Self –Actualization and Communal Responsibility

Faith N. Odigbo

Dr. Carr

Freshmen Seminar

Self –Actualization and Communal Responsibility

Dr. Segun Gbadegesin was an enthralling speaker that captivated the audience but introducing him to his Nigerian culture. His speech was moving and left the audience questioning what they can do for their community. Dr. Gbadegsin emphasized that education is the central to the community and to one’s character. He also mentioned that we couldn’t move as a community if there are those who are ignorant to the blessing of education. He mentioned that an iwa is a person of character, disciplined, self-improving, and that iwa is responsibility to self. Our speaker mentioned that it is up to us to educate the next generation so that our legacy does not die. Education is the immortality of the crown of existence and is in the memory of the community. Education and the pursuit of a higher education help establish good character, which is the greatest talisman. Good character is the essence of a good person. Dr. Segun Gbadegsin was a motivational speaker that instilled some type of motivation in the audience that made us wants to go out and change the world. With education we have the chance to change the world and maybe change the way African Americans as a whole see themselves. With education we can even the plan field between African American and Caucasians so things. If education was available to everyone the world might change and equality might be accessible in the future.

Freedom and Justice

La Brea Hill

Monday 12:10- 1:00

This week’s fresh man seminar was given by Dr. Kane Felder on the topic of Freedom and Justice. Dr. Felder began the lecture with different definitions of freedom. One of the definitions that he gave was, and individual or groups inalienable to exercise choices. By choices he meant good and bad choices. As we began to go deeper into the lecture he began to make references to the bible by given examples of choices and freedom. For instance he discussed the choices of Adam and Eve. He began to speak on how freedom had responsibilities as well as consequences. I think the whole lecture on freedom was to inform how important or freedoms are, especially African Americans. After fighting so long to be free, people often take advantage of such rights given to them or hardly acknowledge at all. This lecture also allows us to raise questions about our government and about our freedom. Are we truly free though we are often restricted from doing certain things we want, and doesn’t go intact with the law? Such references of freedom and justice out the bible, allows us to compare past days to now. Dr. Felder started the class off with a Greek quote that in English meant “In time all that is hidden will come to life!” I believe this quote  means that soon such laws that we abide by and such rights we are given will no longer be what the government wants us to see, we will soon began to realize that we are not as free as they say we are. As we continue to study and educate ourselves we will perceive things different and look at life from a different perspective. Everything that we did not notice before will soon be clearer to our understanding.

Freedom and Justice

Aisha J. Brownlee
12:10-1:00
This week’s freshman seminar was very intriguing and informative. Our speaker was Dr.Kane Felder whose discussion focused around the terms of freedom and justice. He first began by defining freedom as the individual right to exercise choices to enable a person to develop their full potential. He discussed how the meaning of the term has changed with the centuries. In times of slavery, it meant to escape physical bondage, while today in contemporary society it means obtaining an education and trying to prosper as a whole. He discussed how after his many travels throughout the world America incarcerates most blacks and other minorities than any other country in the world. He then went on to define justice as the right relation, fairness, or balance in which the population benefits from it. Before furthering his lecture into justice, he mentioned how freedom and justice is based upon religion. Religion provides the laws of justice by doing God’s will. To help reinforce his lecture he referenced the bible and discussed many biblical figures. He spoke about how Jesus has been an inspirational figure in many leaders’ lives but the biblical translations of the bible are from a European perspective and at the center of civilization is Europe. However, the solution to African problems lies within an African perspective. While his lecture was an importance to the learning of divinity, I felt as if the lectures effectiveness did not reach people. For a more effective lecture, I would suggest that he have something that grabs the attention of the audience. I myself was not as engaged as I normally am. Even though the topic was interesting, I felt he needed to do more than lecture to capture the audience.

