loose threads. The all black worked well in terms of relaying the common thread among them all. The costume portrays the women’s obvious female bodies and the fact that they were all women of African descent. The addition of each ones color seemed to work smoothly on a technical level however they failed to accentuate the feminine energy each women possessed. Instead it hid the curves that could have added so much more especially with some of the moves they conveyed. The hair of all the women worked extremely well though. It unified the women’s story into one story with many parts and emotions. This hairstyle also highlighted the ladies faces and expressions. It also brought into play again the presence of the African link.
The Director contributed a little more than simply a good effort to this production. A lot of repeat imagery was implemented to represent and portray the pain and agony that these women often experienced. This was done with both the dancers at the beginning and repeated again with both lady in Blue, “Sachita” and Lady in Red. The presence of the hands near the genital region as the dancers lay on their backs on the floor with their legs open and feet together created a very jarring visual. They seemed almost in pain. When lady in Blue is recounting and reliving her abortion she again assumes a variation of this position when she in talking about her womb. “Sachita”, narrated by lady in Purple shows again a variation to this and so to does lady in Red. The reappearance of this position, that seems to represent agony in a unifying theme throughout the stories of the women. This piece is about beings with wombs that we know as women. African America women who are at varying stages of their life throughout the play and who at times are coming to accept their selves as such in a powerful way.
The Actors who stood out were lady in Yellow, lady in Green lady in Brown and lady in Red. Lady in Yellow was strong and powerful at every point. If they were doing a dance and stretching out their hands lady is yellow could be seen putting all her energy into her hands. When she laughed the audience laughed. Lady in Green gave a very powerful rendition of her “Stuff”. When portrayed Sachita she did not seem to exude much enthusiasm nor commitment to the piece but as lady in Green she capture the crowds attention and committed emotion. The audience was fully present in her piece. Lady in Brown did an excellent job in relaying poems that gave a lot of history. She was able to make this history fun and exciting. We learned a little about Haiti and Toussaint. She was loud enough for us and seems to embody the part.
Then there was lady in Red, who stole the show. Her piece where she was in the tub was very well supported by both the sound effects and lighting. As she washing her self the audience was able to hear the water as it trickled down the tub. She was precise in her words and actions and indeed she was a temptation to everyman. She brought to life her children and their father with out them being there physically. She was able to bring their spirits alive for us to see and feel them. This is evidence of a great actress.
The stage manager and assistant stage manager both did an amazing job with the entrances and exits of the entire show. It was seamless and the timings were perfect. The imagery at the ending with the Tree matched some of the last words by lady in red. They all found themselves “..in God and loved her fiercely” was indeed a powerful line and feeling.
Director L.A. Williams has a lot to be proud of. It was evident that the audience really listened and this was able to facilitate healing. Dramaturge, Otis Ramsey-Zoe, represented wonderfully the intended result of this play in his chosen work for the cover of the program. This intent is healing.

Early Thoughts of Freshman Seminar

As a graduating senior this blog may be a bit different from most other blogs. I do however recall being excited my first week of college. After one week of class I thought college was going to be a platform upon which and from which many of my life dreams would be actualized.

I expect freshman seminar to very an integrated experience among academic fields that we the students would benefit from greatly. I expect that since the team is comprised of so many great and diverse people that it will be a powerful class. I expect to grow intellectually from this class and have a more integrated understanding of the world through African eyes. I also suspect that it will serve to reinforce a lot that I have been taught as a Howard University student. I also expect a lot of discussion.

The following lectures seem most interesting to me:
* Learning, Wisdom, and The African World Experience
* Abandonment and Dismemberment: “Something Torn and New
* “The Eloquence of Scribes”: Initiation, Expectations and Mastery – Continuing the Legacy of Howard University.

I feel most comfortable with the lecture “Research and Methodology: Inscription as Liberating Practice”. As an Anthropology and Art History double major student I have been through many a research project. I am looking forward to this lecture to hear if there is anything new that I can learn from it. One of my life goals is to write about Caribbean Artists and Spirituality. I have been doing research on the interconnectedness of many aspects of life including cultural and physical environment and its effect on art and Spirituality and also how these affect the cultural and physical environment.

