Self Reflection, Self Worth by Michelle Harris

     To be completely honest, when I was first told that I had to take this class in order to graduate, I was very upset.  For one, I am a senior and I just felt out of place.  Also, I thought that I knew everything about the school that I needed to know.  Now I see how wrong I was.  After being in this class, I not only reflect on how I look at myself, but how I look at myself as a young African American woman.  This class has allowed me to actually realize how far we have come as a people.  I am so much more grateful for my ancestors, because they have paved such a remarkable pathway of opportunity for us in this day and age.  I am also more appreciative of my privilege to attend Howard University.  I didn't know as much about the history of this school before this class, but now that I know what I know now, I use this knowledge as a source of inspiration to excel and take advantage of the many opportunities my ancestors worked so hard for us as African Americans to have.  I have also learned that the world may try to break you down, but your spirit cannot be broken.  The African Burial Ground is living proof of that.  Those slaves died fighting for a cause, and although alot did not make it, their spirits carried them farther than life on earth ever could. This class has given me an opportunity to feel more closer to my African origins, and I am proud of who I am and where I come from.  I think that it is sad however, that alot of young people especially in my generation are more concerned with the ignorance that goes on today more than they are with themselves.  We are beautiful people.  We are humble, unique, and different and we should embrace that, rather than allow society to mold us into insecure beings who are ashamed of who we are.  We are worth so much more than we give ourselves credit for.  So all in all, I am thankful for the experience of this class and the knowledge of our deep rooted history.

"Colorism" by Michelle Harris

     The next group that stood out to me was the second group that went the second week of presentations.  Their research topic was on Colorism.  Honestly, this was my favorite group because the topic was so interesting.  It also brought on an even more interesting discussion afterwards and gave us alot to think about.
     They first started off by defining Colorism for us, which is the prejudice against or preference of skin tone in a race.  In other words, Racism within a race.  They explained how most black people have been brought up to believe that the lighter, the better.  They had a video to support their presentation, and it was very interesting to see what preferences were for both black men and women.  Most black men preferred lighter toned black women with long hair and a lot of black women preferred darker toned men.  What made it more interesting to me was that it was the darker toned of each gender that preferred the lighter toned and vice versa.  After the showing of the video, the discussion afterwards went in more depth of the topic by stating that maybe if we were brought up to praise darker skin there would be a higher preference for it.  This provoked a lot of opinions and thoughts throughout the room.
    I would have to agree with most of what this group said.  As black people and from years beyond our time, we have been brought up to be ashamed of our skin.  We were brain washed to believe that the lighter our skin, in other words the closer to "white" we are the better and the more accepted we would be in society.  I honestly believe that it is sad that we discriminate against each other especially given the fact that we have been and sometimes still are discriminated against today.  The last thing we need to do is turn against one another.  Personally I am proud of my skin and I think that black is beautiful.  This brings me to my next point which is I disagree with the whole lighter/darker preference.  I have no particular preference when it comes to a black man's skin.  I am more concerned with the person.  I think it is very sad that society has influenced us as African Americans to be ashamed of who we are and how we look.  They have tried to break our self-esteem enough as it is, so for us to do it to each other is quite devastating and extremely disappointing.  We have overcome so much, and to put down one another is a slap in the face of our ancestors.  We should be more accepting of each other and come together, rather than judge one another based off of what we have been judged for since the beginning of time: Color.

Lack of Necessities and its Impact on African Slaves by Michelle Harris

     During the last few weeks of our Freshman Seminar class, we were divided into groups of five and told to come up with a research question and a solution.  We all were scheduled to present on a certain day, and write individual blogs about how we felt about at least 2 of the groups' presentations.  The first group that stood out to me was the second group that presented on the first day of presentations.  I cannot remember the name of their group, however their topic was on how lack of necessities ad unfit living conditions had a negative impact on African slaves' health and manifests itself in current health issues.
     They came up with 3 perspectives: Clothing perspective, Psychological perspective, and Living Conditions, which all related to the group's majors.  For the clothing perspective, the group gave examples of how some slaves were not given clothing at birth and even so their clothing was not thick enough to provide warmth which resulted in babies getting sick.  They went into greater depth with the psychological perspective, explaining Maslow's theory, which is that the mental condition effected slaves' physical condition.  They went on to use the movie "Beloved" when the mother killed her oldest daughter to protect her.  In my opinion, this was a good movie to use as support of an unstable mental condition.  The last perspective they elaborated on was the living conditions that slaves were forced to live under.  Slaves suffered from sickness due to a lack of utilities and exposure to other people in the house.  There was also a lack of nutrition need to support their heavy workloads.
     Overall, in my opinion, I feel that this group was very informative.  Their research question was well researched and their power points were very easy to follow.  I also liked how they incorporated their majors into the aspects of their research question. (Fashion for clothing aspect, psychology for psychological aspect, and nutrition for living conditions.)  The only thing I struggled with while listening to this group was that they talked rather low.  However, they had such detailed power points that it made up for it.  This group did a great job in my opinion and everything was well put together.

