My Howard Homecoming Experience

My Howard University Homecoming Experience was everything I expected it to be. The energy was high and was jam-packed with celebrities. My favorite event out of the entire homecoming week was the R&B concert. It was so enjoyable and seeing all of those renowned singers in person was something I have never experienced before. Other than the R&B concert, I attended the gospel show. Aside, from some minor boredom here and there, when the energy picked up, it flew through the roof! Shirley Caesar was very mesmerizing to watch.  I also greatly enjoyed yard fest. I thought it was really cool to see a bunch of Howard Alumni comeback to celebrate the festivities. It was like a mixture of the new generation and the old generation.   All in all, homecoming was an experience I will never forget and it is something I know will be looking forward to in the next three years.        

HU Homecoming Experience

With this being my first Howard University Homecoming experience it was something that I will always remember. I see why so many alumni come back every year to partake in these events. I didn't participate in every event but the events I did participate in were truly overwhelming. The first event I went to was the fashion show. There were so many gorgeous black women. The designers did a great job in making the girls attributes stand out. The designers clothing were very innovative and stylish. I also attended the yard fest. It was very crazy! I saw a lot of celebrities, different vendors, and people from different schools. It was almost unbelievable that I was seeing so many people that I was accustomed the seeing on television. It was almost surreal. I got to see stars such as Wale, Young Jeezy, and AJ Calloway. I look forward to next years Homecoming.

H.U Homecoming

For this year’s homecoming I expected greatness; great food, people, celebrities, festivities, and excitement. From the alumni to the upperclassmen and other attendees I had always heard Howard’s Homecoming is an eventful affair.

Homecoming Monday through Thursday was boring and left me unimpressed. Because we still had classes, I initially felt homecoming was just another week of school. To kick off the week we had Midnight Madness last Saturday. I thought the event was fun; I got to see everyone represent their clubs, the performers dance and some up and coming artists. The title of the event was a little deceiving but besides it not lasting to midnight I had a good time. Then on Wednesday, I got tickets to see the Fashion Show II. The models, designers, dancers and stage crew executed the show very well. I almost felt as though I was a spectator at a real show in Fashion week.

The real excitement however did not kick in until the weekend. I could not wait to get out of my classes to get to the yard fest. My friends and I loved the artists that were featured and their performances. And on Saturday, I went to the football game and the Step Show. From the time of our win against the Aggies to the announcement of the winners of the Step Show I felt I had more fun than I had had all week.

All in all, the weekend was the best part of Homecoming!

Homecoming at the Real HU!

Homecoming at Howard has gained so much reputation that all you have to say is "HU Homecoming" and people are swarming toward D.C. This was my first Howard Homecoming and it was an amazing experience and the most fun I had in a while. My Homecoming events started with the Yardfest. It seemed overnight that the Yard was transformed into a festival-like atmosphere. There was tent after tent filled with food or items for purchase. The atmosphere was filled with students and people out of town, all there to take part this year's legendary experience. I had a wonderful time at the Yardfest concert with Jeezy and Wale. I was so surprised to be able to be in the front row to see them! Thinking about how big the events were, I realized how much work the Homecoming Committee had to do. Kudos to the Homecoming Committee! I was so glad that my sister, who is an alumni, also came to the legendary homecoming this year. I had a blast walking around the Yard wit her. That evening I attended the R&B show, which was a huge success. People were bound to have a good time with artists like, Tyrese, Monica, Joe and Avant. I was brought to my feet several times during the performance. Many celebrities were honored to perform or participate in Howard's Homecoming. For example, Free, who hosted the R&B show, said that she turned down an invite for another school's homecoming to be the host at the Real HU. Howard equals Prestige. On Saturday was the homecoming parade. I got up bright and early to help with the parade. The parade went smoothly and I was happy to be able to help out with it. That evening, the step show was on the list. I walked in and the place was live. Everyone was excited to the what the Greeks have been practicing for months. All I can say is this stunning experience is one that I will never forget!

The Maternal love of Howard

Being a student at Howard University has had a tremendous impact on my future aspirations. There is something about the atmosphere that makes you want to be the best you can do. Maybe it’s the history that permeates from the architecture, literature, and allegories of HU alumni. Maybe even the wisdom that is entrusted to us from past generations. Or even the protective and loving sentiment that envelops the campus that has an inclination to make you feel as safe as the warm and soothing cradle of a mother’s arms. Seeing all of this inspiring history and success honestly makes me think that maybe I can become someone of importance to this world. Hearing all of the exhilarating lectures from such experienced professors and officials gives me courage and motivation to perform at my utmost potential. Studying at this university so far has been a reality changing enterprise that has expanded the boundaries of my comfort zone and propelled my resolve to new heights. I cannot fully explain the feeling this university gives with my limited vocabulary, but I am quite sure that I will not get the same sensation attending another college or university.