I believe that even though I am a senior the goals of this class will meet and contribute greatly to my academic goals. The freshman seminar syllabus states that it “… encourages students to become engaged participants in the intellectual and cultural life of African peoples throughout the Diaspora by exploring this rich history and legacy and this legacy’s vibrant contemporary work and institutional life.” I am already very much an engaged participant and I believe this class will re affirm my commitment to the writing of histories from the perspective of the empowered Diasporas’ perspective.

Ms Evers' Boys (Special Events #1)

The cool air outside was pleasant. Not a perfect night for a play as heavy as “Miss Evers’ Boys”. Upon entering the lobby of Ira Aldridge Theater, I was greeted by a young lady whose personality seemed to blast through her attire. Like this young lady, director Danielle Drakes shone through this production of Miss Evers’ Boys. Knowing that a director has to honor the integrity of the written play while she creates her own vision within the intended vision already set forth by the playwright, Drakes presented a fantastic production.
Miss Eunice Evers’ character was played strongly by Mary Miller. Miss Millers performance was incredible. She was able to embody the character very well. Her tears and concern all seemed genuine. Willie Johnson was a very likable character. Stanley Jackson, III did an amazing job in pulling this character to life. His volume on stage alone was perfect and his feelings what ever they were at whatever time, were infectious. When Willie was excited over something the entire audience was too. Caleb Humphries with his overalls also was very good at engaging the audience. Edwin Brown III was vibrant in his performance and truly committed to his character. We saw this especially toward the end of his life where he was doing rituals in the moon light and kept chanting what seemed to be “Chaaaaaa”, in an effort to save his life from the “Bad Blood” (syphillis) that was now killing him on many levels including mentally. Adarius Smith played the character Ben Washington with a high level of integrity. Ben was a character that brought the audience closer to many feelings in the play and to the real experiences of the men who were part of this experiment.
The director took us into the lives of these four men and brought the play alive. I thought that Jeff Kirkman who played Caleb Humphries was not convincing in his character at the beginning of the play and at other points through out the first half of the play. His words were not very clear and at times, his volume low. This translated to the audience a seeming disbelief in his own acting ability. However things turned around when he was getting the spinal tap. He showed his amazing talent here. I actually had to look away to not feel the pain of the needle. He was very convincing in this scene. I thought that the director could have worked a little more with both him and Dr. John Douglas (played by Eric Humphries) to appear a bit more confident in their characters as well as their engagement with the audience. While one needs not stare into the faces of the audience at many points their blocking was at times unprofessional. Their backs were to the audience while they were talking. This caused a lot of information to be lost. An example of this was seen throughout the play with Dr. Douglas. As a result he seemed to have a problem connecting to the audience.
Dr. Eugene Brodus, indeed had a fiery personality filled with arrogance. This character was not very likable. Despite this, Henian Boone did a good job in delivering arrogance. Boone did not seem committed to his character. It was hard to feel authenticity. He seemed to know his lines very well but a little more sincerity may have helped his overall interpretation of the character which would have been conveyed smoothly.
The flow of the play was in tune with the subject matter of the play. There was a rhythm that kept the audience engaged. It was slow at times but just slow enough for the audience to connect to the lives of the men and the emotions and thoughts of Miss Evers. Then the speed would pick up again. Sometimes it was in the words of Miss Evers or in the dancing of Willie. Yet another rhythm was present. It was the light and dark of the stage: the narrow lighting focused on Miss Evers alone and then the expanded lighting on the men. The play also exhibited a range of emotions, which contributed to this overall rhythm. At times the audience would be laughing and at other times feel fear and cry.
The proscenium space was a good choice for this play. The props and costuming were excellent in conveying Alabama and the location of the “clinic”. The props came to life with the various lighting that was used. The blue light in the background gave a haunting and expectant feeling. When there was the red light the audience felt anxious. The lighting for the ritual scene was very good at capturing the idea of outside. This lighting together with the sound effects of crickets and the props, which conveyed “woods”, really brought this scene to life. The costuming was able to both convey the period of time as well as fit the personalities of the characters almost perfectly. The makeup artist did an amazing job overall but especially with Willie. His eyes popped out at the audience when he was sick. He looked pale and very sick.
I appreciated the symbolism created between the whiteness of Miss Evers nurse hat and the whiteness of the coats worn by the doctors and which she sometimes wore. This “whiteness” highlighted the racial bias of this experiment. It highlighted the unfair, biased and cruel role played by “whiteness” in this experiment. The fact that under her coat and on her body she wore black symbolized her blackness and her ability to connect with the men. This juxtaposition of black and white highlighted her own juxtaposition as not only a pawn in the plan but also as a pawn who knew and contributed to the dismemberment of these men’s lives.
The playwright and director were talented in showing the internal battle fought by Miss Evers in this play. She wanted to help the men but got in so very deep it was hard for her to maintain any integrity as a black person. She tried to hold on until the funding resumed and even argued with the “black” doctor for their lives. She however was made to reflect on the results of her actions in the scene where Willie is dancing for her with his sluggish legs and shouting at her to “watch!”
The audience left quite solemnly into the night. As they held their programs all were reminded of the Tuskegee Experiment as is symbolized by the white on the programs cover and the “Bad Blood” syphilis that these men endured by the red. Blood red and white were a good choice made by the dramaturge Ariel Danley.