Freedom and Justice

Faith N. Odigbo

Dr. Carr

Freshmen Seminar

Freedom and Justice

Last week class discussion was quite interesting to say the least, and very informative. Dr. Kane Felder was an engrossing speaker when he was talking about freedom and justice. According to Webster’s Dictionary, freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. While justice is defined as the quality of being fair and reasonable according to the Webster’s Dictionary. Dr. Kane Felder mentioned that during slavery, that freedom meant how to get out of physical bondage but then when slaves were emancipation freedom meant getting an education and trying to prosper as a whole. Now freedom mean in the 20^th century means equal opportunity and trying to level the playing field among African Americans and Caucasians in all aspects of life. Dr. Kane Felder mentioned that freedom and justice are based upon religion. Religion provides the laws of justice by doing God’s will. Jesus is an inspirational figure for many people around the world especially leaders. Jesus is a pivotal figure for many and His words inspires others, though many indulge in the European version of the Bible which does not provide many answers for today’s generation but the African Bible is the solution and has many inspiring scriptures. Europeans are at the center of everything and many things form around that. Everything we see, read and even indulge in are from the standpoint of an European point of view, so some things may be distorted in order to maintain their image of the being the “creators.” Dr. Kane Felder speech was interesting and brought many things forward and to our generation’s attention.

Eloquence of Scribes

Aisha J. Brownlee
Freshmen Seminar

This week’s freshmen seminar was very fascinating. Dr. Tritobia Hayes Benjamin spoke to the class about the “Eloquence of Scribes”. The people she discussed in her lecture were people who founded many attributes that continue to make Howard an amazing university. Her lecture was centered on Howard’s founders and the people who founded the buildings that students attend class in. Dr. Benjamin began her lecture on discussing who a scribe is. A scribe is someone who writes books and contributes to the African experience of learning. The scribes she talked about in her lecture have greatly contributed to the academic success of Howard students. She talked about people who the buildings were named after on Howard’s campus. One of the people discussed that intrigued me was Inabel Burns Lindsey, who was the first dean of the School of Social Work. Because of her many contributions and dedications to the school, it was named the second accredited school in the nation. Another person discussed whose history I found remarkable was Prudence Crandall. Crandall is a dorm that is part of the Harriet Tubman Quadrangle. She fought for girl’s education and opened the first integrated school for girls. Her zeal and drive for all women to be educated helped shape the course of history. This lecture was very informative in knowing the history of Howard University and to know about the people that open the doors to many educational opportunities. Before this lecture I did not know many of the people that these buildings were named after. I did not know of their tribulations and devotion to educating blacks, and how they not only contributed to the history of Howard, but also to the history of this country.

Eloquence of the Scribes

La Brea Hill

Freshman Seminar

   Freshman seminar lecture was quite interesting and very insightful. We receive a lecture from Dr. Benjamin on the “Eloquence of the Scribes.” We started the lecture off with a few definitions of what a scribe was or what he/she did, then went on to discuss some historical and important scribes of Howard University. Some of the few scribes that she mentioned were people like Oliver Otis Howard and Mordecai Wyatt Johnson. These were important figures and founders of Howard University. As we began to go further into the lecture we began to discuss other people who made a difference in history, in which we named our buildings in honor of them. I found the lecture to be significant because we spoke of historical scribes who made an impact on many lives, and now going into the buildings of such scholars and heroes, we should to be striving to have impacts on others life. Dr. Benjamin said, “Academic life is a path to an eloquence success,” when meditating on this quote I came to an conclusion that I too want to be a scribe for future generations and by educating myself I will be able to be just that. To be a scribe is to document events or jot down such ideas—most of the time such things are passed on—which is another reason why this lecture is important. While discussing such historical figures, we remember such wise they passed down to us and how we use such wisdom to help educate one another. Such lecture has broadened my horizon about Howard University, historical figures, and education.

Eloquence of Scribes

Faith N. Odigbo

Freshman Seminar

Dr. Carr

Eloquence of Scribes

Dr. Benjamin discussed the eloquence of ancient scribes and the legacy of Howard University. Dr. Benjamin talked about the ancient scribes who preserved a nation’s culture, history and even way of life through their efforts at writing down historical, political, judicial, and even sacred narratives from certain tribes. Though the scribes played a big part in preserving African American history, oral tradition played a big role in keeping the history live for many centuries. The scribes also had a ranking system from the royal scribes to the unknown scribe who received no recognition for his work. Each family had a scribe write down their family history so that they preserve the family history for future generations. Then, Dr. Benjamin proceed to talk about the influential men and women who shaped Howard University history for the better and she discussed why the building on campus were named after such influential people. Dr. Benjamin discussed the how the Harriet Tubman quadrangle because she was a motivational woman who lead many people across the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman put her life on the life in order to help those in need escape from the inhumane treatment of their slave owners. Within the Harriet Tubman quadrangles there is Sojourner Truth, Phyllis Wheatley, Prudence Crandell, Frasier, and Baldwin who are all influential women who changed the way the world looked at African American women for the better and it is because of these women that our generation can go to places where they did not think was possible many years back. Then Dr. Benjamin proceed to talk about George Washington Carver, Lucy Digge Slowe, Charles R. Drew, Mary McLead Bethune, and Ernest Everett Just who played such a fundamental role in shaping Howard University history and legacy. These men and women who changed the world were scribes who went to great length to preserve our culture and history, so now it is our generation’s turn to do the same for the next and prosper to the next level that the generation before us could only imagine.

