Self-Evaluation

At the beginning of the semester, I lamented having to take this class again. Yes, again. As a 23 year old, I've had to come and go from Howard University because of financial issues without ever passing Freshman Seminar. I knew if it was anything like the first time taking it, I was going to regret it. It was honestly quite the opposite. The setup of Freshman Seminar was not only convenient but I thought it was very useful, even for me. I learned facts about the buildings on the campus and the instrumental African-Americans who it is our honor to name those buildings after. I learned about the African burial ground and have been given new inspiration to move through life with purpose because there is no age restriction on greatness. From Dr. Pollard's talk on the hip-hop culture to Dr. Gbadegesin's Iwa story on character, everything not only tied in but gave me the tools to finish my Howard career strong, even though I'm not a freshman. Most of the presentations in the class were done thoroughly enough for me to gain insight on things I never even considered to be problems today, like cyber bullying on teens. Many of the freshmen in the class were learning like I was so it was really cool to see us learning the same. I know that I came to Howard University to be exposed to a different way of thinking to aid in becoming the critical intellectual that I know I can be. I know that this new set up of Freshmen seminar has done that for me and I'm sure will serve as the same for many freshmen classes to come. I loved this course!

Faculty Interview with Fine Arts Chairman, Professor Joe Selmon

For our group presentation, we were supposed to interview a faculty memeber about our topic. My group, New Group 5, chose to discuss the discussion of how Black America views Hip-Hop. Every generation has had some type of music that has revolutionized their generation but that has also been rejected by those older than them. Even watching "Ray" (starring Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington), there were scenes where Ray Charles was screamed at to leave the stage because he was playing "that devil music". He was taking traditional church songs and turning them into soul music and people didn't like that. Is that the same thing that is happening to us? I asked my chairman in the Theatre Arts Department, Joe Selmon, about how Black America views Hip-Hop. Oddly enough, he not only gave me great insight to take back to my group for our presentations but he mentioned many of the things that Dr. Pollard said in his presentation on hip-hop. While he said he doesn't care for hip-hop too much because of the images that it comes with, he said there is no denying the impact that it carries and there is also no denying that have made a positive impact in this world. The first name out of this mouth happened to be Public Enemy and their star track "Fight the Power". He said coming from a militant background where Black people in this country were proactive about their concerns, Public Enemy was instrumental in the "changing of the guard". He sees a lot of positivity in hip hop but he is beginning to see the problems with it. It doesn't promote education, it objectifies women, and it doesn't promote wise financial decisions. I would argue that much of the music before it did the same thing but that discussion is for another day. It was encouraging hearing from another source, especially the chairman of my department, that he appreciates the contributions that hip-hop has had on the world he continues to live in. Great interview!

Actualizing Self

Dr. Segun Gbadegesin had a great presentation today about self-actualization and the story surrounding it. First, I was really feeling that well today and wasn't sure if Iwas going to come to class. I am now happy that I did. Dr. Gbadegesin was very captivating and knew his material, which I always appreciate in an instructor's presentation. He was very passionate about his material. Dr. Gbadegesin narrated on the story of Iwa. The story of Iwa is an African story that has been passed down through the generations. It was a story that signified the principles that was important in their society. To be honest, being of African descent, it is now a story the story of Iwa signified the principles that ARE important to our society. Basically, she was the wife of Orunmila and just wanted to be respected by him. Facing the realities of their relationship, she left him and eventually devastated him. It turned out that he could not handle life without her and became a statistic by losing everything that he had. Even after searching for her, he came up with nothing. Iwa, according to Dr. Gbadegesin, embodies the concept of character and it is our job to keep her around. If we lose "her", we lose everything. I learned so much from this presentation.

The Effects of Young People

Young People like me. Young people like me have made a difference in this world that continue to affect the generation we live in now! Dr. Pollard's presentation on the impact that young people have made was mind-blowing. There are a lot of people who would not want to recognize that many of the movements that have been significan in the history of the African-American negro have come because of the wisdom of the older generation and the action of the younger. There were so many names that Dr. Pollard mentioned in his presentation with amazing perspective on why they are significant. From Lauryn Hill, A Tribe Called Quest, Afrika Bambaataa, Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, to Jay-Z, Nas, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G., and Kanye West. He mentioned many of the thinkers, philosophers, and idealists who will shape this generation. He began speaking about the consciousness of our generation and the responsibility that is required from all of the people are privy to this information. Within our generation, we have socially conscious artists who not only shape the way that we think, dress, and act, but are an artistic outlet for those of us who don't have the voice to project to millions of people at a time. He finished off the presentation with one of my favorite videos from Jadakiss, "Why", which happens to be one of my favorite songs. The song is filled with questions about the government and many of the questions that people our age should be talking about. I appreciated this presentation so much because I just knew that it was from the heart. It inspired to look more into the impact that I can make right now. Because people my age are doing it now....

African Burial Ground

Going to the African Burial Grounds in NY has been one of the most unexpected and rewarding experiences of my life. I knew that Dr. Carr would take us to an establishment that was culturally and spiritually significant to the history and advancement to us as African-Americans but I wasn't quite expecting this. The whole environment from leaving in Washington, DC felt like a scene right out of one of my favorite movies, "Remember the Titans". There is a scene where all of the students, black and white, run in the camp without knowing where they are headed. In the cold, they stop at a place which served for the War of Gettysburg. In the cold leaving from DC, I wasn't sure what to expect. But seeing the burial ground was earth-shattering for me. The most instrumental part for me was the stories of how these people respected the legacies of their loved ones even with limited resources. In an era now where we have access to so much, it seems as though our respect for our ancestors and their legacy has gone away but that was a main priority to these Africans. It was very sad to hear how these Africans were treated by those who didn't even see them as humans. Many of their stories ended with being tossed to the side or not even being buried properly. The harsh realities of that life came over me as I stood there. Being confined in a small space, being chained to another person who might be seeing their dying day, no nourishment, and having the soul sucked out of me in bondage is utterly unimaginable to me. The sad part is the guide said for them that was just a way of life.