Homecoming Prestige 2011

Like every other freshman, I was looking forward to Homecoming this year. Growing up, before I even thought about coming to Howard University, I always heard about how great homecoming was and how everyone from all over travel to enjoy the events. This last week wasn't how I expected it to be, I thought I was going to be at every event and go to every party. I got into the R&B show for free and that was the only event I attended this week. If I could have chosen to go to only one event, the R&B show would be the event. It was my first time being at a concert and I enjoyed seeing such great musical artists. I do wish that individually the artists had more time on stage, but other than that, the concert was definitely an experience. Next year, I'm going to save up for homecoming and try to go to everything, because it's expensive. In conclusion, I still enjoyed myself. I know it doesn't take money to spend time with friends, laugh, and just have a good time, so homecoming 2011 was pretty decent.

Open Doors

The lectures of freshman seminar have finally come to and end. I can honestly say that I will miss them. Up to this day my favorite still remains that initial lecture by Dr.Carr because I meant it when I say that it moved me. The lectures have been informative. When I first started freshman seminar I thought that it would be a class that just told us ways to make it through freshman year or college in general, but the class went way more in depth than just that. I have learned lessons that I believe will open doors in my future. Just because lectures are over does not mean the journey is over,. The group projects are about to begin and I think the freedom to choose a topic should be fun. I look forward to it.

Although we've come.....

End of the Road

Wow first of all, I cant believe that I've been here 8 weeks. I reflect back to my first journal when I was still a little confused about the way things work here at Howard and hoping that I could change that very soon. Now I feel like this is were I belong and I don't plan on leaving for the next four years.
The last 7 weeks of  Freshman Seminar have all been very amazing. At first I really thought that freshman seminar was going to be a drag, but i actually started liking it. I have learned and grown so much just from the hings we have discussed in this course. I hope that I got enough understanding out of this seminar to be able to go and do my research project very well.
Now i checked my grades before starting this blog so I'm a little upset because I missed a lecture because I was sick but I cant reflect that with a note which automatically gives me a U. I don't know what I can do, or what having a U will do for me but it scares me, a lot.

