Freshman Seminar, in my opinion, should continue to be a recommended course for entering freshman, and transferring students (1st time attending). This course helped me to understand of the black community beyond slavery. I learn that Africans were more than just slaves, they were the reason for many of the inventions we use today. When in high school students only learn of the black community of their struggle and not the life before, or the impact the had on the Civil Rights Movement. In my on perception the slaves were their own emancipators, they fought and won. I think freshman seminar definitely helped me to view Africans as historical agents, rather than victims of past racial injustice.
Another subject will contribute to success in the future was the research project. It helped me to break the ice of something I had never done before. Not only did I learn interesting things I also made friends with my group members. This course all in all, not only helps the college experience, but provide methods that can be used beyond college.
The Imbongi were also help. It provided me with a sense of how to take notes. During the lectures the Imbongi's helped me to remember what was said in the lectures in order to produce a blog about it. Most times I would jot down notes anyway that would also assist me. The lecturers were also good. They were very organized and was engaged with the audience. I will definitely encourage future freshmen to be attentive in this course and also attend class! Thank you DR.CARR and OTHERS
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Final Reflection - Tammy
Overall, I think Freshman Seminar did have its high points. Although I sometimes dreaded coming to Just Hall some of the points that the speakers made did give me inspiration, hope, and knowledge. I also appreciate the faculty who sponsor Freshman Seminar for taking all of us to the African Burial Ground in order for us to learn more about our culture. Looking back upon the blogs that I wrote, I can see that I did gain some valuable lessons from each of the speakers; even the ones that seemed to sway more than slightly off topic. I was glad that I got a chance to hear some of the most influential people at Howard University offer their advice on how to make a change in both the world and myself.
This is not say that Freshman Seminar changed my outlook on life because I still have a lot of work on myself to be done. However, I can say that I received a huge boost in knowledge about my people, which gave me a greater sense of pride in myself. I always thought I knew more than the average person about black history but what Freshman Seminar taught me was more about my African history and not just my African-American history. Knowing that my ancestors incited change since the beginning of time, gives me in more pride in knowing my predecessors and people in the future generations to come. Although I would suggest tuning up Freshman Seminar a little bit more in order to make it more organized, I think the overall knowledge that one can gain from this class is worth the overall experience.
This is not say that Freshman Seminar changed my outlook on life because I still have a lot of work on myself to be done. However, I can say that I received a huge boost in knowledge about my people, which gave me a greater sense of pride in myself. I always thought I knew more than the average person about black history but what Freshman Seminar taught me was more about my African history and not just my African-American history. Knowing that my ancestors incited change since the beginning of time, gives me in more pride in knowing my predecessors and people in the future generations to come. Although I would suggest tuning up Freshman Seminar a little bit more in order to make it more organized, I think the overall knowledge that one can gain from this class is worth the overall experience.
Miller Group Re-Colonization of Ghana - Ilesha
The Miller Groups presentation was on the Recolonization of Ghana. Some background information they gave us on Ghana was the capital is acura. Originally is was called the Republic of Ghana and it is located in Western Africa. On March 6, 1957 they gained their independence from the UK under Kwame Nkrumah who was later overthrown.
Ghana is very abundant in natural resources like gold, oil, cocoa, timber, and diamonds and is often called the gold coast. As the value of their money began to decrease so did their minimum wage as well.
After the was, the relations with Ghana and China became more economic than anything because of the resources in Ghana. Furthermore, other countries that had relations with ghanna followed suit. They were more concerned with their own concernes and countries well being. Ghana was being monopolized and asians were opening up businesses but only letting asians work for them leaving the Africans jobless.
The groups solution is for Ghana to establish trade with other countries by estabblishing their own economic government. This would help stop monopolization, but it would take more work than just establishing trade.
Ghana is very abundant in natural resources like gold, oil, cocoa, timber, and diamonds and is often called the gold coast. As the value of their money began to decrease so did their minimum wage as well.
After the was, the relations with Ghana and China became more economic than anything because of the resources in Ghana. Furthermore, other countries that had relations with ghanna followed suit. They were more concerned with their own concernes and countries well being. Ghana was being monopolized and asians were opening up businesses but only letting asians work for them leaving the Africans jobless.
The groups solution is for Ghana to establish trade with other countries by estabblishing their own economic government. This would help stop monopolization, but it would take more work than just establishing trade.
Miller Scholars Presentation Poverty In the Black Community - Ilesha
The miller scholars group presentation was very interesting. There question was What factors have lead to poverty in the African American community and in what ways can those factors be modified so poverty may decrease? In their presentation they said the factors that contribute to poverty are reproduction, lack of education, unemployment, lack of pride in culture, and substance abuse.
In my opinion, reproduction, unemployment, and lack of education are the most important. This is not something that goes on in just the black community but all over. This is something that is widespread in America, but just more prominent in the black community. For reproduction, the black community has the highest rate of any other race. However, there is not much to do about the reproduction except promote safe sex which could maybe alleviate massive reproduction.
The unemployment rate is high as well all over. Because of the economy, people are being laid off from their jobs and people who were already unemployed, can’t find jobs. For people to be able to find jobs you have to directly stimulate job growth by supporting community owned businesses and putting money back into our own community.