Interview with Dr. Frazier by Michelle Harris

     We were instructed to interview a faculty member for our research question:  How does gang violence affect inner city schools in Washington, DC?  The first person we chose to interview was Dr. Frazier, a Political Science professor.  He seemed both humorous and also very helpful in answering our questions.  He presented a lot of good solutions and points about the reality of gang violence and how it affects kids which is that sometimes it is impossible to stop it.  Most kids are usually pressured or forced to join a gang or else they will get jumped either way.  So under those circumstances, kids will never fully be protected against gang violence.  Also, most kids are surrounded by gang members and have no real positive mentors or influences that encourage schooling, and unfortunately because of this, they do not take school very serious or get to learn the real benefits of what a good education can bring them.

     Dr. Frazier also mentioned how it is the mayor's responsibility to care about the community, and set a city wide agenda to lower the effects of gang violence.  I personally agree with this solution because if the mayor is not taking care of the community and shows no effort of concern, the community will not respect him nor will they support his cause.  Instead, they will rebel and are more prone to act violently feeling like they need to look out for themselves.  Especially young teenagers and kids.

Dr. Frazier also offered some positive solutions such as having youth groups and mentors or even giving kids field trips outside of school.  This is a good way to expose kids to something positive.  Sometimes people need to be taken outside of what they are used to and shown something different in order to realize that there is a better way.

     All in all, I completely agree with everything that Dr. Frazier said.  Kids need positive examples, and if they are surrounded by negativity, unfortunately they become a product of their environment.  There may never be a real solution to gang violence and how it affects kids, however, with some of the positive solutions that Dr. Frazier discussed, at least kids will know that there are alternatives and better choices for their life.  Hopefully they will be influenced to become leaders and not followers.
  

Color-ism by Jordan Henry

I really like the group who did their research project on the term “color-ism”.  The group stated the color-ism is thought as racism within a race.  They said in the African American community, the issue seems to stem around “light skin” and “dark skin.” The group said that society has builded on this idea that beauty is associated with how long a person’s hair is or how light their complexion is.  They claimed how the black community has really bought into this idea throughout.  The majority of black men tend to be attracted to light skinned woman and black woman seem to be attracted to men who have a light complexion.  They proved this theory, by going around the university and interviewing different students on film.  They presented the videos to class and most of the students tended to favor “light skin.”

                Before this group’s presentation, I was aware of the racism within the black race.  I was already exposed to the stigma in the black community over complexion, but I was unaware that the word color-ism was the term used to describe it.  This was the first time I’ve heard of color-ism.  Personally I feel like black people are beautiful regardless of skin complexion.   This definitely became more apparent once I started attending Howard University.   I’ve seen all types of black people whether they are tall, short, light, and dark, bald, thick or skinny.  I think it is truly sad that the black community punishes itself with color-ism.  I feel like it is the cause of some self hated that continues today in the black community.  Black people need to begin to carry themselves with pride and really show society why black is beautiful.

What is "Good Hair"? by Jordan Henry

Another group that I enjoyed was the one that talked about the terms “good hair” or “bad hair.”  I find these topics to be very interesting because they really relate to some of the issues concerning in the black communities. The group spoke about how a lot of black woman try to fit into society’s definition of beauty, which is lighter skin and long hair.  They claimed that this is due to a type of self hatred that some black woman suffers from.  They said that by black woman express their desire to alter their appearance by doing things such as wearing weaves, or perming their hair, or by bleaching their skin.  They proved these theories in a number of ways.  They mentioned that when little girls are asked to choose between barbies with thicker hair or straighter hair, they often choose the Barbie with the straight hair.  The group pointed how this issue is a concern of low self esteem among the black community.  However, the group did take the time to point out famous woman who chose to go against the stereotype like Erykah Badu and Jill Scott.

                I not only enjoyed this presentation, but I was also interested by the argument and discussions it caused in class.  Some students agreed with the theory that the group presented and some were totally against it because they felt not all woman who perm or put in their hair are trying to alter their reflection.  They believed that it was just particular preference on how to wear their hair.  At some points I did agree with the group because I do believe there is a ridiculous stigma of beauty among the black community but at the same time I do not necessarily that every black woman is ashamed of their appearance.  This topic always seems to be an interesting discussion among woman of color because it is all based off opinion.  I like how the group was open to comments or questions and I also liked how they pointed out beautiful black woman who choose to wear their hair natural. Overall it was a really good and thought provoking presentation.

Interview with Dr. Livingston by Jordan Henry

The Freshman Seminar had an outline of work that we were required to complete before the end of the semester. In the course for this semester we required to come to class and listen to lectures and fill out forms about we read every Wednesday each week.  We were also expected to get into groups of five students and create a group name and blog site.  Every week we were expected to post a blog about the lecture we heard earlier in class.  Our groups were required to complete a research project as well and we had to interview two teachers.  One of the teachers that we chose to interview was Dr. Livingston. 