10.6.11 - Dr. Leslie Fenwick's Lecture

Dr. Fenwick's lecture was very informing and gave me a lot of notes to jot down. She began the class giving a miniture quiz with statistical based questions: What is the percentage of crack attributible to white people? 68%, I wasn't suprised at all by these results. What is the percentage of powder crack attributable to white people? 72%, again something that wasn't a suprise to me. The statistic that blew mind mind was when she asked: Which 12th grade subgroup mostly believes drugs are unacceptable? I was one of the students who thought asians were going to be the answer. Honestly the last subgroup on my mind were blacks and after Dr. Fenwick said that was the answer, I felt kind of bad for thinking so little of black people, epecially since I am black. This lecture opened my eyes and made me go to my room and research more statistics on our community, most of what I had know clue about. I plan to keep up with such stats, because the comminuty is always changing and on day when I'm old I'll tell teach my children and grandchildren the statistics of their community, so they won't ever belittle themselves or any other race.

Miss Evers' Boys

I really enjoyed Miss Evers' Boys, the cast, my fellow peers, did a great job at portraying the past and how the four boys were treated. Before coming to Howard I hadn't heard of the play, but I am glad I got the chance to see it. I told my mom all about it and she too had never heard of it, but plans on going to see the play whenever she can. It kind of made me mad how Caleb, Ben, Hodman, and Willie were treated. I know it was just a play, but just thinking about how this was based off of what has really happened and the hardships African Americans had to go through just to get to where we are today, still working for approval and acceptance. Overall the play was great and I plan on seeing the rest of the plays Howard has in the future.

African Burial Ground

The trip to the African Burial ground in NYC really was a really memorable experience for me. I always love hearing stories about my ancestors and people who lived through the extremely rough times of slavery. Unlike other cultures, African-Americans whose ancestors were slaves aren’t really given a lot of information about their family’s history. Information about ancestors or family in Africa got washed out throughout the years and I really don’t have a flag to wave. So going to the African Burial ground really gave me a sense of understanding. Finding about the ritual the enslaved Africans did when a loved one died was really informing.

The process of developing the burial ground was struggle. Citizen had to fight NYC and the construction company in order to have the burial ground. It really shocks me that at first that they weren’t even considering it at first. A person with morals wouldn’t build a building over a grave yard. Part of me wonders that if the bones found were of European decent, would they even second guess building over them. Overall this is a really nice experience that I think my parents would have really liked as well.

Ms.Evers Boys

This play was phenomonal. I was greatly impressed by the Howard University theater department. The play was set earlier in the 1900's and was about the Tuskegee experiments conducted on blacks back then. That immediately ccaptured my interest because while in high school former Tuskegee men came and spoke during an assembly so I previously knew a bit on the topic. Ms.Evers was a nurse who was tricked into administering syphillis into young black men. She was only trying to do her job as a nurse and had no idea that doing that job meant taking the lives of innocents. This play was such an eye opener. Blacks were reduced to becoming lab rats at one point in this country. Doesn't America stand for freedom? Why must its own citizens go through such a horrid ordeal? They deserved better and the ones that met with death did so before it was there time to go. This play is honestly something I would not mind seeing again. I look forward to the next Howard University production.

Statistics Proven Wrong

I did not connect as much with this weeks lecture as I have with the previous weeks. It was pleasant to here from the Dean of Education though. She made a few strong arguments that I completely agreed with. For one, the fact that statistics are largely misunderstood by people of the black race. We all automatically assume that negative facts about blacks are true and doubt it when we hear a positive fact. I too am guilty of this. We find it so easy to look down on our own race sometimes and that has to stop. We need to stop fueling the flames of black stereotypes. Another point that she made was about blacks in education. The percentage of blacks is a mere 4% I believe the dean said. Personally I can say that I have had one or maybe two black teachers before I came to Howard. Education is a thriving major and I think that our race has the potential to thrive in that field. Lastly what stuck out to me was the statistic that she provided on drug use specifically. I have had friends who have turned to drugs so thats why I partly would think blacks do it more than whites, but I was glad to hear that wasn't true. It makes me prideful to know that we are making something of our lives. I enjoyed listening to the dean and hope to hear from her in the future.