My Seminar Experience

In the first Freshman Seminar, we were given an overview of the classes and what would be expected of us throughout the course. This was also the first time the class was given a blog topic in which we had to detail our first week’s experience at Howard University as the new class of freshmen students. In my first blog I talked about looking forward to learning about what the Howard experience had to offer.

Almost eight weeks later, I believe Howard has offered to me more than what I could have imagined the first week here. Just being a Howard student is a lesson within itself. You learn to value and celebrate black culture, live past your potential, network, be a self-activist, work hard, be responsible and most importantly stay true to yourself.

As evident in the learning of Howard’s history, we as the students have a lot to live up to. Howard has produced many scholars, celebrities and intellectuals, who have set the standards before us; and as students we must continue this legacy.

Retreating to Family

This weekend was one of the best of my life. I spent this weekend in Baltimore at the African American Heritage Retreat. I was invited to attend by a friend of mine that I knew from working with another organization and she assured me that I would like it and she also arranged for me a place to stay and means of which to get there so I didn't really have much objection.
This was the 22nd year that this group was doing this retreat and you could tell that a lot of the people have known each other for some time but nevertheless, they invited me in with welcome arms and made me feel at home. I find that's how African American people are all around the country. We make everyone; rather they're white, brown, purple, or orange feel welcome and make them feel like family. I was talking with one lady who lived in Switzerland and she has been making the trip from her country to the retreats here in the states since 2001. She told me that it is important to her and she makes the trip every year because of the way the group makes her feel when she comes and the feeling that stays with her when she leaves. She gets this feeling of acceptance and love from her family at the retreat that she doesn't get from her biological family. This help me realize that you can make your own family wherever you go, with whoever gives you the love and support that you need. They people I met at this retreat I consider to now be my family here on the East Coast (where before I was alone but not anymore) and I can't wait to see them next year.    

You cannot be One-Sided

When I walked in the room the first thing I said was "yes, powerpoint." I'm a visual learner and I like to listen and look at what I'm being taught. Dr. Williams did an excellent job of breaking everything down. She broke down the research question like never before and took us step by step in Research and Methodology. I never learned a step-process for it before. I found it interesting when she was talking about Dr. Cobb and explained that "not sticking to one discipline allows one to be transformative" (Dr. Williams). This statement made total sense to me because I tend to make sure I 'm able to argue both sides in an essay in which I only have to pick one side. People would be more willing to agree with your opinion if you could argue the other side as well. Just like in writing, you cannot be one-sided in society. You cannot transform or move knowledge along when defending one side or one race. Dr. Williams also got me thinking about am I finding the connection between the lectures and is the purpose of the lecture being fulfilled? Was I ready to embark on the research project? I thought about how to make sense of the research question after it was broken down; so I rewrote the question for my personal benefit.

The original research question:

How have scholars across the various fields of study advanced and transformed academic knowledge related to enduring problems of the human condition?

My interpretation after the lecture:

How have scholars across different branches of knowledge moved along or changed the accepted body of knowledge from other scholars corresponding to the continuing social, cultural and personal problems related to the experiences of being human?

So now the research question is understandable, simple and clear.

Miss Evers' Boys

Miss Evers’ Boys was an outstanding play, hands down. It had all the elements: it made you laugh, cry and smile and frown. The play gave you a close look to how society viewed African-Americans as inferior. The white people thought that only black people got syphilis and called the disease “bad blood”. I know that’s how certain disease were broken down to the African-American race back in the early 20^th century, but is there an underlying meaning. Is that saying supposed to mean because there black they have “bad blood”? It was really ridiculous how the African-American race was taken advantage of and used like guinea pigs in the study of syphilis. The Public Health service and participating doctors in the study lied to them. They gave the African-Americans in the study false hope. They said it would be a year study that turned into 14 years. They told them they would be first in line when a cure came along and they did not mention it when it came up. They told them they were still receiving treatment of mercury back rubs and arsenic shots, but they were really taking samples for the study. They wanted to make the connection of syphilis and race when there is not one. They found the syphilis disease inferior and connected with the race they found inferior: “blacks.” The racism and oppression of the African-American race was evident. They had little education and were seen as ignorant and unintelligent, but in actuality, what the study did was ignorant. The study became a new form of slavery because at first the doctors needed the patients for a couple years, but then they wanted them to dedicate their life to it. I think it was absurd that Miss Evers’ did not tell the boys about the study. I saw what Miss Evers’ was doing at the beginning; she was trying to improve the human condition by becoming knowledgeable and helping others. I also saw that “blacks had to work twice as hard to be half as good,” which I learned from a previous lecture. The dancer in the story practiced a lot to be able to get a chance at the cotton club. The patients were all farmers that made the minimum amount. I enjoyed the performance.