Self Evaluation

Freshmen Seminar wasn’t the worst class in the world. As a sophomore this is my second time taking this class. Overall, the class is much improved and ran a lot smoother than last year. First the lecture series in the beginning of the semester were a good idea. It introduced me to several different speakers and ideals. Even though some speakers were difficult to understand I feel like the variety of speakers at Howard is one of the schools greatest assets. Sadly, I feel as though many students don’t take full advantage of this resource at the university and having it in freshmen seminar introduces this concept to students. Moreover, as the class progressed I thought it was a great move to explain to the students the purpose of freshmen seminar. It puts the work required of students into perspective. Then there was the second half of the course that was designed around group presentations. In the workplace group skills is necessary to succeed. These projects were actually a lot more interesting than I thought they were going to be. Students actually focused on contemporary issues such as bullying, nutrition, and depression. My group focused on the cliché topic of Hip Hop. However, we tried to make it original by focusing on how Black America views Hip Hop. Through the project we had discussions, debates, and found new paradigms on the topic. I actually enjoyed the project and giving the final presentation. I think this class aided to my confidence in my ideas and beliefs and I’m excited for the rest of my academic career.

By: Stanford Fraser

Genome system

On September 6th, 2010 we had a female speaker come in and speak amongst us about genomes. This had to be the most exciting lecture in the whole course beside Dr. Alton B. Pollard lecture with the Jadakiss video. Both of these lectures were my favorite. While most people felt that the genome lecture was incredibility boring I found it beyond interesting. I love science and always will and that’s probably why I’m a chemistry major.
I already knew everything she was speaking on so it made it easier to take notes on my mbongi form and follow along. She explained to us that a DNA molecule consists of two strands that wrap around each other to resemble a twisted ladder whose sides, made of sugar and phosphate molecules. The DNA molecule is most commonly known as the double helix. The strands are connected by rings of nitrogen containing chemicals that our known as bases. There are 4 different bases that are present in DNA which are Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine. These bases are always paired where Adenine connects to Thymine, and Cytosine connects to Guanine. These pairings produce 4 different base pair possibilities—A to T, T to A, G to C, and C to G. This sequence is grouped into 23 distinct parts known as chromosome pairs. Science proves that the human genome is the latest in a long line of evolution, which can and is usually considered, by many, to be the architectural blueprint for human life.

Group presentation on bullying

When people say or feel like they are a victim of bullying I can relate to them. Being bullied is not fun to experience and with bullying becoming a major issue across the world makes the thought of it even worse. I never thought in my entire life that bullying would start to kill people. Sure bullies would make you cry or make you feel uncomfortable when in your presence but not kill.
This group’s presentation went into details on how bullying starts, the various styles, and the effects. Also, they briefly stated the how’s and why’s of bullying. I truly do not see why someone would want bully another human being. It’s just not logical to me. Don’t all kids learn at a young age to treat others the way they would want to be treated? From what the statistics show I guess not. Did you know that 38% of the parents in the United States bully their own children? That is just disgusting and they know they are living life mighty foul! Why would you abuse your own blood ones? That is just so sad to me and messed up part about it is that 7 times out of 10 they learn the bullying at home.
Bullies never fazed me until the 5th grade. Shondra Cummings used to bully me every day after our first class change. It never was as serious as the foolishness going on today but, she bullied me because my hair was prettier than hers and I was too “uppity” for her. How is a 9 or 10 year old uppity? Well, back then I never wanted to find out and the day she got kicked out of our school was the happiest day of my life.

A true Self Evaluation

I feel like I’ve taken five steps back instead of 10 steps forward. This semester has really been all over the place for me. A freshman off campus their very first time in college is definitley not a good idea. I wish we would have reconsidered my living conditions. The living off campus is a down fall but besides that I know that since I’ve left the nest of Atlanta, Georgia I’ve become a new individual. I’ve grown in ways that I never knew can grow. The biggest and hardest one I accomplished was responsibility. Responsibility and I are like oil and water. I have always had a problem with it, blaming any and everything but myself. When I came to Howard I knew that everything I was about to get myself into were going to be because of my choices. Everything that has happen this semester is because of me. Whether it’s not making a deadline, not going to class, or forgetting to do a homework assignment is 100% my fault. There’s no one to blame and I’m an only child so I never even had the comfort of possibly blaming a sibling. You would think I would’ve learned this early on in life by default but, after years of my perfect excuses they’ve always pulled through. Well now there aren’t any excuses. No more lies or “What had happened was” situations. So to self evaluate myself I would give myself a below average because there’s no way I gave my full potential in the class. The difference between me and thousands of people in this world is that I can’t lie to myself, sit back and convince myself that when I’m wrong I’m right. I know when I’m dead wrong and I’ve learned to accept it. Real is real and it gets no realer than that.

Self-Evaluation

I feel that I have grown tremendously since the beginning of this semester. My first year of college is not over, but I feel more mature than when I first got here. Freshman Seminar was easy in the beginning, but when it came to group projects I was worried because my group was not put together yet. Once my group was put together we had the task of getting our schedules lined up so we could meet and talk bout our project. We ended up having a really good group presentation. We talked bout how black America views Hip Hop. I never really thought about Hip Hop until our project. We, as a group, knew a lot about Hip Hop. This class has taught me how to work well with others even if I do not know them. I have also learned how to do a real research project. No doubt I will have to utilize this skill very soon in my upcoming years of college. I look forward to being a great student. This class has also taught me many things I did not know about my African Heritage. I never realized how historically oriented Howard University was until I stepped foot in Freshman Seminar. I'm actually kind of happy that this is a mandatory course. I learned a much needed skill from this class. I hope to get Dr. Carr as one of my professors soon because of his enthusiasm as it relates to the history of Africans and African Americans.

 

By Christiana Flood

Group Presentation 2

This presentation was on obesity. A lot of people in America suffer from obesity. I see children that are 6 and 7 years of age and they are headed towards path of destruction. The parents do not want to tell their children no when they ask for more food because they might throw a fit. If they really loved their child they would be less concerned about temper tantrums and worry more about their physical health. Many parents do not realize that if they let their child get morbidly obese it will lead to low self-esteem, binge eating, depression, and many more things. They so focused on keeping the child happy for the moment that they do not think about what will happen to their happiness when they are being made fun of at school or when no one asks the on a date. Why settle for temporary happiness when you can be healthy and happy for the rest of their lives. Obesity leads to having to take many medications to help with hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart problems. Those are not all of the health problems they can face, but I have witnessed people go through these things. I really do not want to have to deal with health problems. I like being able to eat what I want in moderation. America's young people are facing short life-spans if we do not do something to drastically change the outcome. We can just start by eating healthy and exercising regularly. If we encourage one another to take these two stpes we will make progress gradually.

