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.