Libation

The African Burial Grounds was an amazing experience. I’ve been to New York several times and didn’t even realize that the Burial Grounds were there. It showed respect for our culture and our ancestors. I enjoyed the ceremony that Dr. Carr performed in respect for the ancestors and all the remains that were found in New York. I loved the museum because it was hands-on and you could take pictures. It made the experience more personal, not having to worry about touching anything. It was amazing how many found remains were able to be recognized by gender and age. It was a lot of things that stuck out to me inside the memorial: the wall of laws that affected Africans in New York; a barrel that weighed the amount many Africans had to lift working at the docks; and a scene of an African burial. The wall of Remembrance was a sight to see and enlightened me about the Burial Grounds that I had never learned about. Around the circle of Diaspora are sings, symbols and images that represent different African cultures. It was nice to see the diversity and brought me to a closer understanding of my ancestors. I would like to go back with my family one day to the African Burial Grounds.

Fact or Myth

“We need to push against the mischaracterization of our community,” was a statement that stuck with me after the lecture by Dr. Finwick. She introduced the topic in a creative way: a quiz. It was surprising to me, how many I got wrong. We let society persuade us that we as a race score lower on standardized test, and are not intelligent. The fact is that data is out there that proves the conceptions wrong. We are not taught the data that teaches us how to overcome and making a better way. Dr. Finwick talked about how African-Americans are underrepresented in education. There are very few African-American teachers even in inner-city areas. Some of these low numbers are due to desegregation when, “some black teachers were replaced by lesser qualified whites” (Dr. Finwick). Even though desegregation was in effect, whites tried to separate the white and black teachers. This included replacing some blacks with whites. During segregation, black teachers were well educated and the best teachers for African-American students. Dr. Finwick also discussed the misconceptions of black males and African-American students. She told us that black males scored higher than black females, white people and other races on standardized test. African-American students are more likely to be against drugs in high school than any other race (Dr. Finwick). We as the Black community must define our self and gather the data to find the truth. If we do not gather the information, we might be influenced to believe the myths that characterize us in society.

Changing Misconception

This weeks lecture by Dr. Fenwick opened my eyes to many misconceptions that we as African Americans subject ourselves to. She had use take a pop quiz before she started lecturing that had to do with positions held by African Americans in education. As we went over it after I saw that a lot of people had the misconception that blacks had a greater role than they really did. I found this very interesting. Dr. Fenwick explained that people often had these misconceptions because they were told this misinformation by other groups and just took it to be true. Dr. Fenwick said that we must question these conceptions and just take them to be true. She gave an example of wen she was at a conference and it was said that black males naturally just do not test well. She didn't just take this as the true but questioned it and did research of her own and found that this wasn't true at all. What i found most interesting about this story that she told the class was that nobody had questioned the information that was presented that said that blacks don't test well, but as soon as Dr. Fenwick discovered information that proved this information false they immediately questioned it and what resources she got this information from. This is how we should question everything. This lecture defiantly encouraged me to look critically at all the information that is presented to me and that has been  presented to me.

Miss Ever's Boys

 I went to go see Miss Ever’s Boys this week. Miss Ever Boy’s was a great depiction of the Tuskegee Experiment. In this experiment, African American sharecroppers were subject to decades of abuse from the U.S Public Health Service. Some more than four hundred men suffered the effects of syphilis for the health service’s experimental purposes. The term, “Bad Blood” was used to diagnose those men with the disease. The participants were manipulated with the promise of free medical care, meals, and free burial insurance. Even after the cure for the disease was discovered these men were never treated.