 

By Christiana Flood

Group Presentation 1

This presentation was on bullying. There are different types of bullying such as physical bullying, cyber bullying, or ostracizing. Males are more than likely prone to physical bullying. Males are considered to be more aggressive than females. Females are more prone to cyber bullying. Physical bullying consists of being punched, kicked, pushed, and other physical harm. Cyber bullying is done on Facebook, Myspace, and cell phones. I can say that I have never been bullied in my lifetime. I'm very thankful for that. However, I know that there have been instances where young people have committed suicide because of the humiliation and shame of be bullied. There have also been instances where the victims of bullying have killed their tormentors because they hated them so much. People usually bully other people because they have no control over what happens to them at home. A person that may be a bully at school may be getting abused or pushed around by their parents or siblings. Most bullies have issues with their self-esteem. They want to feel good about themselves so they make someone else feel badly about their physical appearance, clothes, or disabilities. A bully will never choose someone that is bigger than them because they are intimidated by that person's appearance and physical strength. Females are more likely to pick on average-looking girls and girls that are prettier than them. They want to be seen as pretty so they ruin the other girl's reputation and tend to spread rumors that portray the girl as a "whore". This way all the guys will want nothing to do with her. There was an instance where one girl had to transfer because she had no friends and was getting attacked daily. Hopefully, America will be able to gradually bring a stop to bullying in all forms.

 

By Christiana Flood

Research and Methodology: Inscription as a Liberating Practice

I can honestly say I can relate to this lecture. I know what it feels like to do good research and get good grade for it. Doing research is not just for a grade though. You can do it just to educate yourself on a few things. I can say that when I have heard a person's name that I do not recognize I write it down so I can look it up later. When you take it upon yourself to do a little research you will be surprised at what you find. You will learn some things you did not know. Freshman Seminar actually encourages that we as young people do more research. I realize that all of the lecturers had to do an element of research to get ready to speak to us in class. I did not realize that there were steps and stages of a research project until Freshman Seminar. There are methods of researching. You can use the library, the internet, or even people to research a certain subject. Your research question cannot be too broad because then you will have trouble bringing a certain point to the forefront. You have to narrow it down to negative or positive, a certain age group, or a certain nationality. Freshman seminar also challenges us as young African Americans to research our history. We cannot be uninformed when it comes to our history or we will be taken advantage of. I as an individual choose to know where I came from. If you do not know where you are from you cannot possibly have a clue about where you are going.

 

 

By Christiana Flood

The Power of Young People

Dr Pollard brought an element of humor to his lecture which brightened my day somewhat. His lecture was on Civil Rights, Hip Hop, and Hope. He pointed out that it was not just older people doing the sit-ins and other demonstrations during the Civil Rights Movement. It was actually a group of college students that did the first sit-in. I was surprised because I did not know that. I do not know why I never really connected young people to the Civil Rights Movement. I think it was mostly because I was only taught about the elders and adults contribution to the movement. He also spoke about Hip Hop. Hip Hop was a form of expression for the African American community. Hip Hop is not just a genre of music. Hip Hop is a whole style. Hip Hop is a style of dance, a genre of music, and a style of dress. Honestly, Hip Hop has become a community that includes many different nationalities and ethnicities. However, we must not forget that it originated from the African American race. This generation's version of Hip Hop is distorted and watered down. You have more ignorant and materialistic rappers in this generation. Artists such as Common, The Roots, India Arie, and Lauren Hill are a rarity. Most lyrics in songs today are vulgar, demeaning, and explicit. However, there are rappers such as K'naan, Kanye West, and Talib Kweli that speak more about what is going on in the world's systems. They are trying to bring the truth to us in a more appealing way. I really believe that this generation can come up from the dust, shake ourselves off, and prove all the people that doubted us wrong.

 

By Christiana Flood

The Eloquence of the Scribes: Initiations, Expectations, and Mastery- Continuing the Legacy of Howard University

I actually enjoyed this lecture. Writing is an art. What I am saying is, not everyone is as skillful with words as other people. A scribe is a person who serves as a professional copyist. When you really sit back and think about it, there are many modern day scribes in the world today such as poets, rappers, historians, etc. Many famous scribes from Howard University include: Zora Neale Thurston, Inabel Burns Lindsay, Jesse Moorland, and Arthur Spingarn. Zora Thurston founded The Hilltop. Jesse Moorland and Arthur Spingarn started a library here at Howard University. Inabel Lindsay was the very first dean of the School of Social Work in 1945. I never realized that all of the buildings, with the exception of Douglas Hall, were named after people. All of the buildings in the Quad are named after famous women mostly African-American women. The first scribes originated in Africa. The Africans had their own alphabet and language, so clearly the African race is not inferior when it comes to language and intelligence. We, the new generation, have the responsibility of following in the footsteps of the scribes before us. We have to leave information for the generation that is coming up after us. We can all be scribes in our individual fields of study. There has to be a representation from each school so there will not be any type of imbalance later. I hope that if I do write things down in a legible manner, someone will find them some years later and be able to learn from my writings.

 

 

By Christiana Flood

The African Burial Ground

When I first heard that we would be going to New York to visit the African Burial Ground I was excited. I was ready to learn more about these people, my ancestors, who were treated like animals and thrown into a mass grave without proper burials. The night before the trip I was happy and excited, so I just stayed up all night so I could get a seat on the bus. My spirits were still high even when we got there. I did not know what to expect. After we stood outside for a while, I was cold, hungry, and tired. I simply wanted to go inside and sit down. Once I got inside and started looking at the exhibits, I was just in awe. I was saddened by the fact that so many people were without identities and they were just thrown away like trash. While in side the museum we watched a short movie about a family burying one of their own. I realized that when it was left up to the African people to bury their people it was done properly even with the little resources they had. When it was left up to the people that despised our race, they threw them away because to them Africans were disposable. A man took us inside a structure that looked like a unfinished pyramid on one side and on the other side it looks like the bough of a ship. He crowded about fifty of us into the small structure. Once we were in there he told us to imagine that for the next month that small space was our home. He told us to imagine being chained to a person who was dying, standing in our own filth, and hearing the screams of a pregnant woman during childbirth. This affected me emotionally because I could not imagine being chained like an animal and being shipped to a foreign country in the worse conditions possible. Animals mill around in their own filth, but humans have ways of disposing their waste. It just gave me more drive to surpass all the stereotypes and succeed as a strong black woman.