"Miss Evers' Boys"

Miss Evers' Boys was a very emotional play to me. I think that the actors did a very wonderful job of potraying each and every character and the emotional rollercoaster that they had been placed on. The story talks about how 4 men who had been affected with syphillis were being treated for it until the funds for their treatment ran out and the doctors only took care of the white patients and gave the other 4 men a fake vaccine. Due to the fact that syphillis takes years before it starts affecting your body these men felt that they were fine for years until the disease started taking its course.

This made me sick to my stomach because these men could have been taken care of hense they could have lived healthy lives but due to the fact that they were black they had their death sentences already written. Although they all only two of them died the surviving two still suffered. Although the stories main focus was on the 4 men, many people suffered this exact treatment due to their skin color.

Achieving Greatness

Education is the key to success no matter what race you are. Minorities are the underdogs and because of that reason we need to try that much harder to rise above the stereotypes and prove that we are an intellectual force to be reckoned with. Dr. Thorton made many good points in this weeks lecture. He spoke on how Howard’s job is to continue education along with other HBCUs. “Be different so you can help.” When the speaker said this he really had me thinking. I realized that in order for us as students to make the biggest impacts that we can we have to break free from tagging along with behaviors of peers and form our own beliefs and personalities so we can rise to the same greatness as the namesakes for the majority of Howard University buildings.
To become part of the best and brightest at Howard I intend to not slack and keep with my good grades. It is hard to balance life especially when in college, but the effort is well worth it in the end. If it means giving up a bit of my social life to reach my 4.0 at the end of the semester then I am all for it. I want to become involved in campus activities and become an active part in the D.C community as a whole. There is much potential in the class of 2015. I see nothing but developing scholars when I sit in my classes and I just soak in the presence of future greatness.
I think that to be a citizen of the world means that you simply are a entity of this planet. We are all citizens of the world. The citizenship that we have in our respective countries makes us citizens of the world by default. We as a world need to unite and realize that we are all brethren. Skin color, age, location and other such factors should no longer keep people apart. We all need to gain education and pass that down to future generations so world unity can eventually be achieved.
There are many deceased representative thinker that represent Howard, but I choose to use Dr.Carr as an example. I feel that he is one of the greatest minds in Howard University and many other places. His work in his life so far inspires me to branch out to younger kids when I actually make it in life and to share the knowledge that I have gained through the years to help them further themselves. I have only known Dr.Carr since the initial lecture that he spoke during, but since them I hang on to the words that he speaks. I wish to inspire the future generation the way that he inspires the class of 2015.
In closing, I took in much from this weeks lecture. Mainly the fact that we can’t ever stop pushing and need to strive until we prove naysayers wrong and attain greatness.

I don't need a passport to be a citizen....

       Sometimes I take a step out of my body to look at myself and say. Wow im at Howard University. Being at a school like this you always have to remember that everyone else is just like you. I doubt that you can go to any other University and find that the entire school is made up of go getter and acheivers. Thats one off the main reasons that I love my school. Whats going to keep me from becoming apart of the best and brightest at Howard is to not only stay focused but be involved. I plan on staying here at Howard and making a diffferent, puttig my voic out there so it can be heard.
       Being a citizen of the world means being just that. A citizen of the world is focused on what they can do to contribute too things thatnot only better us as a community but as a whole. When you are a citizen on the world you have to make sure to stay focused on what your particular goal may be and sticking to it. Making sure that youre not just claiming to being a citizen but you're also proving it.
       I would have to say that if I had to chose a representative thinker at Howard I would have to say that Dr. Thornton would be one of the top candidates. He inspires me to go out and be the best that I can be in life. His emphasis on being apart of such an elite community made me want to become apart of the elite community of the world.

Convocation

To be honest, the convocation wasn't that interesting to me. The upperclassmen made it seem as though I was going to be greatly inspired by the speaker, but I didn't leave feeling inspired. Dr. Lomax's speech was informative. He spoke on how we are one of the most prestigious and well known HBCU's in the country. Though we are a well known university, we have to continue to strive for excellence so we can stay on top of our game and keep Howard's legacy going.