In the play, Miss Ever’s tells men, they could get tested for bad blood. Caleb Humphries, Ben Washington, and Willie Johnson, were three entertainers, with dreams of making it into the prestigious Cotton Club before the experiments had began, but by the end of the experiment they were left mentally ill, crippled, and dead. To recognize them for years and years of participation they all received a certificate from the health services. Despite Miss Ever’s close relationship with the men, and the desire to stop aiding the experiment, she continued to abuse the men with the promise of a higher position. This to me made me question her integrity. How could she continue to install false hope into these men. Overall, the play was every good and I'm glad I went to go see it.

Miss Evers' Boys

Miss Evers’ Boys was a very heart-wrenching play to say the least. The play was based on the long and cruel Tuskegee Experiments. The experiments were supposed to study the reaction of blacks to different syphilis treatments. Unfortunately, during the 1930’s racism was still at a peak so the black men involved in the experiments were seen as disposable. The experiments were not really giving participants treatments. Instead men were receiving placebos and essentially their own death certificate.

The play is entitled Miss Evers’ boys because it highlighted the demise of a group of talented entertainers- Caleb, Willie, and Ben who had named their performing act after the nurse Miss Evers. These men were infected with syphilis and attempted to receive treatments in hopes to get back on track to reach their dreams of performing at the Cotton Club. The play was complicated by the fact that the seemingly compassionate nurse Miss Evers knew that these men were going untreated but urged them to keep with the “treatment”. They were indeed her boys. Even after years of no success, they continued to follow Miss Evers advice to keep with treatment. I didn’t understand how Miss Evers allowed her own friends to undergo the mental torture, knowing that they were being given false hopes. She sat by their sides consoling them as they all physically fell apart.

The play was very emotional for me to watch not only because of the relationship between Miss Evers and the three men, but because at one point I remembered that this play was based on actual experiments that really did happen in the United States for 40 years.

Knowing the Facts to Empower Our Community

Dr. Finwick was one of my favorite speakers so far. She started out her lecture with an interesting pop-quiz. The quiz basically asked questions about drug use and education. We answered the questions based on what we all have seen and heard- Blacks use drugs and black guys especially do bad on SAT’s. What we all realized after the quiz was how much we have been mis-educated by popular unchallenged statements.

The main point of her lecture was “know the true facts and find the statistics that empower your community”. There are three steps to knowing the facts to empower our community. First, we must challenge common statements about our race. Second, we find the positive facts that disprove these myths. Third, we find the data and statistics that outline strategies and pathways to success.

Dr. Finwick stated, “Media representation of the Black community is a litany of negativity and false pathology”. Part of our charge as young scholars is to gather data about ourselves so that we are not mis-represented by non-factual myths. In order to break the media stereotypes that’s have defined our community, we have to combat the spoken false statistics with the truth, which is not as bad as we have been taught.

School and Education

In this past week’s session, my seminar class met with Dr. Leslie Fenwick. Dr. Fenwick is a highly prominent figure in the educational field and is dean to the Education department. To begin the session she gave everyone a quiz about African American statistics in regards to schools and education. After taking the quiz, Dr. Fenwick read us the real results from the Education Testing Services, in which they segregate statistics by race. The results were eye opening, and broadened my outlook on us as African Americans. She made it clear to us, “don’t talk about people of your own race because you are them,” and to, “push against the mischaracterization of our community.”

According to the data, African American males score higher on standardized tests than African American females and other female subgroups. Also 60 percent and 72 percent of Caucasians are addicted to cocaine and powdered cocaine.

Dr. Fenwick, also shared with us chapter 2 from her book entitled, “The Mist of Black Professionalism Inferiority.” What inspired this chapter was the saying that, “you have to be twice as good to get half as far.” The chapter talked about how with the integration of school came the disintegration of black authority in the educational system. Out of the 15,000 superintendants, only three percent are African American. And of the 92,000 principals in the country a mere 11 percent are African American.

One story that put things in retrospect was one about a Dr. Smith who received his Doctorates from New York University. Dr. Smith was fired and replaced by a white male with a Masters degree from a University of Georgia and 3 years of experience, as opposed to Smith’s decades of experience. In another case, a man with a Masters degree and 23 years of experience as teacher and principal was removed from his position.

Overall I thought Dr. Fenwick’s lecture was a valuable lesson.