 

By Christiana Flood

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

Dr. Georgia Dunston lectured on many different things. "Since its founding, Howard University represents a full embrace of its foremost responsibility as an agent for the reawakening of that legacy of learning." This statement tells us one of the many purposes of Howard University as an HBCU. During the last month of Freshman Seminar I once heard a girl say that Howard is too focused on the black aspect of everything. Clearly the purpose of an HBCU is to teach us that many of us have been miseducated about the origins of many things. In many of our classes we will learn that the origins of many subjects are rooted in Africa. Mathematics came from the Egyptians, who were Africans. Howard University is trying to keep the legacy going with this new generation. You never know what Howard graduate may discover some new medical treatment or invent something very useful. I also learned that Europeans, Africans, and Asians are all genetically related, but the largest portion is from Africans. This shows me that even though our ancestors captors' skin color was different, there is a possibility that they may have been related. However, this factor does not determine the type of person you are. Every person is different and it is because of genomes. Your genomes determine your hair color and texture, your eye color, your skin color, and other physical traits. Genomes even help characterize the different aspects of different diseases. "At the end of all our exploring, we shall arrive where we began, and know the place for the first time." (T.S. Eliot) This quote means that once we are finished exploring and researching all the possibilities we will come back to where we started and find something totally new to research. If you keep looking at something for a long time you will discover new things about it.

By Christiana Flood

Learning, Wisdom, and the African World Experience: An Mbongi

Dr. Gregory Carr's abundance of enthusiasm kept me awake throughout the whole lecture. He explained that we would be given Mbongi forms at each Freshman Seminar class. Mbongi means house without rooms. The purpose of the mbongi forms is to see if we are comprehending what we are being taught and I also gives us a chance to be honest about the class and the lecturer. The lecture points out that Africa has affected global learning and teaching. The question was asked "Why must we discuss learning, wisdom, and the African Human Experience?" My answer is so people can see that Africaa has played a big part in the education we now see being put forth in America. We have contributed to this country not just with physical labor, but we brought customs and languages when we came. "The most serious threat to African dignity is in the domain of intellectual ability" (Jacob Carruthers). I believe he is saying that if we do not strive toward higher intelligence and we just settle for less we are brining shame to our African heritage. When our ancestors were taken from Africa they were seen as inferior beings and beasts. When we are educated and articulate we are showing the white race and ourselves that we are not beasts but we are intelligent human beings. Another point made was that we still have not reached intellectual freedom. Even though we can go to college and get different degrees there is still that intimidation some people feel. They feel they will never do well enough to reach their goals. There is a mental barrier that still has to be broken through as a nation.

By Christiana Flood

Hip Hop vs. Civil Right Movement????

Whenever an older person is given the opportunity to speak on the birth of hip hop and how it relates to the Civil Rights Movement, there always seems to be a condescending tone. Either there is a demeaning of the artistry of hip hop or the music of the Civil Rights Movement is seen as "real music." Today's presentation was definitely a breath of fresh air because it showed the correlation between the two entitities and not just the differences. Over time, genres of music, fashion, and pop culture are going to change. It is an inevitable part of life but it makes sense to highlight the similarities between the two.

The Civil Rights Movement was NEEDED at the time that it started. It gave birth to some of the most iconic figures in African-American history but at the time it started, it was a necessity for change not a means to create a legacy. To an oppressed people who had had enough, it was an avenue to express concerns, fight for what was right, and guarantee that the potential of the future would be protected. I am relieved that the presenter offered the idea that hip hop was birthed BECAUSE of the sacrifice made by those in the Civil Rights Movement. It was their work that allowed us to speak about the modern problems that evolved for us. There is no Hip Hop vs Civil Rights Movement. Hip Hop is BECAUSE of the Civil Rights Movement.


Written by Kasaun Wilson

Our Language

When most people speak of language, especially in the country, the English language is always referenced as the standard for what everyone should speak. However, even within our own country, we have so many dialects, cultures, and slangs that embody what we call verbal communication. For Black people in this country, our conversation of language digs a little deeper than most. Whether it is hearing ad-libs on a rap songor hearing Snoop Dogg say "For shizzle, my nizzle", the legitimacy of our most basic slang has always been questioned.

Dr. Carr's presentation on our language means so much to me especially because I am apart of the hip-hop culture. Dr. Carr spoke about the origins of what is called "slang" and how the rest of America sees it. The origins come from Kemet so in a sense, I am reflecting my beginning. Language is a way for a group of communication. The way he puts it, it made me think that no language can really claim to be original. Most languages, including American English, were derived from someone else's language. If it works for us, then it is is LANGUAGE. That was re-affirming!


Written by Kasaun Wilson

Help With Presentations

For the end of the semester, we have to give a group presentation for Freshman Seminar. I have taken classes in Principles of Speech and Advanced Public Speaking so this dissertation from Dr. Dana Williams was very timely. She spoke to us about the fine points of how to give a presentation. Sometimes she gave hints, she gave insight to craft it better for the audience, and equipped us with the ability to give a presentation that not only will be memorable to the audience during the presentation but will resonate with them long after they live.

One hint that she gave us was to be selective in the topic-picking process. She asked us to be specific about the topic and find something that we could personally invest our own interest in. I would love to present on hip hop but her suggestions makes me want to be a little more specific about what part of hip hop I would want to present on. Dr. Dana was a good presenter and I was engaged for all of the class period. I know this information will serve me well in the future.


Written by Kasaun Wilson

Howard University Scribes

Scribes are the foundation of what we do here at Howard University. It was not for these legendary people at Howard University to lay the groundwork for what it is that we do, none of us would be here. Through this presentation, I learned exactly what I needed to know about being a Howard student. While I'm walking to class or on my way to get something to eat, I pass some of the most legendary sculptures and buildings named after many of the great African-Americans who have shaped the future of the Negro in America and consequently, American culture.