                Dr. Livingston is the head of the sociology department and we felt that he was a good professor to interview because we found his class to be quite interesting.  Our research topic was “How does gang violence affect inner city schools in Washington, DC?” Dr. Livingston responded that gangs force a lot of pressure on kids in more urban or poverty stricken neighborhoods.  He said that kids today either observe what they see the success that other gang member make and they attempt to imitate that or sometimes they can be threatened to join gangs.  Sometimes kids just feel like there is no other option out there for them, so they unfortunately get involved with different gangs in the neighborhood.  As a result, kids lose track of school or they sometimes simply drop out to live the gang lifestyle.  He could not give us too many specific details about the DC area specifically, but he did offer some ideas of how the issue could be solved.  He feels that kids need to be encouraged more to get involve with different activities.  Kids should also receive more motivation from role models like the mayor and many others.  I feel like Dr. Livingston had an   excellent take on gang violence and how it affects schools.  He brought up some excellent points and I completely agree with his suggestion to resolve the issue.

Self Reflection by Jordan Henry

The semester is now ending and I a lot of mix feelings about my freshman seminar class.  Freshman was quite experience to say the least.  When I first registered for the class, I believed it would be easy because it was a one credit class.  I did not believe that this class would be important or require that much work.  I thought it was more so an introductory class meant for freshman to meet each other and to get acquainted with our professors.  I soon realized that was not at all the case.

                The freshman seminar class was more than what I expected and it actually ended up being a positive experience for me.  I really enjoyed the lectures we received every Wednesday in class.  I found the speakers to be really inspiring and informative.  I learned so much about Howard University and the legacy behind the university.  The speakers also gave us information about the amazing people that came through the school and opened doors for our generation.  We were told that it is our responsibility to carry that legacy on by educating others in our communities.  I also loved the African Burial Ground trip.  I learned a lot about the history of slaves and how significant the finding of the African Burial Ground was not only because of its important meaning, but because the people who were involved in studying of the bones were from Howard University.  Overall this freshman seminar  class really inspired me to become the best I can be and to continue the legacy.

African Burial Ground by Michelle Harris

Our Freshman Seminar class went to visit the African Burial Ground in Manhattan, New York.  Usually, when you hear "school trip" to anywhere, the first judgement is that it will be something miserably boring, educational, and of no significant importance to you after that class.  However, after the experience of this trip, i left with a deeper sense of self that will always be of great significance to me.  Dr. Carr told us that the graves we were surrounded by were those of actual slaves.  The thought, better yet the privilege of being in the presence of those who fought so hard to give us as African Americans what we have today was an honor in itself.  To think and reflect on what our ancestors had to go through and endure fighting for what we have now is still overwhelming to me.  I remember in class, Dr. Carr first told us about how African Americans protested against a company of some sort that wanted to tear down land where African slave remains were found.  After seeing the graves of those who fought so hard for us for myself and feeling the spirit of their struggle, I am so thankful that the company was sued and the land was saved.  For someone to try to "mask" or attempt to "erase" even a piece of our history is truly an insult.  These people died fighting for what they could not live to see happen: Freedom.
     In a way I felt a complete sense of sorrow, and a slight sense of guilt.  People in my generation, including myself sometimes, do not appreciate the opportunities we have been given.  We lose our heritage, and alot of us are ignorant about our history but know everything about the insignificant "role models" including their history of the world today.  These people were the real role models.  Those graves in that museum belonged to people who literally died trying to pave the way of equal opportunity, and now that we have it, what are most of us doing with it?  Rather than supporting "ignorance" of today, I will spend more time learning more about my African roots.  I at least owe them that...

Finale Thoughts by Russell Grandberry

      As this semester comes to an end I begin to think back to the first day of freshman seminar. It was very crowded. There we're lots of people I didn't know and the teachers were handing out sheet with a word that i didn't know on it. Mbongi, I didn't know what that meant at the time, but later on I came to find the meaning as a house with no rooms, which means everything is open to discussion. From that day on i knew i was going to be learning a lot in this class. I learned things about my African heritage that i didn't know before. I learned that not all of the things taught in my history class pertained to me. There we're things that were very important that our teachers left out. They didn't tell of our great ancestors on the other side of the earth. They tried to mask the truth that we built the pyramids. Not only did we build the pyramids, but we also built New York. The world was built on the shoulders of our ancestors. From the dawn of time our ancestors have been building the earth into what it is today. These things hidden to me before, after this class became apparent. I realized that It is always important to ask questions. You must do research before you can present anything. This freshman seminar class has not only help me transition from high school to college effectively, it has also given me a deeper understanding of truth and the world as it all pertains to me. I feel that i need to be informed as well as the rest of my generation. We should all go fourth and try to make a difference. If not now, then when?

Interviewing Dr. Frazier by Russell Grandberry

      We decided to interview our Introduction to Political Science professor Dr. Michael Frazier. He was very helpful and willing to help us. He answered our questions and more. We asked him questions about the gangs in Washington, DC, and what are some possible ways for us to solve them. He began by saying that it was the mayor's responsibility to care about the community and set a city wide agenda to lower the effects of gang violence. Dr. Frazier then said that in some situations it is impossible to stop the gangs from affecting some kids. However, if we give the kids things to do in and out of school, they are less likely to join gangs. He said that another solution could be giving the kids field trips outside of school and giving them incentives to come to school. He said it is important to have mentors and community youth groups.
      I agreed with everything Dr. Frazier said. It is hard for a child growing up in a neighborhood surrounded by gang members. Teens receive a lot of pressure to join gangs, so much so that sometimes there is no other choice.  Sometimes people get put into situations where the gang either beats them for not joining or they join. When a person is scared for his life, the decision may be more towards joining a group of people who could keep you safe. The pressures get emmence at times and you may not always know what to do. That is when you should join a youth group or an organization that could keep you out of the street. The boys and girls club of america is just one example of a successful place to take your children to keep them out of the streets. Gangs may be a problem that we can't abolish, but we can work to reduce their effects.

