“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.