Every day, I pass iconic sculptures like Freedman's Column on my way past Lulu Vere Childeres Hall. I learned about Oliver Howard, the man with whom the name Howard University is credited to. He is a Caucasian man who was known for educating free slaves. It was on January 18, 1867 that it was decided that the name would officially be called Howard University. I learned about Mordecai Wyatt Johnson who was the first African-American president of this great establishment. I learned about Alain Locke who believed that Africa should be used as inspiration, started the Hilltop, and influenced Zora Neale Hurston. I learned about the history of Cramton Auditorium who is named after Louis C. Cramton who is responsible for bringing major funding to this institution. This presentation so eloquently placed the emphasis on the people who serve as the foundation of who I am as a student at HOWARD UNIVERSITY. Not even mentioning great names like Phyllis Wheatley, Lucy Diggs Slowe, Mary McLeod Bethune, Charles Drew, and Earnes Everett Just...I learned so much! Great Presentation

Written by Kasaun Wilson

presentations done properly

Dr. Dana Williams lectured and how to properly construct a presentation. She went over several ways to find interesting topics and how to research them. Also, she explained how to present them. Groups may want to find a challenging topic or situation and find methods on how to explain or break them down. Tips on principle components were also discussed and how to relate them to the group.
All of her tips were helpful and actually were used when my group put our presentation together. I believe a lecture, presentation, or essay is just like a product. Products are supposed to sell and if your essay, lecture, or presentation does not have a drive or an “attention grabber” then there’s no way it’s going to sell. All lectures, essays, and presentation should keep your audience on the edge wanting more and more. If your products aren’t selling then you’re going to be flat out broke or end up with an unsatisfying grade. Nothing beats boring presentations. You lose your audience and people will eventually never want to listen or read anything with your name on it.
A powerful, informational, and exciting group presentation is always a plus. Two heads are better than one…sometimes but, with creative thinking and useful information on a topic it should be a breeze constructing an “A” presentation.
My group has a good group of people and I know we can use our intelligence to present a “Moving” presentation about hip hop and its effects on Black America.

Group Presentation 2

"Effects of Cyber Bullying on Teens"

The Fab 5 group presented on an issue that I have never even considered thinking about. Because of the accessibility of social networks to people of all ages, we must evaluate the dangers that lurk as a result. We can always look at social networks as a way to connect with old friends, build strong business relationships, and promote for shows and opportunities around the world. Yet, in schools around the country, bullying has always been and continue to be a major concern because of the physical, psychological, and academic ramifications that can occur. Because we all have access to these social networks, the question is now, "Does Cyber Bullying Even Exist?" The answer is yes and it is a lot more dangerous than previously thought by me. Cyber Bullying is an issue that must be seriously looked at because it is affecting children everywhere.

42% of kids have admitted to being bullied online and 58% of them have not told their parents about it. The problem with cyber bullying is that it carries the drama of regular school into the home life. Kids should view home and even after-school hours as a safe haven to be with family but with the accessiblity of the social network, whatever is going on in the school can just carry over. A person's cyber personality can be completely different that what they really so for children not at the age of legal accountability, their self-esteem could be online. The group reported that cyber bullying offered kids a higher chance of stress which we all know is not something students need more of. This most stop!

Writtten by Kasaun Wilson

Group Presentation 1

"The Cross Between Poverty and Academic Performance"

Within the African-American community, the issue of academic performance has been prevalent in many circles. From the effects of hip-hop on the popularity of education amongst young Black kids to the teacher-student ratios that impact the rate of how our kids learn, it appears as though we try to use every avenue possible to ensure that our kids have the best scholastic opportunities possible. The MEAN GREEN group brought up a very critical argument that must be discussed because of the low-income situation many African-Americans find themselves in, POVERTY. That is not to say that being African-American is synonymous with being poverty stricken because there are many other cultures who are low income and there are some Black people doing quite well for themselves.

What I got out of the presentation was that there should not be the cliche argument that people in poverty-stricken situations can't afford better schooling. While that is true, poverty can have an even invidious effect on our children that I once thought. Being born into poverty affects other factors like: eating habits, higher risk of stress, higher tendency for poor academic environment, and less positive role models. All of these factors can affect a child who should be in school carefree to learn. Some solutions include: increased government spending, emphasizing stronger parent-teacher relationships, and a better relationships among parents and teachers.

By Kasaun Wilson

group presentation on HBCU's

Several of my peers did a Power point presentation on a topic about HBCU’s being relevant in today’s society. They researched past and present needs for historically black colleges and universities, why they were established, and how they helped the black community. Their presentation showed the percentage of graduating blacks from HBCU’s vs. white institutions with four year degrees. The percentage of blacks graduating from HBCU’s was 20% higher than at a white university. The Statistics showed that when African-Americans attend a black university they are more likely to succeed and become a better black individual.
White or non-black universities argue that there is no need for HBCU’s today because African-Americans can receive an equal education at any university of their choosing. With that being true the experiences you would receive at a HBCU could never amount to those at a white university. Attending an “All black” school will teach you your real history and how being black is a blessing not a sin.
The whole presentation was interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I actually learned something new. Knowing that white colleges and universities feel that there is no need for historically black colleges and universities to exist makes me feel even more proud to attend Howard University. I hope all black colleges across the nation continue to keep their doors open for African-Americans and students of all colors and races. There’s no reason to shut them down, besides they’ve gotten so many successful black people this far, why stop now?

Group Presentation 2

Recently in the news there has been a trend of bullying. This might explain why two different groups decided to give presentations on bullying. However, it’s not your father’s story of “losing” his lunch money. The current news stories involve the recent but ever growing problem of cyber bullying. One of example of this is the college student who committed suicide because his roommate put a video on the internet of a homosexual encounter. Popular television shows such as degrassi have depicted the horrors associated with bullying. Some schools have adopted a zero tolerance policy towards bullying and the result of being caught bullying is explosion. In the group presentations the members of the group made a concerted effort to demonstrate that bullying involves much more than the physical.