Color-ism in The African American Community by Russell Grandberry

      The second group to present talked about color-ism and how it effected the African-American race. The said that color-ism was like racism with-in a race. They reported that African-American males tend to lean more for light-skinned girls than brown or dark-skinned girls. They also reported that African-American women tend to like light-skinned males also. They said that this was because of the hundreds of years of slavery that our ancestors had been through. Our race had always been told to strive to be white. The group said that we wore clothes to imitate white people, because that's all we were given. They said that we've been told that white was good, so our culture has tried to straighten our hair and do other things to imitate white people. This also caused us to like men and women of lighter complexions, because it was closer to the Caucasian skin color.The group also showed various videos of interviews of their peers and their preferences.
     I did not know colorism was a real word until this group presented. Personally, i have no preference in women. Light, Brown, Dark i love them all. However, i do love a woman with long hair. That sign of feminism is attractive to me. I do prefer short women also, i'm not sure why it just happens like that. I don't believe slavery is the reason for preferences however. I just believe that light skinned girls have been stereotyped as being attractive. Preference wise however it will differ from male to male. But the theory that slavery is the reason black guys want light skinned girls doesn't sound correct to me. The video the group showed also adds to my theory that it's just preference. The people in the videos didn't all like light-skinned females.

Gentrification in Washington DC by Russell Grandberry

       The first group presentation that i recall was about the gentrification process happening to Washington, DC . The group claimed that certain parts of the city were getting gentrified which is a process of transforming a run-down or low income part of a city into a more prosperous one by investing in businesses and properties. The group also claimed that this process can be good or bad for the area. The group focused mainly on two areas of the city; Chinatown and Columbia Heights. They showed that the process could be beneficent to the community because of lower crime rates. However, they also claimed that the process could be racist pushing out the minorities in due to higher property value. They then gave evidence that gentrification doesn't actually reduce crimes, it just moves it from one place to another. The group then concluded that if gentrification were to work, it would have to equally benefit both the white majority and the black minority.
     Before this presentation i had not heard the word gentrification. I can say i learned something new from this group presenting. They all spoke up, and everyone had something to say. As for the thoughts about gentrification, I don't believe it could work. With the way that the economy is today if the price of rent goes up, people will have to move, especially people who are unemployed. I believe that there has to be another solution to the problem. Personally, I do not have a solution, but i believe our generation could make that change. I believe if we could put down the t.v.s and ask questions would could gain intelligence to rule the world. We should be less focused on the basketball game and more focused on our next class. As a generation we should all strive to make a change and put our mark in history.

Afican Burial Grounds:A Trip to Remember by Antillio Lee

October 2^nd was definitely a day that I will never forget. It’s one of the very few days in my life where I actually was up close and personal with my own African American history and heritage. Upon awaking that morning on the bus, I was slammed immediately with just the rich heritage and culture of New York itself. Watching sellers and pizza delivery bikers in the freezing cold, hustling for better life, was motivation itself to me,  motivation for not only change for my life, but for African Americans everywhere. After departing the bus Dr. Carr introduced us to the sacred burials underground that was just a small symbolization of the vast amounts of blacks that were buried at that very site. Shortly after his introduction, Dr. Carr then proceeded to pour water and recite prayers, in respect to our African American ancestors and their struggle.

Inside the grounds were just absolutely mind blowing. The amount of history and pain that single ground harbored was something I totally was not prepared for. From the documentary of the process of how the burial grounds came about, to the artifacts and models that were exhibited, it was then, at that moment, that I began to actually FEEL the pain and struggle those before my felt as well. Afterwords we ran into our own, Howard alum, who was also a guide for the grounds. She and Dr. Carr led our group through the momentous work of the grounds architect, relaying to us the connection between it and our rich legacy.

This trip to New York, to my African Burial grounds was a trip both unexpected and ground breaking. The information that I received from it will be at the pinnacle of MY motivation for change of ANY inequality against MY people.   

African Burial Ground Trip by Russell Grandberry

On October 2nd, i went to sleep on a bus at Howard. Four hours later i woke up in Manhattan. Waking up to towering skyscrapers and reflective glass buildings isn't something that I'm used to. I was born and raised in Tennessee, so our only skyscrapers are downtown. The bus ride there, however, was only half of the journey. After waking up in downtown Manhattan, we got off the buses and proceeded to the Federal Building.

To start off the trip, Dr. Carr had the group gather around him in a circle. He talked to us about our ancestor's long voyage across the water, and the things that our families had to sacrifice to get us to Howard. We then began a ceremony of paying respect to our ancestors. We poured out water for them, and spoke the word Ashte (sp). After we went inside of the federal building to see the exhibit.