Genome Project

Faith N. Odigbo

Dr. Carr

Freshmen Seminar

Genomes Study

Dr. Georgia May Dunston speech was moving and inspiration to say the least. During her discussion she talked about genomes and how genomes are the record books of the times and legacy of humankind. In Webster dictionary, genome is defined as the ordering of genes in a haploid set of chromosomes of a particular organism. Though Dr. Georgia May Dunston talked about that she explained that genomes is what set each individuals apart and what makes us so unique from anyone else. Dr. Georgia May Dunston was sure to emphasis that genome was the universal code but though it may be universal it is unique to each to every individual. Dr. George May Dunston was sure to emphasis that all individuals are unique that not even set twins could even have a same set of genomes. Dr. Georgia May Dunston is the founder of the genome project at Howard University which is currently researching the genomes of African Americans so that we as a people collectively can learn more from our ancestors such as what about our genomes that made withstand such cruel treatment and inhumane living conditions to live for such a long period of time to the point where we could pass on our oral tradition on to the next generation so that they were aware of their ancestors battle, hardships and way of life. I feel that our generation is just being swept away and just going in any direction. I feel that we need to reconnect with our ancestors in order to discover who we really are as a whole and individuals, plus is we know more about our ancestors we will appreciate life and the opportunities that come our way when we realize how much our ancestors went through in order to provide the next generation with a better life then what they had.

Genome

Aisha J. Brownlee
Wednesday 12:10-1:00

Last week in Freshman Seminar, Dr. Georgia Mae Dunston gave a lecture on genome research. Even though she didn’t get a chance to go into depth of her research, her introduction was very informative of the genome and its importance to life. She began her lecture by defining a genome, which is a record book of history and legacy of human kind. What astounded me was how each person’s genome is unique. Even though we come from two people not one person is like another. Our genome is what makes us unique but the history of our ancestors are traced within each person. Dr. Dunston connected the presentation from Dr. Carr’s lecture to the genome project, just from a biological perspective. To trace the origins of life one must not only have to understand history but also biology. Due to the research on the genome, scientists have traced the origins of life back to Africa. In order for one to understand African people and how they experienced the world, requires one to obtain knowledge of the genome. In studying the genome you see people’s history, enabling researchers to understand Africans and their ways of life. We trace this history back to Egypt and discussed that that is where wisdom is founded. This knowledge the Egyptians and how they created mathematics and letters shows that Africans provide the world with the history of mankind and its influences that are present today. Dr. Dunston furthered her lecture by talking about vibrations and how each person carries within them a vibration that others can sense. She said something in her lecture that I resonated with me and it was, “Each of us is a grace note and has sound in the universe and when playing sound we are in harmony with life” (Dunston). This quote amazed me in that how each individual is influential to others. This quote further explains the importance of the genome and how it connects life.

Genome

La Brea Hill
Monday 12:10-1:00


    Last week’s Freshman Seminar, given by Dr. Dunston was on the genome research. Although we did not get a chance to go into depth with the research as a whole, we received much information during the introduction of the lecture. We discussed the importance of the genome and how it related to us as humans. One of the main points that Dr. Dunston discussed, and I found most interesting, is the uniqueness of our genomes—comparing them to how we are unique ourselves. Each of us has our own set of genomes which makes us different from each other, not one person contains the same set. This to information came to me as an opportunity to us my differences, and uniqueness to stand out. The lecture, I found to be motivational because it sort of pushed up to try and seek out information about ourselves and our cultures. The genome project as a whole can be symbolic to our African studies—because we seek to find out more information about our origins. Discovering and researching our genomes and different genes allows us to reveal more about ourselves and about our history. Although it may be a bit difficult to completely recover our ancestor information based on genomes and genes, there is symbolism when discussing such things. We set out to find what is so unique and different about our genomes from others—that is what is so unique about our African culture than any other culture. Why start with just genomes, when we can go into a deeper study of finding the uniqueness of oneself.