Historically girls are known for being aggressive through non physical bullying. IN modern times however, with technological advances everyone can be a victim from the non physical bullying. Texting, social network site, photos, and videos can all be used to bully students. Some affects of bullying can be poor grades, depression, becoming a bully yourself, and lashing out. One group explained the extreme example of the Columbine High school shooting which really put bullying on the map. At the Columbine students who were constantly bullied actually brought guns to school and shot their peers. The basic message of the presentations was that bullying comes in various forms and not merely that of the physical. The way bullies bully has changed and we need to be aware of our actions and how they affect others.

By: Stanford Fraser

Group Presentation 1

The first waves of research project presentations were interesting but didn’t truly relate to me. The subject matter was well put together and the presenters seemed to be well informed in their field of research. However, topics such as kidney donations and nutrition don’t relate to my everyday life. So as I planned to bored and braced myself for the longest 50 minutes if my life something happened. I became interested in a presentation. I was drawn in instantly just by their title. Are HBCU’s still necessary, are they accomplishing their mission, and is it time for a new mission. As a Howard student this type of presentation affects all of us. These may be the type of questions PCAR asked themselves before they started their presentation. Their presentation began to answer some of these questions.

One of the main sources used in this presentation was an article that stated HBCU have served their purpose in the past but they are today ineffective and unnecessary. These institutions were the result of racism and raised a generation of black professionals but today African Americans find success at numerous institutions and HBCU graduation rates are declining as well as their facilities. That statement angered me. It discussed nothing of the Eurocentric culture of education. The sense of disconnection from the black community these African American graduates gain. Moreover, as the presentation continues the audience is informed of the fact that 82% of African Americans with PHD’s graduated from HBCU’s. It is true that HBCU’s need to “step up” their graduation rates and facilities but their commitment to education and he community is as strong as ever.

By:Stanford Fraser

African Burial Ground Trip

The African Burial wasn’t what I expected but was more impactful because of that. I was expecting something like a cemetery that had military guards and a somber environment. That was nothing of the case. It was a relatively small ode and section of the City in comparison to the giant skyscrapers. The fact that I didn’t have a good night’s sleep accompanied by the cold weather made me feel like the trip was in lack of a better word “the L”. However, when Dr. Carr took off his hoodie proclaiming its not cold ad began his libation series it immediately gained my attention. I too no longer felt cold. Moving my body I attempted to gain a better view of Dr. Carr performance. His voice was powerful and sorrowful at the same time. It compelled my soul and connected me to my African ancestors. Last year I saw the video of Dr. Carr giving libations at the burial ground but it wasn’t anything in comparison to being there in person.

As the day went on a man began to speak to us about how the Burial ground was established. This man was white and I was turned off at first by his usage of the terms we, us, and our. Then I heard it in his voice. His skin might have been white but his mind was black. He understood our struggle and as I listened to his voice I heard our paradigms. One of the most interesting elements of the burial ground was the African symbols. I was exposed to a different Sankofa symbol. I was always familiar with the one of the bird but never seen the heart shaped one before. All of the other symbols present were also informative and impacting. Some of them I knew and some I didn’t. I realized the advance nature of our symbols and technology. Overall, the burial ground trip was an amazing experience that was even worth waking up at 5:30 am.

By Stanford Fraser

The Genome System

This honestly has had to be the most boring presntation in my entire life. The hardest part about it was staying awake. She is a very intelligent lady and knows what shes talking about. The only problem is that shes talking too much. It took all period for her to do her introduction. Once she started I already knew that this was going to be the longest hour in my entire life.

However she did have some great facts about the genome system and DNA. DNA is the universal code of life. A genome is the total inhertaince for both your parents. Meaning that whatever words you use to describe is only 1/10 of what you really are made up of. I think that is so cool because people often ask "which words decribes you" and the true answer is more than what you can possibly think of. Africa is the orgin of life and had it not been for our ancestors there would be no life on earth.

She also dicussed how we are the future and that her life is on our hands. That we are soon going to be the doctors, lawyers and future politician. That made me think that we can change the world. Whether it be discovering the cure to AIDS or inventing flying cars. Its up to use to decide what were going to do with it and to me thats the best part of it all.

The Lanuage we all speak

It is very common that young African American adults use slang in almost every occasion that they talk in. Whether there engaging in a conversation with their friends or texting. Slang is often not used in the right way, spelled correctly or pronounced in the correct form. Where do we get this "broken English" from and how come we use it?

The reason why we make up our own slang and words is to be able to communicate with others. What interest make it up is because its in our blood. It has been proven that language was first started in Africa. We figured out a way to communicate with others in a way that we could all understand. Whether it was written in symbols such as , Khemet, which means knowledge and wisdom. Or talking with each other. The sankofa bird and mahat were also very vital forms of communication.

I honestly believe that this presentation was not that interesting. It was very hard for me to stay awake and take notes. It was way too long and I feel as though he was rambling on to find things to talk about. I don't think anyone was very much interested in this weeks presentation. However Dr. Carr is an excellent speaker and speaks very loudly so that no one can fall asleep in his class.

The Importance of Ancient Scribes

Today in freshman seminar we learned about the importance of scribes. It wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be. I learned a lot of cool information and facts. It makes me feel good that my ancestors not only were kings and queens but they also invented different forms of writing. The Ancient Egyptian civilization impacted the world and makes me proud of my African culture.

This lesson was based off of the scribes in ancient Egypt and its importance to today society. The scribes in ancient Egypt were important because back then most people could not read nor write. The scribes were often found at places like temples, cities and right beside the king. The wrote down the daily routines from every part of modern life. Scribes did not have to do the hard work that most of the Egyptians did and were exempted from slavery and other sorts of jobs.

Scribes were found in most areas of Egypt and even in Europe. The Cuneiform was one of the first forms of writing. It was founded in the city of Mesopotamia and is a vital place in the history of writing. The French Pose style was transformed from ancient cuneiform writings by the famous scribe Jean Mielot.

Overall, I believe that today lessons was very influential to me and my peers as well. It feels good to know that the ancestors before has had a huge impact on the world and the present. If it was not for them then society as we know it would not be the same.

The Bond Between Hip Hop and the Civil Rights Movement

Whenever anyone mentions hip hop it automatically starts a debate. Its a very controversial topic and interesting topic and it amuses me. As soon as he started and mentioned the word "hip hop" the class suddenly arose as we were all waiting on the tip of our seat to see what the speaker had to say.