When we first arrived in the federal building, they directed us toward a small theater room. In the room they showed us a short documentary of the African burial ground. The documentary talked about the discovery of the burial ground, and how outraged the black citizens of the community were when they learned the news. The documentary also talked about the protest and marches that the community held to ignite change. The documentary also talked about Howard University and the roll that we played in helping research the bones.

In the exhibit itself, there were a variety of different things. They showed tools used by slaves that may have been buried with them after death. The exhibit contained pictures of the bodies that were uncovered. The exhibit not only showed us how many bones were found, but the also told us of the discriminatory treatment of the slaves who essentially built New York.

Overall going to New York was a great experience. The trip helped me get in touch with my ancestors more, and required me to think about my heritage. Howard students come from so many different places from all over the country, but in the end we are somehow connected, and the trip taught me that. It also gave me a time to thank my ancestors for all they had done and the opportunity that i was given to make a change in the world

African Burial Ground Trip by Jordan Henry

                On October 16, our freshman seminar class traveled to Manhattan to visit the African Burial Ground.  Before going on this trip I did not know what to really expect or how to feel.  I thought we were just going to go to a boring museum where we would probably be lectured, but I definitely had a huge change of perspective after the trip. 

                When were first arrived to the African Burial Ground we were given a lecture by Dr. Carr.  I noticed a number of graves along the sides with flowers lying on top of them.  Dr. Carr explained that those graves belonged to actual slaves that once lived in New York.  He also told us that there were hundreds of other slaves buried under were we stood as well.  He then offered respect by pouring water and chanting prayers to our ancestors that suffered so much just so we could have the opportunities that we are fortunate enough to have today.  We introduced to our tour guide who went into great depth about the history and significance of the ground were all standing on.  He showed us a memorial that displayed symbols and meanings that were created by the African culture.

Our tour guide also explained that over a few decades ago, hundreds of African slave remains were found under the ground of where a company was trying to do construction over.  African Americans from all over were outraged by this, so many began to protest and march to save these sacred grounds of our ancestors.  The company was eventually sued and the African American community was able to save the land.  Some of the remains of these slaves were sent to Howard University to be studied and they were able to discover things like the age, sex, and physical conditions of the slaves when they died.  Studies showed that many died young from sickness and from being overworked.  This information was proven when we were lead into a room to watch a documentary about the rituals of slave burials and we saw scenes from the actual African Burial Trials.  We then went into the museum where we looked at the different things such as New York State slave laws and actual traps used to capture slaves in Africa.

The whole trip was depressing in a way, but very positive at the same time because it made me very proud to come from a people that fought so hard just so our generation could have the opportunities that we had today.  It definitely opened and I now have a whole new perspective on my ancestors and my history.  I have the upmost respect for those individuals who came before me and I interested to study more about the African culture. 

Reminiscing, Reliving and Respecting by Mobosola Asanpaola

  Before going to New York for the African Burial Ground trip, I didn't know what to expect when i got there. I mean, yes we had heard about it on numerous occasions, but hearing and expecriencing are two different things. The thing that i would say capture me the most about hearing was that people seriously forgot about 15,000 bodies that happened to be lying under one of the worlds busiest and influential cities. I just could not wrap my head around it. Sadly, it made me realize the lack of respect for life, and how easily one can be forgotten after death if someone does not make it their priority to preserve their memory.
  When first entering the Burial Ground there is not much to give meaning to what your looking at to the uneducated eye. Frankly, I didn't want to touch anything because I wasnt sure what meaning it held or what it represented. In no way shape or form did i want to be disrespectful to the memory of those who had come way before me. So, i waited and listened to hear about what i was looking at and the signifigance it held. Listening to Dr. Carr speak passionately about all those who had influenced the presence of the Burial Ground intrigued and pulled me in to want to hear and learn more. But, when he put the tour into the hands of the tour guide the experience took new way. When we are asked to stand as close together as we could most people did not budge. But he insisted that we squeeze together so that there was no more space in the monement on those of us who could not fit were literaly on top of each other. I would concluse that most of us did not know why he was asking us to stand so close together, I mean I was cold but I wasn't trying to have all these people all up in my space. But, I obliged. Then the guide asked that we close our eyes, some people opted to keep their eyes open and listen intently instead, like myself. Listening, i heard him ask us to use our imaginations and take us back to a slave ship, where we would be standing as close as we were at that moment and for some closer. he asked us to relive the moment of a slave who was being ripped from their homeland seperated from the ones that they love to go to a place where your destination was unclear. To imagine the horrid screams of a pregnant woman attempting to give birth under impossible conditions. The foul stench of the dead body chained next to yours. And i imagined just as he asked. Suddenly, i didn't feel the cold of the cool October day. instead I felt claustrophobic and suffocated from imagining the heat all those bodies would give off. I could feel a sense of fear sitting like a rock in the middle of my chest. Then I wondered how those who made it did. Thrust into a group of people with different cultures and different languages, the only communication you had in common was the fear in your eyes.
  As my imagination relived what i was hearing I was constantly interupted by some around me who did not have the same respect that i had for where i was. Even though we are college students there were still people who groaned and complained about what the guide was saying by claiming, "Oh no that was too much" or "That couldn't have been me." These comments irritated me to no end because if they would close their mouths and stop thinking about themselves for 30 minutes they would have realized that the very people we were standing there to honor already did it for them. It shows me that the image and heart for sacrifice that reigned in the hearts of generations before me as escaped some people in my generation. But the comments that took the cake of what i  would like to call the Ignorance Awards would be to the person who thought it would have been more appropriate to take a trip out to Brooklyn, specifically Marcy Projects, to as she said, "see where Jay-Z is from" followed by another person who thought a more useful trip would have been to Bad Boy, because as she said "I'm trying to get discovered." I thought i was upset then. But 2 days later writing I'm still disgusted. I'm from New York and i have never heard of anyone wanting to take a field trip to Marcy Projects. Last time i checked the projects was something you try to get out of not visit for fun. And as for getting discovered at Bad Boy, sweetheart Diddy would not have even existed if it was not for those who died for people like him to be sucessful and get to such great magnitudes today.
  So in conclusion I would say that just being in the atmosphere of the burial ground and looking at the pictures of bones that were dug up moved me and made me apprectiate more the slaves of so many years ago. The respect I had before I went to the burial ground grew as I left. When hearing the rude and ignorant comments of some college students around me I was bewildered. My hurt hearts for the 15,000 bodies that were so easily forgotton over time, and whose memory is so easily disregareded today. Their spirits motivate me to  be the best human being that i can, because they as well as generations to come would pay dues for me to have a better future. So I am living off the fruits of someone elses labor, as a time will come for me to pay dues and make sacrifices for the generatioons that come after me.

