Looking Back

What was most important to me about this class was identity. Learning about my heritage and embracing it as a subject to be proud of is something that I had needed. I liked the centrality of knowledge in the African experience most of all. As someone who had always been enthusiastic about learning as much as I could, the stigma of intelligence being a "White" trait was distressing. I could not betray my passion, even if it meant rejecting my blood as an aspect of my person. This class taught me that not only can I be a Black man and hold my love for knowledge, but that knowledge was born in the hands of my kin.

I've grown curious of African History because of the course. I want to know more about the culture that I was separated from. I think that my newfound interest and appreciation for my ancestry is the best thing that I've taken from this course. I look forward to the classes I'll take in the future to expand the foundations of my identity.

Now that freshman seminar is over, I have mixed emotions. freshman seminar allowed me to get a better understanding of not who i am but also my African culture. i now have a better relationship with my heritage thanks to freshman seminar. i am thankful for all of the exposure i was able to experience over the course of semester. going to the African Burial ground was one of the best memories i have from this class. also i gained a better understanding of who I am. i learned how to work better within a group of people that i hardly even know. at first i was very uncomfortable with it but i matured and has enabled me to become a better man. also i appreciate doing blogs, let me relax and just express my thoughts without worrying about all of the aspects of grammar. I glad that I was apart of this course at Howard University and am thankful for freshman seminar.

Becoming Part of a Legacy

As I look back on this semester I see that I have changed in many ways. I have become accustomed to life as a college student. I am living on my own now in a new city. I am now a proud part of a rich tradition and the legacy that is Howard University. Freshman seminar has helped me to take a new look into the history of Africa and how that relates to me. In any given one hour session of this class I learned more about African and African American history than I have in any other class I have ever taken. This class has helped me to learn about the history of my ancestors and how the beginning and basis for civilization all stem from ancient Egypt. I am happy that this was a required class and I would have taken it even if it weren’t. The lectures were all informative and I was able to take something from each one of them. The trip to New York also allowed me to learn about the American history that isn’t taught in schools. Overall freshman seminar has helped me to evolve into shaping the person and character that I look forward to one day being remembered as.

The N Word

The N word has been a part of society for hundreds of years. The use has changed and much like many other words in the English language that evolve over time. Over the years there has been much controversy over the use of the word and several attempts to “kill the word.” White slave owners created the word nigger as a derogatory term to describe their African slaves. Since then the word has evolved and different forms have come from the word. Nigga is the most common of these and has long been a part of African American culture. It can be seen in music, movies, and everyday conversation between fellow African Americans. Some argue that it is still the same word no matter how you say it. I disagree with this, as the English language is full of words that sound very similar but carry with them completely different meanings. Many people who believe that we should stop using the world is because of the original meaning that is still carried along with the word when someone of another race uses it to describe an African American and African Americans become offended. This could be compared to the use of the word ese among Hispanic cultures. It is acceptable for Hispanics to call each other ese but offensive when someone uses the term in reference to a Hispanic. African Americans generally reach a consensus that nigger is offensive even when used amongst themselves, and that Nigga is acceptable only amongst themselves. Although I am not against the use of the word I feel that to some extent the word is another example of how the tactics described in the Willie Lynch letter are still being used today to pit African Americans against each other.

Higher

The topic of one group’s presentation was marijuana. The members of this group were proponents for the legalization of marijuana. They reviewed the facts of the harm that marijuana does and found that there were no adverse effects and no deaths that can be directly attributed to the use of marijuana. The group also explored the benefits that marijuana would have on our society if it were legalized. The legalization of marijuana would save millions of dollars in law enforcement and would also generate millions in new revenue from the sales of marijuana and marijuana related products. I agree completely with the views of this group. I feel that the legalization marijuana would prevent the incarceration of many young African Americans who are arrested more time for possession of amounts used for personal consumption than users of crack and heroine. If America follows countries that have legalized and regulated use such as the Netherlands, or even federal decriminalization such as in many countries throughout the world people will be free to continue to use a drug that is as socially accepted as alcohol and more accepted that cigarettes. Personally I feel that too many people view marijuana as taboo due to propaganda and misinformation about it. If Americans are proper educated about the topic instead of making ignorant assumptions the people will know that there is nothing wrong with marijuana. Marijuana isn’t physically addictive like most other drugs the only addiction comes from the psychological dependency that can come from anything such as eating or watching tv. Marijuana is not the enemy it is here to stay and even when our president has publicaly admitted to smoking weed we must open our eyes and realize “because everything’s better when your high”-Wiz Khalifa.

Dr. Tritobia Benjamin spoke to us and I found her hard to follow but she spoke to us about the elegance of the scribes from Ancient Egypt. The scribes were part of the upper echilon of society and received the most education. Their job was one of the most important because they taught people about the past and without knowing about your past you cant march forward and create a better world. She talked about that we are the continuation of African scribes in the modern era. That we walk in the footsteps of greats not just at Howard university but we walk in the footsteps of great people. When she was talking about this it made me realize how high the expectations for us are, that because we walk in their footsteps we a glorious legacy to uphold, not only do we have to honor the legacy of the greats we have to live up to the legacy and expectations of this great institution. Because we are lucky enough to have this opportunity we have a greater responsibility then most t change the world in which we live.It made me think about how far we have come because of these people and I have to try harder then them because surely they were given the same choice and if they had been content to stand on the achievements of the past we would not have made it to where we are today.

Lost World

Before the trip to New York I was most excited about the chance to explore one of the greatest cities on earth not so much to visit a burial ground. Things changed after I saw the monument and then learned the history about the burial ground from the museum. This burial ground was the place that the slaves in the area were allowed to have something that was theirs. They built traditions here and preserved their heritage through the rituals performed at the burial ground. When outside and I heard the story about how the ground was discovered and then the struggle that was made to get the grounds declared a historical site and national monument. When walking through the monument and learning the story of the design and selection of the symbols surrounding the inner chamber I felt a feeling of connection to the history that took place beneath the ground that I was standing on. When looking down and seeing the inscriptions of the remains that were found I had a feeling that I cant explain. It was like being there in the past like I was a part of history. This had been a place that was forgotten for hundreds of years a part of my African ancestry that was lost in time. I am pleased that today our ancestors that were laid to rest here now have a place where they can be honored and people can come and learn about the history of this burial ground. The trip was a touching experience that allowed me a chance to visit a place that history was made and now is being preserved.