Africa by Jordan Henry

In today’s lecture, Dr. Carr spoke to us about our African heritage and explained many different aspects of our society that African people are responsible for.   I love today’s lecture because he really opened my eyes about the African culture and I left the class having a better understanding about my heritage.  Dr. Carr did not get to finish his lecture but he discussed many interesting topics.

            Dr. Carr explained that there were three forces in a classroom and these three forces were the teacher, the student, and the text.  He said that we as the student had to rely on the other forces when one force was not helping us better our learning process.  For example, if we as the students must turn to the text if we do not understand the teacher.  He explained that only we have the power to enhance our education.  Dr. Carr also explained that we as African people survived because of our wisdom in the African spirit.  He said that the Djehuty was the official language of the Egyptian culture and he also mentioned that in Egypt, beauty was based off how well an individual spoke and carried them self instead of being primarily based on their outer appearance.  Dr. Carr also went into great detail of Sehat who was the ancient goddess that created the number system and the spirit of knowledge.  He also stated that everything had to go through Seshat in order to gain knowledge.  He stated that there was a time when black ruled and we created many systems such as writing, counting, sciences, arts, spiritual systems, and formal teaching.   He gave the class an question to think about, which was how could such great culture go from the pyramids to the projects? 

            In the lecture, we learned that Howard University’s original purpose was to be open to all races and genders, but it soon turned into a predominately black school.   He told us that race is a reality and it does not determine our future.  He told us that it was up to us to continue the cycle to strengthen our people by learning our past and learning more in the present so we can pass it down to the future.  He said that the purpose of education is to translate life.  Overall, this lecture informed us how the great African culture was lost and that it is up to us as African people to rebuild it by educating ourselves.