Components of Research by Michelle Harris

     Dr. Dana Williams lectured our class on the topics of research and its basic components.  She broke down the method of research into six components:  statement of the problem, review of what's been said, methodology, framework, development of thesis, and conclusion.  She used Freshman Seminar as a case study and elaborated on how each component of the class was used as a component of research.  She also explained the goal of this course,, which is to facilitate our awareness of the rich history of African peoples throughout the Diaspora.
 
     Dr. Williams' lecture was extremely helpful because it taught us how we should go about our research question and also how to research it.  She gave us a clear outline of how we should look for information and how to organize it.  I like this lecture the best because it helped us to know what is expected of us in order to pass this class.  In other words, it helped us to help ourselves.

Iwa by Michelle Harris

    Dr. Segun Gbadegesin, Professor of Philosophy and associate Dean of Humanities discussed with us the importance of Iwa, which means existence.  He started off the lecture with a great influential story about the journey of Iwa.  He also spoke on Omoluabi, which is the individual who has character, knowledge, discipline and wisdom.  He even elaborated on the principles of Ma'at, and the coffin texts.  The principles of Ma'at were principles that the ancient egyptians lived by, and the coffin texts contained themes of reward and punishment in the afterlife.

    Dr. Gbadegesin closed his lecture in a very effective way in my opinion.  He used a Yoruba poem which basically told us to take care of our "Iwa":  "Honor may vanish from your house, Cosmetic beauty may fade, Iwa is what endures even into the grave."  I have a deeper appreciation for my Iwa.

The Power of Young People by Michelle Harris

      Dr. Alton B. Pollard lectured on Civil Rights, Hip-Hop and Hope.  He spoke on the many leaders before us such as Martin Luther King Jr., Ella Baker, Septima Clark, Malcom X, Coretta Scott King, and Nelson Mandela.  He discussed how they paved the way for the youth of today.
 
      He made this lecture interesting by using the key element of communication; Music, to relate to us.  He showed us the leaders of the early Hip-Hop culture and discussed the rappers of our generation.  In comparison, the rappers of early Hip-Hop clearly had more meaning behind their music.  They rapped about what they believed in and stood up for something.  Dr. Pollard also went on to address the representation of Hip-Hop in our generation and stated that we have no movement to stand behind.

     I can greatly appreciate this lecture because it was directly aimed toward our particular age group and deals with Music, which is a universal language of expression.  I completely agree with Dr. Pollard's message.  Our generation has no type of movement or strong and positive representation whatsoever.  As young people we need to live and stand behind something rather than just exist and waste our potential to positively impact the future.

The Scribe by Michelle Harris

   Dr. Tritobia K. Benjamin discussed with us the importance of Scribes.  She said that scribes are important to continue history, as it passes on knowledge of the past.  She went on to inform us of ancient scribes, especially those that represented Howard University.  Through various pictures and quotations, she described almost every building on Howard's campus, who the buildings were named after and what legacy these important figures hold.

       I thought it was a very informative and interesting lecture.  It was very interesting to learn why and how the buildings on Howard's campus were named.  From the dormitories, to the Administration building, to the libraries and the many buildings where classes are held, I feel that I know a lot more about Howard's long and prestigious history than I did before.

The Genome by Michelle Harris

     Dr. Georgia M. Dunston lectured our class and informed us about the importance of our Genome.  She connected knowledge and biology in such a unique way by relating it to our human identity.  The genome makes the individual, and everyone's genome is different from everyone else's by .1%.  This percentage may seem low, but it makes a remarkable difference.  Not even twins have the same genome.  She also went on to talk about how our genome shapes the way we think, dress, act and carry ourselves and without the genome individuality is lost.
  