Miss Ever's Boys

This past Wednesday, I went to go to see the play Miss Ever’s Boys. Miss Ever Boy’s was a dramatic depiction of the infamous Tuskegee Experiment, in which poor African American sharecroppers were subject to decades of abuse from the U.S Public Health Service. From 1932 to 1972, around four hundred men suffered the effects of syphilis for the health service’s experimental purposes. The term, “Bad Blood” was used to diagnose those men with the disease. The participants were manipulated with the promise of free medical care, meals, and free burial insurance. Even though the cure for the disease, penicillin, was discovered later on, the subjects remained untreated.

In the play, Miss Ever’s the black practicing nurse informed men, they could get tested for bad blood. Before the experiment, Caleb Humphries, Ben Washington, and Willie Johnson, were three lively entertainers, with dreams of making it into the prestigious Cotton Club. By the end of the experiment they were left mentally ill, crippled, and dead. To recognize them for years and years of participation they all received a certificate from the health services. Despite Miss Ever’s close relationship with the men, and the desire to stop aiding the experiment, she continued to abuse the men with the promise of a higher position.

I found the play very intriguing and informative. The acting, dancing and overall execution of the plot could not be more profound.

Continuing the Legacy

1.      What can and will you do to be a part of the "best and brightest" of Howard?

In order to be a part of the “best and brightest” of Howard, I will be involved in many clubs and organizations. Being highly involved in the school is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to become one of good standards. I will also meet lots of new people. Meeting new people will open up new doors and opportunities that can prove beneficial to my future experiences. Above all, I will make it my mission to achieve a 4.0 GPA.

2.      What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? How does your citizenship in the nation inform your world citizenry?

Being a citizen of the world means that we are inhabitants of this planet and we must uphold certain responsibilities. We must take care of our environment and respect all creatures that reside in it. Like us, they live in this world as well, and it is not fair for us to treat them as if they have no significance. My citizenship in the nation informs my world citizenry by connecting to the major issues of the world and learning about our environment.

 3.      Identify a representative thinker of Howard. How does that figure's life work inspire you to "till and turn over the soil" which, as Dr Thornton noted, is expected of each Howard student.

Since being a student at Howard University, I have had the amazing privilege to hear words of wisdom from many powerful individuals. Dr. Albert Thornton in particular, has inspired me the most to complete my education here and do something significant for this world. His talk about asking the great questions opened my eyes to the ignorance of our world and its negligence to its problems.  

Best and the Brightest

1).What can and will you do to be a part of the “best and brightest” of Howard.

To be among the “best and brightest” of Howard University I plan to first set high expectations for myself as a Howard student. In doing this I will have a focus, be motivated and have strong goals set before me. To be the best one must know what it is to be the best. And I believe to be this means I should be a hard worker, be aware of who I am as a person and like Dr. Thornton said, “Prepare yourself [myself] to lead.” Dr. Thornton also said to be the best, study, be surrounded by good friends and make yourself special.

2).What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? How does your citizenship in the nation inform your world citizenry?

To be a citizen of the world you for one, strive for the “continuation of this society”- Dr. Thornton. In continuing this society one must think for the higher learning of all people. According to Dr. Thornton Howard University has given its students the constitutional right of citizenship. As a community, everyone is entitled to become united and work together as one whole. My citizenship in the nation informs my world citizenry by giving me a voice.

3). Identify a representative thinker of Howard. How does that figure's life work inspire you to "till and turn over the soil" which, as Dr Thornton noted, is expected of each Howard student.

One representative thinker of Howard is Dr. Wright. Based on Dr. Wright’s experience as a youth growing up during the Civil Rights Movement, opportunities were not handed to them by society. Despite this the Howard University students during this time created opportunities for themselves by establishing committees, rising together, and organizing protests. This inspires me to create and take advantage of opportunities. By doing this I can “till and turn over the soil” and become a better scholar.  

“The Eloquence of the Scribes”: Initiation, Expectations, and Mastery—Continuing the Legacy of Howard University

“We will not work without a foundation of equality. We need to make substantial questions whose answers will lead to the enhancement of the human condition.” ~ Dr. Thornton

To be a part of the best and brightest at Howard it is important to stay informed and take advantage of our school’s resources. Staying informed means not only reading the newspaper or watching the news, but going the extra mile and researching current events locally and globally in the world. Taking advantage of the school’s resources means actively participating in class, connecting current events with classroom studies, addressing these issues and events in our elective organizations, and visiting the many academic centers Howard has to offer. To be among the best and brightest we must never become complacent with just learning. We must do something with what we learn.