With past generations the youth were bold and ready to fight for civil rights. They marched and protested and participated in rallies. They sparked many colleges and universities to look into the civil rights and taking it seriously by showing that they were tired of being pushed around and were no longer going to stand for it.

With this launched a bunch of civil right groups like the Black Panther, who fought hard to get justice for blacks by any means necessary. Groups like this opened up the door for many more to come and furthermore lead to artist that begun expressing their feelings through their music. Artist like James Brown and the Last Poets. And their music lead to the birth of hip hop. A place where people could come and express their creativity and their emotions and have an influence on the world. Just like the civil rights movement

October 6,2010

This weeks lecture was taught by Dr. Dana Williams. I honestly thought that it wasn't as entertaining as the previous but it was very important for my group assignment. She went over the different ways to find topics, research it and then many ways to present it. When I first heard of how we have to complete a final group project and then present it I wasn't sure how it would go or where to start. With the help of her I was able to understand what the project is about and how to complete it with a passing grade.

Some of the tips she gave us was to identify the principle components of the assignment. Then relate the components to the group project. Find a problem or challenge and methods to solve it. It was also vital that you make your audience have a complete understanding of whats going on.

I learned how to present a presentation from the past guest speakers of our freshman seminar classes. I also am going to use certain tips like making the project neat and interesting. I will provide facts and information so that my fellow peers and professors will understand what point my group is trying to get across.

In conclusion, the presentation that Dr. Williams gave me was very helpful and useful. I plan to use most of the tips she gave me. I plan on getting a 100 and great project.

Seminar last lecture

The last lecture focused on different research and methodologies. It encompassed the past lessons in the lecture series such as ma'at and the ideals of Khemet society. As previously discussed the Africans viewed knowledge as useless unless it is applied to fix the problems of the world. This lecture focused on the proper process of fixing worldly problems. In order to fix these problems you must first be able to conduct research. Research is simply more than a Google search and the step by step process was explained during this class period. What I found most interesting about this lecture is the statement that without the proper research methodology that your research cannot truly be valid. As a budding intellectual that made me realize that I need to improve my own research method. That in order to truly inquire a vast amount of knowledge I must have a great research methodology.

Another significant aspect of the lecture was the “breakdown” of the purpose of freshmen seminar. The speaker demonstrated how Howard COAS identified a problem within the black community that also affected students at Howard. After identifying the problem they began to brain storm way to fix this problem. The solution was a freshmen seminar class in which a curriculum is developed to solve these problems. This explanation was not only an example of the research methodology process but informed the students of why the class is necessary. By informing the students what the intentions of the class is it allows them to change their opinion and approach toward the class.

By: Stanford Fraser

Omoluabi: Self Actualization

Dr. Segun Gbadegesin was a very effective speaker. For me to be able to receive whatever information a speaker or teacher is giving me, there has to be an element of excitement whether it is from me or the instructor. He started off by bringing the group to life even if it was just a few lines said with a smile or excited tone of voice.

The stoy of Iwa was very thought provoking. Shortly put, Iwa was the wife of Orunmila and all she desired was kindness and respect from Orunmila. Unfortunately, Orunmila was not able to keep up with his end of the bargain. Iwa eventually left Orunmila causing him to lose everything that he had. Out of desperation, Orunmila searched endlessly for Iwa but he could not find her. This is the statement I came up with for the summaization for this story. "You cannot lose Iwa. If you lose Iwa you will lose everything(character) and you will cease to exist.

I saw a quotation during the power point. "A man of character is a man of weath." A person with bad character can acquire money but they will soon lose it. A person with good character will be able to hold onto their money. I say this because they are ready to give to a person with needs. As the saying goes, "What goes around comes around." If you are only worried about yourself when it is your turn to receive from someone they will be selfish towards you.

The speaker said, "In itself existence is good because the creator is good." If we exist then obviously we have a purpose. We don't need to abuse our talents and gifts. If we do then there is someone else who can do the job we were assigned.

By Christiana Flood

September 28, 2010

We learned about the story of Iwa and Orunmila. Orunmila represented Yoruba, the God of wisdom. How Iwa left Orunmila and he had lost everything he had so he searched for her. Omo Olu Iwa Bi the child of Iwa. Iwa was responsible for serving her community with education and to remake her self through education. Immorality is a crown of existence in the memory of the community. She was a good character that held beauty. A good character makes a great tails man. Swru was the father of Iwa and he represented patience. She was good as existence. Intrinsically and extrinsically.

We also learned about the instructions of Ptahhotep, the humanistic maxims for living. The ancient Egyptian and African world. How physical, spiritual, philosophical, and ethical values were the main points and things worshiped. There was balance and harmony which was very important and how truth and justice maintained order. The sharia and pyramid texts. Kant's groundwork and the text on the coffins each held an important meaning. Mills utilitarianism from Ma'at.

ONOLUABI: Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility

The speaker begins to make a charge to its audience about the importance of our generation. He stated as youth at Howard we are the best of the best so our success must be measured by more than just material processions and money. This statement is of significance because our generation concerns itself with the monetary side of success. Our music and culture is demonstrative of this. However, in order for our people to advance and for America to advance you must give back. This correlates to the concept of social commitment. Not only must you be successful but you must help enable the success of others. In the next phase of the speech our speaker related this to the story of Iwa.

Iwa, or the story of Iwa, is an ancient African story passed on generation to generation. It describes the concept of paying homage and its importance in the African society. Paying homage relates to the previous concept giving back to the next generation. However, homage also pertains to giving back to those who have paved the path for you. Furthermore, the story of Iwa symbolically displays the important virtues in African society. In the story it is stated the Iwa is your being and if you lose Iwa you lose everything. This statement was followed by a quote which states “A man of character is a man of wealth” and “if a man has no character then everything he owns belongs to someone else”. In actuality, Iwa is your character. Thus, these points lament the importance of character in traditional African societies.

By: Stanford Fraser

Civil Rights, Hip-Hop, and Hope

The beginning of Pollard’s lecture he stated that our generation has the power to name ourselves. Our generation has grown up with digital and wireless technology as well as hip hop and R&B. Moreover, he believes that it is up to our generation to answer the U.S. philosophical question; do we really want a just world? On the one hand the principles of equality and rights for all mankind are displayed throughout our constitutions. However, on the other hand there are several incidents such as the eradication of the Indians and slavery which have directly contradicted America’s “principles”. This concept led to a discussion of what happened in previous generations.