September 22, 2011 - Dr. Richard L. Wright Lecture

Dr. Wright's lecture; or should I say sermon, definitely made me think about every point he spoke on, not only because of the volume and emphasis in his voice, but the importance in what he was speaking about. He spoke on education in the black community during segregation. Others felt blacks were incompetent during segregation. Since they felt though black knew nothing and could learn nothing, they felt like blacks learning together would be no better. Little did they know, blacks took education very seriously. No black child was to be ignorant, they had to get an education. Dr. Wright also said he felt like there was a decline in education once desegregation began. I agree 100% with what Dr. Wright expressed in his lecture about blacks and their education in the past and now.

Convocation: The LEGACY

Coming into Convocation I didn't really know what to expect. I'd only heard that it was just a blessing over the school so I wasn't very excited to go to it. When I walked out of Crampton I had such a different view on not only the wonderful school that I go to but also how important I am to the school.
I learned so much about my school and its richness in history. I learned that out of a pull of 10,000 kids we were the few out of 1500 that got accepted. We are a legacy and we need to continue it because its kind of like us against the world. If we don't perform at our best in all that we do then we won't be the  best.
Dr. Lomax from the UNCF spoke about how our school is one of the most recognized HBCU's in the country but we need to keep in mind to come together with the other HBCU'S to keep the rest of them open. There are black colleges being closed and we have to do whatever it takes to keep our brother an sister schools opened.
After hearing this it truly made understand just how much of an amazing school it is that I go to. This convocation gave me another drive that I would need to be very succesful here at Howard and keep our legacy going. I felt very important knowing that I am apart of a Legacy. WE ARE A LEGACY

Segregation: What you didn't know

This weeks lecture was very interesting to me. Whenever I think of segregation I always think of the negative side of the topic. Sit ins, walks, schools all the negative stuff. Our speaker spoke on a topic that made me see segration in a whole different. In the times of segregation you had the feeling of protection. Education was taken very seriously for all of the young black kids in the segregated communities. With having having educated children it was the weapon that the Black community used against oppression at the time. I found this to be very interesting because the Black community were doing things to prove that they weren't the ignorant people they were looked on the be. Kids at the time weren't allowed to be uneducated; whether you had the money or not people in the community made sure everyone attended school
One thing that I took out of this seminar was that the increase of declince of black young people started afer desegregation. WHAT!? This was amazing to hear because I always thought tat since blacks received second class schooling their education wasnt so good. Yet once they were desegregated their education value only seemed to drop more. This made me question whether or not desegregation in schools really brought on much of a change for blacks in schol. Although we live in the Capitol of the United States it also has the highest rate of uneducated young black people as well. This saddened me because I'm at the mecca yet if I was walking down the streets of DC I wouldn't be able to tell.
As a community we need to figure out a way that we can tackle on this issue and bring a change. Thats the homework that I'm going to assign to myself.

1st post

Thelma Mubaiwa
@02663020
I used to be in the wednesday class and that is were i posted my first couple of blogs. I cant access my very first blog because its in the wednesday group as well as group 19 for the wednesday class. if there is a way that i can get an email of it or just say that i received credit for it because it does not show up on my blackboard.

4th post: Reconstructing our history

I really liked Dr. Batey’s lecture for this week. I really liked how he got us to participate in the lecture because it made me focus more and consider what he was actually saying? He talked about the dismemberment of Africans into various parts of the world and how those people were affected. When scholars talk about it they only focus on how the Africans lost everything and didn’t have anything to call their own. In our lecture we focused on the things that they didn’t loose and kept with them from their homes. They didn’t speak or write English so they were considered illiterate yet they spoke and wrote the language from their countries. Although they didn’t know the American culture there many things we do and use today that was brought over by the slaves. Dance, music, spirit, and LANGUAGE etc.