Pres 1- Learning, Wisdom and the African World Experience

Aisha J. Brownlee
Freshman Seminar
Monday 12:10-1:00

In our first lecture in freshman seminar we discussed the topic, learning, wisdom, and the African experience. The objective of this lecture was to draw the connection to learning and wisdom, reflect on the African foundations of our intellectual scholars at Howard University, and to open our minds to the African experience and engage in our historical roots. Throughout the lecture we discussed the many intellectual works of Africans and their contributions to society, but, we focused heavily on the connection between learning and wisdom. We began our lecture discussing the basic terms that helps shape African culture. Learning and wisdom contributions such as these terms created by the Egyptians have transferred to today’s African communities. These basic terms were evidence of African deep thought. We discussed how Africans were the first thinkers and developed many concepts that Europeans adopted and called their own. Many Africans are mis-educated because the learning of African culture has been forgotten, hidden, and water down in the traditional textbooks. To treat this problem (the mis-educating of African Americans) there must be a trigger of remembrance of our genealogy of African learning and wisdom. To do this there needs to be a reconnection of our forgotten roots. To access these connections one could look to literature, music, or art. Hidden in each work are the ancestors’ experience and wisdom that Europeans have worked so diligently to hide from Africans. As we move forward to an advancing society it is more than ever important to trace our roots and educate ourselves on our history. To do that, a series of memories that our ancestors have left for us must be uncovered and remembered in order to pass them down to the next generations. When those generations receive the knowledge of our past they should continue to pass it down by educating African communities and helping them to gain insight to who they are and where they come from.

Learning Wisdom and The African World

Faith N. Odigbo

Freshman Seminar

September 5^th, 2010

Learning Wisdom and The African World

Today’s generation is disconnected with their African roots so with this lecture and class we will try to dig deeper and try to connect with our ancestors. During the discussion, we talked about the principles of wisdom, which entails, learning, the art and science including the mathematics, which is the core of African wisdom. Many people believe that Africans did not contribute anything to the Western World when in reality African created math, astronomy, science and writing yet they get no credit as a nation for their contribution. Though, Africa contributed greatly to the Western World it really starts with the Egyptians since they have origin for Africa and it is the best according to Dr. Carver and has been the foundation for everything from culture to literature everyone has copied the Egyptians since then. Egyptians and Africans are interconnected with one another. During the class lecture we discussed what learning really is, which is when boiled down learning is collective, experiential, and incremental and is measured by rites of passages, which is witnessed by the community as a whole and determines one’s content of knowledge and expertise. The key points to learning what success is really is that is defined by traditional African Intellectuals which are excellent reading, writing, counting, measuring, excellent service and reflecting on one’s self in order to contribute. The overall class discussion was learning about African wisdom and how to apply it to our generation so that we never lose our roots.

Pres-1 Learning Wisdom and the African World Experience

La Brea Hill
Freshman Seminar
Mondays 12:10-1:00


Learning Wisdom and the African World Experience, enables students to understand African deep thoughts. The main concept of the lecture was to promote the intellectual abilities of our African ancestors and to take in what we have learned from our ancestors (whether it had been passed down from classical or medieval ages), and use it today. The basis of the lecture was to understand our roots of intelligence and gain wisdom about our African culture. Throughout the lecture we discussed African contributions to our learning communities in which we were encouraged to pass on. Some of the African traditions and techniques are still seen across the world today. The lecture also inspires us to research our lineage of African traditions and teachings, so that we would not forget them or be “mis-educate” (a term used in the lecture). The overall lecture inspires me as a student and an African American to seek more information about my African roots and become familiar with African education. It is very often that African teachings and traditions are mis-represented, stepped over, or forgotten. The Ideas were stolen by Europeans and made into something else. Learning Wisdom and the African Experience, means to understand the African teachings and the genealogy in which it was passed down today. Although some of the teachings became lost and mixed within European culture, we can still build healthy communities where students can be educated in about African studies, especially African American students.