African American youth in the previous generations decided to change the world they live in. This is evident by the Greensboro, Nashville, and Wichita college student sit ins. MLK described this as youth negroes stopping their imitation of white and starting to organize against their crimes. These students believed in the concept that African Americans don’t need to look for leaders because we are all leaders. From the work of these students organizations like Snick and the Black Panthers were created and flourished. Furthermore, the actions of these people and groups led to the creation of Africana studies in colleges and universities. Black studies then paved the way for other progressive studies such as Latin studies and women studies. Another contributor to our generation was hip hop.

If you talk to any true hip hop culture they will tell you that it’s more than music. Hip Hop is a culture. It is rebellious in nature and promotes the challenging of authority. Groups like the Last poets showed lights on the problems of the people. This culture continued the militant rebellion of the black powers and expressed it creatively mirroring the culture of Jazz and the blues. All of the information presented in the lecture expresses the important challenges of our generation and why we natural have the tools to face them.

By: Stanford Fraser

Seminar Lecture 3

The lecturer this class focused on the ancient tradition of scribes which is indicative of the title of her discussion “the eloquence of scribes”. She first looks at the origin of the art coming from Egypt. Scribes played a key part in the Khemet society. These scribes wrote on papyrus scrolls which were found abundantly in the Nile Delta. Scribes aided almost all occupations in Khemet. They could be found in temples, cities, and at the right sides of kings. They also recorded daily activities from all aspects of life. Their jobs importance is demonstrated by the fact only scribes and priest were taught how to read and write. Furthermore, scribes were exempt from the heavy manual labor which was a staple of Egyptian society. The importance of scribes continued in later societies.

Cuneiform script is another example of the importance of scribes. It is considered by some as the earliest form of writing in the world. Histories records of Mesopotamia’s society are recorded through Cuneiform script. Scribes were also important in European societies. One the most famous of these is Jean Mielot who was a European scribe of the 15^th century. His work influenced the development of the French prose style. He also was known for his translations of several religious and secular texts. As the lecture continued a correlation between the importance of scribes and Howard University was made.

Many of Howard’s early contributors were scribes in their own way. One of our greatest scribes was Zora Neale Hurston. During her time at Howard she greatly contributed to her sorority (Zeta Phi Beta) and founded the hilltop. More important than the numerous scribes in Howard’s history is the collection of their work. The Moreland Spingarn is a collection of African American works. Its vast amount of photos and written work of art is an example of a modern day scribe.

By: Stanford Fraser

Dr. Georgia Dunston Lecture

Dr. Georgia Dunston is a Howard University professor who has specialized in several fields of academia. She has study organ transplanting, health care options for lower class communities, the human genome and much more. Her recent research has also contributed to the healthy people 2010 project. Some distinctive characteristics of her research are why certain diseases have a higher frequency in certain communities. In the black community diseases such as diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure plague the community. One of her explanations for this was the Atlantic Slave Trade. During the middle passage only Africans who could retain higher levels of sodium were able to survive with limited water. Thus, African Americans have a tendency to hold sodium which results in high blood pressure. Dunston explains that through her research on the DNA sequencing and the Genome you can learn a lot about different communities and humans in general. This led to her main topic of the lecture which was the Human Genome.

The genome was defined by Dunston as the ordering of genes in a haploid set of chromosomes of a particular organism. It is basically the combination of the 23 chromosomes from the female and the complimentary chromosomes from the sperm. It actually contains all the DNA encoding of a human. Each genome is unique to that individual. Even identical twins have different genomes. An interesting fact about the genome is that less than 2% of it is needed to create your physical makeup. It’s stated that the Genome is the universal code for life. Moreover, we are told that the study of the genome is important because the genome story is the history of human kind.

In her lecture Dunston goes on to explain that the genome and human story is rooted in Africa. This is why we need to practice learning in the African methodology that we learn for wisdom. Wisdom for the African was defined as the accumulation of knowledge and how that knowledge can be used to solve the problems of our time. That sentiment is summed up by the statement “know yourself because you’re the foundation humanity”. Moreover, in a more philosophical portion of the lecture Dunston began to discuss that the genome defines your “energy field”. She continues her ambiguity by discussing how everyone has their own unique energy force that affects those around them. The genome gives access to the Heavens which are the same sentiment the Ancient Egyptians possessed. Her speech moved to discuss the cultural implications of genome research.

Dunston’s most memorable quote was that the study of the genome attempts to eliminate the crime of humanity. Humanity’s crime is described by Dunston as the competition for the kiddy pool of life. Furthermore, it is the battle of “What we are versus what we are meant to be”. That quote has great meaning to me because we live in the age of the Knowledge Revolution. The modern war is the war over the mind and thought patterns. By understanding the genome and its importance in understanding human society and evolution it can aid you through this modern world.

By: Stanford Fraser

Dr. Carr Lecture

The lecture Dr. Carr gave focused on ancient khemet symbols that represented knowledge and wisdom. These symbols include mahat, the sankofa bird and many others. These symbols served as proof that Africa was the origin of language. In addition, the topic of language in the black community was discussed. Phrases that are distinctly African that isn’t understood outside the community were broken down and analyzed. These include “Doing Me”, “I be chillen”, etc. Even though those who think from a Eurocentric perspective consider this “improper” English these phrases speak much more than what’s in between the lines. Furthermore, this correlates with Ebonics; a sub group of language that is present in all areas that the black Diaspora is located.

Carr’s lecture continued moving from Egyptian symbols to the Egyptian society in general. The most surprising fact from this section of the lecture is where the Egyptians were originally from. Most media sources make Egypt seem un-African and more of a cluster of different ethnic groups. However, modern research proves convincingly that Egypt was mostly inhabited and founded by inner Africans who migrated when the Sahara dried up. Another aspect of the lecture that was interesting was how Egypt was so successful. It was one of the first great civilizations because of the food production system which allowed numerous new jobs to be developed and eliminated the need for a nomadic lifestyle. What is most important about this information is that we (African Americans) are the originators of all human interactions but we continue to live from the paradigm of slavery. A wise man once said “If you start your history from slavery then everything looks like progress”.

By:Stanford Fraser