With dismemberment the African had to learn all the new society rules as well as a sense of belonging. Any ideas they had were looked on as coming from their master because that’s all they knew. This is what scholars mean when they say that Americans have been severed from their history. They’re very unaware of the things our ancestors went through to get to the places we are today. There’s an invisible hand in society that makes us see things in a different way (such as Africans lost everything).

This is why we are doing our research on figuring out how scholars have or are looking to change something in our society. How can we get Americans reconnected to the history that we’ve lost ad how do we go about getting it done. We need to bring back culture: reconstruct or rewrite the history of the Americans so we can all having an understanding so we all have an idea of where we come from.

3rd post: Omoluabi and me

This weeks lecture for me really brought some key points that can be very useful in all aspects if my life. Last week Dr. Carr spoke on our mbongi's and the use of knowledge and wisdom. This weeks topis was about how the transformation of knowledge and how it has magnified us.
Academic knowledge is more than just about what you learn in school. It aso goes on everything you learn outside of school. Like Dr. Carr said, "All learning doesn't go on in the classroom, its only just begining in the classrom. Academic knowledge has 3 very important factors.

• Production: How people see and view and certain topic. eg. All black people can dance
• Advancement: Confirming that fact without any thought or as much as a problem with it
• Transformation: CHALLENGE. eg. Im not only going to believe this statement, but im going to do my own personal research to see whether or not this fact is true

This lecture to me was another way of instilling in me that yes, I have this knowledge but am I going to utilize it in a way that it benefits more than just me. I'm also not only going to use it but I'm going to use the transformation point and challenge something without just accepting it.

2nd Post: Rembembrance and Acknowledgement: When does it start?

Thelma Mubaiwa
@02663020
Freshman Seminar
R: 6:10-7:00

Well first of all before I begin this blog I just have to say WOW! Dr. Carr is such an amazing individual. I had the opportunity to hear this lecture twice and I was amazed that I was drawn in the same way o had been the first time I experienced this lecture. Dr. Carr said something in the lecture that clicked with me and he completely encompasses. He said that, wisdom is knowing what to do with knowledge. He has wisdom
When I left my family in San Diego I left the physical Mbongi we formed there only keeping the mental. I wasn’t worried about meeting people but I was worried about being accepted. I have now create an Mbongi so strong with my fellow Bison’s that I’m not even homesick. I’ve been away from home for almost a month yet I’m not homesick because the people I’ve met here have made so feel so comfortable and almost loved to soon.

Before coming to Howard I always called people ignorant for always denying their African roots. I was born in Africa so in a sense it has always bothered me that people were so against claiming any African roots they have. What I learned in this lecture is that people aren’t educated. If you don’t know about something then how can you claim it? From the time that slavery began we were trained to forget. Ever since slavery ended there have been many methods used in replacement of the slavery back then. We have been mis-educated to think in that mindset. To disconnect ourselves from the people we truly are and where our roots truly originate from. This is what I would call Mental Slavery.

From the beginning of time OUR people have been the ones responsible for many things that we have never received credit for. Once again we’re trained to forget. It all started in Africa, people come from all walks of life but it’s all traced back to Africa. They learned how to adapt and live in this world and because of them we live the way we do today. I was truly amazed to learn that we created the usage of language, alphabet, and numbers. Hieroglyphics are the oldest form of writing used and was created in Egypt. Through this numbers, alphabet, language developed. CAN I GET AN UH HMMM!

My dream is that one day people will be able to acknowledge what an amazing people we are. Shouldn’t have to be ashamed to say yes, my ancestors were born in Africa. To speak up proudly and say I have African blood running through my veins. To stop forgetting and start learning.

Abandonment and Dismemberment: Something Torn & New

I enjoyed the lecture Dr. Beatty gave on Abondonment and Dismemberment. In our first blog we were asked to tell what lecture we looked forward to and this lecture was what I looked forward to. This lecture was my favorite and most interesting so far. We were asked to raise our hands if we felt like the Africans were torn from "everything" when invaded. I did not raise my hand, because I feel as though if we were torn from everything no one would remember. There would be no language, literature, dance, apparel, etc to trace back.