Lack of education is a big issue in the black community as well. Blacks were being miseducated back into the reproduction. Without proper education, blacks are likely to have lesser paying jobs. With a high school diploma being very important and most teenagers dropping out of high school, this contributes to the unemployment rate as well. The numbers for average earnings for black without a high school diploma are very low.
There are about 20.7% families in poverty in the United States. Our numbers are the highest of any race. As a community, we need to stress the importance of safe sex as well as education to lower these numbers and slowly but surely address the issue of poverty.
In my opinion, reproduction, unemployment, and lack of education are the most important. This is not something that goes on in just the black community but all over. This is something that is widespread in America, but just more prominent in the black community. For reproduction, the black community has the highest rate of any other race. However, there is not much to do about the reproduction except promote safe sex which could maybe alleviate massive reproduction.
The unemployment rate is high as well all over. Because of the economy, people are being laid off from their jobs and people who were already unemployed, can’t find jobs. For people to be able to find jobs you have to directly stimulate job growth by supporting community owned businesses and putting money back into our own community.
Lack of education is a big issue in the black community as well. Blacks were being miseducated back into the reproduction. Without proper education, blacks are likely to have lesser paying jobs. With a high school diploma being very important and most teenagers dropping out of high school, this contributes to the unemployment rate as well. The numbers for average earnings for black without a high school diploma are very low.
There are about 20.7% families in poverty in the United States. Our numbers are the highest of any race. As a community, we need to stress the importance of safe sex as well as education to lower these numbers and slowly but surely address the issue of poverty.
African Burial Ground - Ilesha
On Saturday October 16th, my freshman seminar group attended at trip to New York Where we visited the African Burial Ground. Upon arrival, Dr. Carr gave livation, which is the oldest ritual known to man. We did this for the ancestors that were found at the burial ground, for central Africa where most slaves were brought over during the middle passage, for our mothers and fathers, four ourselves, and for those who were not yet born.
After this the group split off. Some stayed outside while others went inside to view the museum. We also viewed a video which gave us background on slavery, the burial ground itself, and what they african american community had to go through to get the land turned into a monument. It went from being turned into a landfill to a contraversy exploding in 1991 when the remains were found. Protests were staged at the building for the African American community among others thought this was disrespect.
Howard University has to do with the African Burial Ground as well for the remains that were recovered were sent here to be examined. The video also depicted a story of a little girl who's father had passed away and been buried at the grave site.
After the video we entered the museum and there were wax figures of that little girl and her mother that were in the video. Also there were plaques on the wall that had different types of information printed on them. For example one of them had information about the research that was conducted on the remains at Howard University.
After we toured the museum, we went outside and the monument outside with all the pictures and the pyramid were explained to us.
After we toured the Burial Ground and the museum inside, we were taken to Harlem and we were able to go shopping and walk around where I ended up buying a really cute hat. Overall i really enjoyed this trip. This was one of the most interesting events from freshman seminar.
After this the group split off. Some stayed outside while others went inside to view the museum. We also viewed a video which gave us background on slavery, the burial ground itself, and what they african american community had to go through to get the land turned into a monument. It went from being turned into a landfill to a contraversy exploding in 1991 when the remains were found. Protests were staged at the building for the African American community among others thought this was disrespect.
Howard University has to do with the African Burial Ground as well for the remains that were recovered were sent here to be examined. The video also depicted a story of a little girl who's father had passed away and been buried at the grave site.
After the video we entered the museum and there were wax figures of that little girl and her mother that were in the video. Also there were plaques on the wall that had different types of information printed on them. For example one of them had information about the research that was conducted on the remains at Howard University.
After we toured the museum, we went outside and the monument outside with all the pictures and the pyramid were explained to us.
After we toured the Burial Ground and the museum inside, we were taken to Harlem and we were able to go shopping and walk around where I ended up buying a really cute hat. Overall i really enjoyed this trip. This was one of the most interesting events from freshman seminar.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Kayla Blackburn's Refection
Upon registering for Freshmen Seminar, my first impression of the class was that it would be one in which taught freshmen the do’s and don’ts of college. I thought study tips would be drilled into our heads, that business etiquette would be practiced rigorously, and that study sessions would be strictly enforced. One can imagine my amazement when I found out that the lecturers were lecturing on different African-American themes. My favorite session was lectured by Mr. Pollard. The name of his lecture was “Civil Rights, Hip-Hop, and Hop: The Power of Young People.” I really enjoyed this lecture because Mr. Pollard included topics that I fully understood and relate to. Although Mr. Pollard stated that my generation was too removed from the Civil Rights Movement for it to be freshly on our mind, I believe that I relate to it to the highest degree. The Civil Rights Movement was the first era of history that I ever learned about through independent research since the age of 13. I believe that the Civil Rights Movement is not over. Although during that time the movement originally fought for racial equality, I believe that it can now be extended to gay rights to marriage, women’s right to abortion, and homosexual’s right to serve openly in the military. Also, I really enjoyed the trip to the African Burial Ground. The Burial Ground was very informative. I’ve always known about slavery and different aspects of it, but it was never really personal. After arriving to the Burial Ground, it became real. I was able to clearly see where my ancestors were buried. I was also able to see actually pictures of my ancestor’s bones. Before that trip, I had never vividly seen my ancestors, just drawings of what they “probably” looked like. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my Freshmen Seminar experience.
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