     Dr. Dunston held my attention throughout the entire lecture.  She was very inspiring and passionate, which made it very easy to follow her.  She also provoked a deeper level of thought within myself, as I began to think of just how unique my individuality truly is.  Usually we just live day to day without truly understanding or appreciating how different we are from one another.  This lecture made me more conscious of how I carry myself and how I should watch what I say, as my words represent who I am.  Overall, I really enjoyed Dr. Dunston's lesson and I have a greater appreciation for my individuality.

Our African Origin by Michelle Harris

          In this lecture, Dr. Carr enlightened us on our deep rooted history.  He not only was an effective speaker, but he also made me want to know more about my African origins.  Our African origins started in Egypt.  He discussed how our memory has been buried due to our relocation from our origins, and that education is key to not only remembering but "re-membering" our history.
        
       Dr. Carr spoke of the many pathways, such as Djehuty: which represents Memory and Inscription and is the principle of intelligence, memory, writing, learning, and wisdom, the Pathway of Seshat: which represents Numeracy, and accepts accuracy, reliability and preservation of knowledge, and the Pathway of Ma'at: representing order, balance, truth, justice, and reciprocity.  Dr. Carr also went on to explain that in Egypt, beauty was not based on outer appearance, it was based off of how well an individual spoke and carried themselves, and that education meant to translate life.
      
      I appreciated this lecture because it taught me more about our history as a people and it goes deeper than I could have ever imagined.  There was a quote from Langston Hughes in the power point that stood out to me:  "Justice is a blind goddess, Is a thing to which we Blacks are wise:  Her bandage hides two festering sores, That once perhaps were eyes."  What I have learned from this lecture is that knowledge is not only the key to success, but also the key to ourselves because it opens our eyes to who we truly are and where we came from.

Research Developement by Russell Grandberry

Sometimes we know what information we are looking for, but we don't know how to find it and put it together. Dr. William's presentation not only taught us how to research a topic, but it also showed us how to organize our information.When you know how to research it makes finding valuable information much easier. Last week Dr. Williams Outlined our projects for freshman seminar. She taught us how we should organize our questions so that we can find the answers we're looking for.Dr. Williams clearly explained our objectives for Freshman Seminar. Explaining the purpose of the class and helping us set a goal for the end of this semester. After, she showed us the basic components of research. 

Dr. William’s lecture was very helpful. I believe she had the easiest to read and organized slideshow out of all our presenters. She Outlined exactly what each group is supposed to do. She also showed us the dates that our groups will present. Her slideshow went very well with her presentation. She had pictures, and explained them. She had charts and outlines, which made the presentation visually pleasing and easy to follow. Overall I would give her and A+ for her presentation.

My Iwa by Russell Grandberry

Iwa, it means existence.Dr. Gbadegesin came to talk to our class about this word, which before hand I had never heard in my life. In Ancient Egypt, Dr. Gbadegesin told us, Iwa wasn't just something to be said. Iwa was a way of life. Dr. Gbadegesin oppened up the lecture by paying homage, homage to the room we were in, homage to the ancestors, and homage to the world. He explained to us that when we enter any room we should pay homage. This is how the ancient Egyptians did everything, by paying homage to the earth,and living Iwa. Dr. Gbadegesin also spoke of Omoluabi. Dr. Gbadegesin told us that Omoluabi were the individuals, that had wisdom and knowledge and character and discipline as well.

                Dr. Gbadegesin's presentation was very descriptive. He showed me, like the other presentors, many words i did not know. I had never before thought about paying homage to the room that i walked in. Something as simple as saying thank you to the walls that hold a roof over my head. It could be as simple as saying thank you to the ground that keeps my feet steady and level. Dr. Gbadegesin's lecture not only help me realize that sometimes we take the world for granted, but also we have forgotten to appreciate the simpler things in life. In todays world, society is about fashion and status, but if we accept the things we dont have, and appreciate the things we do, the world could be a better place.

The Importance of Research with Freshman Seminar by Antillio Lee

Knowing how to find your information, in some cases, can be just as, if not more, important than the information itself. Knowing how to research, with all methods, is incredibly vital in the success of your efforts. Last week Dr. Williams placed that in perspective for the COAS freshman class. Firstly Dr. Williams stressed the objectives of Freshman Seminar, providing us the students, with a clear cut goal for all of our motives this semester. She soon followed this up with the basic components of research, components such as the current state of research and the frameworks. Dr. Williams tells the student exactly what needs to be researched and how, so each student will quickly and effectively be able to find all the CORRECT information that is needed. After these helpful slides of information, Dr. Williams presents the Freshman Seminar class in its entirety as a case study. Telling in detail what needs to be done from this semester in order to lead into “The Vision”, expected goals.

Overall I would say Dr. William’s lecture was the most imminent help yet. Outlining exactly what needs to be done from me and my group in order to succeed this semester. I highly enjoyed the lecture and can’t wait to begin working with my group in efforts to make these visions of 2010 Freshman Seminar a reality.

Finding Iwa by Antillio Lee

Iwa, or existence, was a word that my vocabulary had never had the pleasure of meeting before Dr. Gbadegesin. Iwa for the Egyptian culture was than just a word, it was their lives. Praising gods and raising children all in the light of their Iwa. Omoluabi, a child begotten of the chief of iwa, is another new comer to the vast pages of my terminology. According to Dr. Gbadegesin sources, Omoluabi were THE individuals, not only of wisdom and knowledge but of character and discipline as well; an individual who embodies all fundamentals of life.