OMOLUABI

On Thursday, Dr. G's lecture was titled: "Omoluabi: Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility". I feel as though everything I spoke on tied in to having a good character and showing respect. One thing that stood out to me this past Thursday was that "knowledge, wisdom, and intellect" were all used in both Dr. G and Dr. Carr's lectures. Those three nouns play a big part in the human society. I like how Dr. G told the story of Iwa to show the significance of how character can get lost. In the story, Iwa means character. Iwa was the wide of Orunmila, the God of Wisdom. Surru, the God of patience, was the father of Iwa. Orunmila mistreated Iwa and eventually Iwa left. After Iwa left, Orunmila lost everthing he had, so he looked for Iwa. After taking in the story and thinking about what it means to me, I came to the conclusion that Suuru being the God of patience and Iwa's father, Iwa had patience and probably put up with Orunmila's mistreatment for a while before leaving. Iwa meaning character, Orunmila probably didn't know that she played a big part in his life. Though Orunmila was the God of Wisdom, after losing Iwa, he lost everything. Having great wisdom, intellect, and or knowledge are great, but without character, you have nothing.

“Learning, Wisdom, and the African World” (lecture #1)

1. To be African is to be brilliant and excellent. Dr. Carr makes it very clear that Africa is the birthplace of brilliance and excellence. He invoked the images of Seshat, the creator and Goddess of numbers and according to Dr. Carr “rocked leopard skin”. Djehuty was her husband and the creator of letters. He referenced these two greats of our history to show that we are indeed genetically members of the source of academic origins. This powerful link allowed us to connect mentally and emotionally to the richness, greatness and authority from which we come. We were indeed able to see that “To be African is to be Brilliant and Excellent.” From here Dr. Carr, in my opinion achieved his objective to call us into re-membering and re-setting our “Axis of Learning Around Excellence” through the eyes of Sankofa (taking us to Seshat and Djehuty).
2. Dr. Carr also broke down the meaning of an Mbongi. I had never heard this term before. It is a space where the community is engaged with one another for the purpose of to solve problems. According to Dr. Carr it is a “physical and intellectual space” where members come together, creating a kind of “think tank, which develops the best ways of knowing and keeping the traditions which characterize the group and order thought.” He also pointed out that this is a “common shelter” meaning this is a safe and protective place. I will always hold as vey significant the next thing he said. He stated that in this space all are given permission to speak however everyone is “required to speak with authority and clarity.” This is showing that everyone is valued and should also respect themselves as a valuable contributor to the growth of their community and an actual instrument of “effect” of the world at large. This is showing that when one views herself in this way she will hold herself accountable for her actions and be more mindful of the impact her action or non action has on the world. What a strong community, nation and world this would be if we all held and maintained such a high healthy self esteem.
3. Another point of immense value was the lens with which Dr. Carr magnified how many were trained to forget. He reminded us of how many Africans were separated from their memory. He highlighted that many American peoples of African descent have been taught that the history of their ancestors began with Africans who “showed up pickin cotton”. This of course resulted in the psychological disconnecting from Africa among many African Americans. Indeed many supporters of white supremacy desired this memory loss of connection to a power source.
Many Africans were enslaved and ripped from their continent. Africans have been spread across the globe as a result of many factors other than the Trans Atlantic Enslavement Trade. However it was this that caused the most amount of displacement of Africans and their descendants. Africans were forcefully taken to places like Brazil, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago and North America. Despite this, we maintained memory seemingly in our DNA. Retention of things such as the African way of cooking, African rhythms, African dress, African color combinations and African drum beats are all just a few examples of the presence of this memory across space and time. Though many of these continue to experience some evolution, the authenticity of the retention of memory is undeniable.
Seeing myself as heir “…to a tradition of African thinking” makes me feel powerful, influential and a strong sense of responsibility to be the best and most authentic human I can.