To be a citizen of the world means to acknowledge your position as a citizen in your immediate community, state, country, and world as one role. By connecting our roles we acknowledge every problem we face in all of our communities and confront these problems on every level. For example, if we are facing a inequalities locally, we should bring it to global attention before it becomes a global problem. Also we make global problems known locally so that the issue is being tackled on every level. As a citizen of the world, we value human treatment. Any inequalities faced by our fellow citizens, is our responsibility to end. Living in the United States makes us more aware of our national citizenry and inequalities faced in the United States, but often we are ignorant to issues outside of our bubble. We think that the news we see on our television is the only thing happening in the world, when in fact the problems we endure can often be defined as miniscule compared to the conditions people are facing elsewhere in the world.

One representative thinker from Howard University that inspires me to be among the best and brightest is Alain Leroy Locke. He was the architect for the Harlem Renaissance and founded our Philosophy department. His dedication to an intense level of thinking and creativity motivates me to do the same. The Harlem Renaissance was a time where Black art was prominent, but was used to question society about human rights. If there was a way I could be involved in a movement where art or something so creative could ask those questions that lead to the enhancement of the human condition, I would feel fulfilled as a student.

"Disciplining my Experience"

What can and will you do to be a part of the “best and brightest” of Howard?

To become “the best and brightest” of Howard, I must ask questions (Dr. Thornton). I must ask questions about our education and issues regarding the human condition. In order to become the “replacement leaders of our nation”, we must prepare ourselves to surpass the achievements of past leaders to address the existing issues (Dr. Thornton). In order to prepare ourselves, we must become knowledgeable here at Howard University and transform into interpreters of our generation. If we don’t interpret our constitutional system, it will be used against us (Dr. Thornton). I must study hard, and remember the foremost reason I’m here at Howard. I must release friends that are not a benefit to where I’m going (Dr. Thornton). I must surround my self with intellectuals who are asking questions and bringing our institution into transformation. “School systems are what you ask them to be” (Dr. Thornton). Our goal should be to change the world and enhance the human condition; this should change the lack of opportunity, change the enslavement of people and change the inequalities of health care. When we become the doctors, lawyers and important figures of our generation, we must not only provide or make money, but provide to those in need and contribute to the “the best and brightest” legacy of Howard.

What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? How does your citizenship in the nation inform you world citizenry?

A citizen of the world is someone who contributes on a global standpoint, not just in their own community. They contribute to the world’s giant community of the human condition. In order to be a citizen, you must be an intellectual who uses their knowledge to enhance the state of human civilization, rather than their own circumstance. Being a citizen of a nation helps to bring previous knowledge from a personal standpoint of past achievements and failures to the big picture. What did work and what did not work in your country could help in attacking the issues of the world. We all have rights and responsibilities to participate in the movement of our people in our nation and planet.

Identify a representative thinker of Howard. How does that figure's life work inspire you to "till and turn over the soil" which, as Dr Thornton noted, is expected of each Howard student.

Ernest Just was a great African-American biologist who taught at Howard University. He studied hard to become the best intellectual and knowledgeable student he could, in order to contribute to future generations. He used his knowledge to inform students at Howard University as a professor. At Howard, he asked questions and established his legacy. He was not only a citizen of the United States, he became a citizen of the world. He not only left a legacy at Howard, he expanded his legacy to the world. For example, he traveled to many countries to work as the first American in their laboratories (ernestjustfoundation.org). This achievement was amazing to me by the fact that he was not just the first African-American; he was the first American. He chose to acknowledge his right and responsibility to participate in the movement of the world and improve the human condition. His life work encourages me to set my goals high and continually address issues of the human conditions. By coming to know Howard contributions, I can define myself at Howard, in the nation and the world; I’m moving to empower my people.

Howard Legacy

"You're apart of a great legacy here at Howard University." I've heard this statement ever since I started freshmen seminar but I never gave it much consideration until I listened to Dr. Thornton's lecture. He spoke about Howard in the past and how it has always been an institution where the students made there voice heard and used the education that they received here at Howard to better their communities and the people around them.
Dr. Thornton said something that really interest me. It was very profound. He said that we must constantly work to progress our world and our community or it will go right back to the way it was. I believe this is true because as African Americans we have had to work for the rights that we have and are constantly working to make sure we receieve the equality that we are rightfully intitled to. He also said that if we don't ask anything of our community then it won't produce anything. This to me means that it is our responsibility to ask the important questions and to search for the answers to those questions. This is very important because things will only be what we ask them to be so we should ask for the best for our community.