                Dr. Gbadegesin started his lecture by providing names of those who were worshiped way before the historical mundane figures that we all know of today. He spoke of Egyptian legends such as The Goddess of Ma’at and Pharaoh Amenemope, names that were unheard of to most ears in the audience.  He then spoke of the great texts that these figures embodied, such as The Pyramid & Coffin Texts, and The Books of Instruction. Blending the figures of the ancient world with their teachings and principles, that was followed by the masses. Following that Dr. Gbadegesin dives into the relationship between the ancient Egyptian world and the African world, linking Iwa to the principles of the African lifestyle; providing examples of how Iwa shapes all fundamentals of life, in efforts of education. The key to life is un-doubtly education and Dr. Gbadegesin’s presentation is a prime example.

Preparing for Research by Mobosola Asanpaola

Dr. Dana Williams has been  with our freshman seminar class from the begining. She has helped to direct us answer our questions and sitt in on every lecture that I've been to. From my observation she is one of the professors i can associate in a group of those who have been dedicated to the sucess of freshmen seminar. This week it was finally her turn to speak. She brought us back to the original pupose of the freshman seminar class. She was extreemly imformative about the numerous ways we could go about doing our research. Dr. Williams also took the time to break down the steps of our research such as identifying and stating the problem and/or challenge. It made me contemplate the realisticness of my groups research question and what tools we would need to throughly address it. There were also other steps that including the thesis and conclusion.
She also gave examples of the various ways that we could actively present our project. Would it be best to do a powerpoint, write a  plain paper, give handouts to the class, or just verbally deliver without any props. The purpose of our research question and project is to educate one another. Dr. Williams pointed out that we ourselves as a class were finally understanding the purpose of the class. Through the readings of some peoples blog  I was able to see that each person was able to take something diffent from each speakers lecture. People wrote from all different perspectives and was interesting to see the different ways people went about blogging. It even motivated me to get even more personal with my own blogs.

Protecting Iwa by Mobosola Asanpaola

Listening to the lecture of Dr. Segun Gbadegesin brought me back to the stories and proverbs my parents would pass down to me from their childhood. Also growing up in Nigeria my parents told me of the times they would sit in the compound and tell stories. Before this lecture i thought nothing of what my parents were telling me, i took them as what they were stories. But being older now and listening to Dr. Gbadegesin I realize they are much more. Its a form of paying homage to those who came before you and learned before you. Dr. Gbadegesin even took the time to do that; pay homage to those who spoke before him, his ancestors, those who wil come after him, the Class of 204, and the list goes on.
The story of Iwa really struck something in me. It reiterated the importance of staying true to myself as well as challenging me to protect the very essence of who I am, to not compromise it for anything or anyone. Iwa was said to be a beautiful woman who was sought after by Orunmila. Orunmila wanted to marry Iwa and she agrred under one condition, that he not drive her crazy. Orunmila agreed. But, Orunmila did not stick to the promise instead he took Iwa for granted and chastised her for evrything that she did. When Iwa decided that she had enough and left him his life began to go down hill, as good fortune left him along with Iwa. In desperation to gain himsrlf and all the blessings tht he previosly had, Orunmila sought out Iwa. When Iwa came back to him his good fortune returned and he was whole again.
Iwa represents one's character and existance. If you loose it and do not protect than you become empty and what is an empty person useful for. Dr. Gbadegesin also said, "Anyone who does not have good character, what they have belongs to someone else." When you sit and truly think about that quote, it is entirely too true. If your not a good person and don't have a good heart eventualy what you have sewn will come back to you tenfold.

Research and Methodology by Jordan Henry

  

Today’s lecture was by Dr. Dana A. Williams and she is the Professor and Chair of English at Howard University.   Her lecture was based on the topics of Research and Methodology. She also explained the purpose of Howard University’s freshman seminar class.

            The goal of the freshman seminar class is to pursue a lifetime of independent discovery including the appreciation and the importance of research.  She discussed how the freshman seminar course and project is a perfect example of how a research project should be pursued.  She did so by discussing the basic components of research, which is first to state the problem and challenge.  Then we must consider the reasonableness of our research and also the current state of the research.  Next we are to consider the methodology and framework of the research by answering many basic questions such as how will you structure or display the data?  Finally we must develop the thesis and the conclusion. 

            Many of these steps are displayed in the freshman seminar class.  The issue is that many African Americans believe the history of Africa begins with enslavement due to miseducation from textbooks and loss of cultural connection.  The goal at the end of this project is to inform students of the great African heritage, royalty, and culture that did indeed exist before slavery.  The framework of the project is designed so the students receive six different research lectures and then blog a reflection after each one.  We then as a class, take a trip to the African Burial Ground in New York City.  Finally we explore the concept of community and responsibility by meeting with our groups and completing our group project.  Overall, this lecture discussed the main points of the doing research and used the freshman seminar course to exemplify the research process.  I feel like this lecture was a good overview of what our group projects will be like and I definitely feel more prepared to correctly achieve this assignment with my peers.