Abandonment, Dismemberment and Reawakening - Week #2

This week’s presenter was Dr. Dunston. She spoke about the importance of human genome. It is made up of genes that are covered with DNA which is the universal code of life. Without DNA we would not be existence so this is why studying and understanding the human genome is important. She mentioned that genes are essential gifts of life and that is true because genes make up DNA. The human genome isn’t the only thing that adds to our existence. Religion has a key part. In ancient Egypt Pharaoh’s represented God on Earth so that was their religion. In Christianity there is no God on earth but there are 3 forces of God that is represented on earth. The three are speed, volume and quality. These forces add to what make us complete as human beings. This is what represents divinity on earth.

Jasmine Westbrook   

African Burial Grounds

The African Burial Ground trip was one of the most memorable moments of my first semester freshmen year at Howard University. Even though it was only one day long I’m still grateful to have been able to see the burial grounds. I’m from New York State but not New York City so I don’t have the pleasure of visiting the burial grounds on my own time so this was a life time experience. I think it’s ironic that federal building was built on top of the African burial ground because my high school was built on top of a grave yard as well. That factor made me more interested in the grave yard. Before we got there I expected to see more of open space because I didn’t know the building was presently onto of it but the video helped me to understand how the burial ground. Our tour guy knew a lot of information and was knowledgeable but it was hard to hear him sometimes because we were such a large group of people and my classmates were complaining about the cold weather. I’m not too sure of what the symbols meant on the wall so I can’t speak a lot on those but I know they represented something important. Some symbolized religious matters while others dealt with symbols from astronomy. Looking at the model skeletons in the museum made me really think about my family. I thought about us being replaced with them and it made me wonder who those people were and what they could have been. Even though the trip was short I learned more about my ancestry so my goal was achieved.

Jasmine westbrook

Civil Rights, Hip-Hop and Hope: the power of young People - Week #4

This week’s presenter spoke on how civil rights acts have transitioned from the civil rights movement to hip-hop. Various civil rights acts were mentioned such as numerous sit-ins that took place in Wichita, Kansas, Greensboro, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee. Sit-ins are organized so non-violent protesting could take place for either political reasons. During the civil rights movements sit-ins were used to stop segregation in public places like restaurants, movie theatres, museums and on public transportation. Other civil rights acts were with the Black panthers. They wanted to get racism amongst blacks in the United States. Two big names associated with the black panthers are David Hilliard and Assata Shakur. Hilliard was one of the first members of the black panthers but he was sent to jail so he was no longer the chief of staff of the black panthers. Shakur also had encounters with the law as well. It’s ironic how protesters come from being non-violent to having criminal records. It relates to how so many blacks are in gangs and are killing each other. Media often blames hip-hop and I think it has a little affect on blacks but always history is becoming more violent. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for civil rights with love and peace and we would turn in his grave if he saw how times have changed. Jadakiss’ song called “Why” is a perfect song explain how today’s world is.  He speaks on the real problems in the black community such as crime, violence and poverty. We need to work on this so Martin Luther King’s dream can truly come true.

Jasmine Westbrook

Self Evaluation

I know that the purpose of freshmen seminar was to work on our research skills and to make us more acquainted with our ancestry and African roots. I understood the purpose of the class but I don’t think the goals that were set were made. In other schools my friends had to do more projects so the class was hands on so they were forced to learn then we were. I understand it was just a 1 credit class but I think raising it to 3 credits and requiring more work would be more beneficial to us as students. We would actually take interest in it and learn about our roots instead if writing up a quick synopsis of a 45 lecture. A lot of the freshmen, including me, think that this class was pointless. I say this with the upmost respect but we did not learn much. The African Burial Ground trip was where I learned the most and had the most fun because it was hands on and we weren’t stuck in a auditorium being lectured to.

My performance in this class was not the best but I put everything last because it was only worth 1 credit and the blogs were tedious. I think I could have posted the blogs on time but I let them slip but now they are all getting caught up. Next year I think freshmen seminar should be more credits so students would take it seriously and so they would obtain information by doing more work than we had to do.

Jasmine Westbrook

The Eloquence of the Scribes - Week #3

This week’s presenter spoke on the history of the names of the buildings at Howard University. All of our buildings from dormitories to academic buildings are named after important scribes who helped shape our Black community. For instance, Howard University is names after General Oliver Otis Howard. He was a union civil war general who tried to protect blacks from harsh conditions during slavery by using his religious polices. This is a great person to have a prestigious university like Howard to be names after because he represented greatness. We also were given the names and brief bios of a majority of influential people in history. One great person that is recognized on campus is Harriett Tubman. I’m proud to be staying in the dormitory that honors her because if she wouldn’t of lead slaves on the underground rail road then I don’t think African Americans would be as developed as we are. I’m pretty sure that we would be out of slavery but many events in history that lead to our equal rights would have been delayed and Howard University would not be what it is today. One building that I often go into for classes in Douglass hall. It’s named after abolitionist Fredrick Douglass. He was important in black history not only because he was an abolitionist but because he also was an escaped slave who became a writer. He set an example for other slaves to follow and gave them hope. Taking classes in that building makes me know that I need to achieve excellence just like my ancestors.

Jasmine Westbrook

Omoluabi: Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility - Week #5

This week’s presenter was Segun Gbadegesin. He spoke on the importance of education and respect in the African culture. To enhance the importance of education he picked two words that both have 2 syllables then he said the words and then he had the beat of it played on the djembe drum. I found this fascinating because I enjoy listening to African drums while I African dance so this reminded me of dance. Also I like to I have some prior knowledge if it. One of the stories he told us about was the story of Iwa. The moral of the story is to treat women with respect and don’t take things for granted.  

I think this is a great moral not only because I’m a young woman and I like to be treated with respect, but because it’ll help you get far in life. If you are respect versus being liked then you will reach your goals and have people who believe in you that also support you. The principles of Ma’at were also addressed and I believe they prepare you for success. The principles are truth, justice, order, balance and harmony. If some of these principles aren’t met then I don’t believe a person would be living a successful life. For example, life without truth is just filled with lies and deceit. If there is no order or balance in one’s life when they are not steady in a path or do not know where there are going. Some people like living on the edge but too much edge is a unhealthy way of living.   

Jasmine Westbrook

Presentation #2

To Clone or not to Clone

               One of the groups presented on cloning. One interesting fact that I learned was that the first animal that has ever been cloned was in 1952, and it was a tad pole. I had always thought that Dolly was the first animal cloned but she was the first mammal to be cloned form a somatic adult cell. This let researchers know that cloning did not stop at a certain age. In 2003 when the human genome was cloned researchers learned that humans could be cloned but this caused controversy.  Cloning is unethical so to prevent any problems in the United States Clinton disallowed federal dollars for cloning. Clinton was more considerate then other officials because cloning is banned in 23 others such as the United Nations and France. Some people agree with cloning because some benefits are so sterile families can have offspring and so people can be created for organ donating. Even though there are a few benefits of cloning the disadvantages are much more severe. Diversity amongst human beings will be cut down if human cloning takes place being eventually everybody will have the same genetic makeup and they will attract the same diseases and illness. After a while races would disappear and everyone would begin to look alike. Another negative affect is that clones may become looked down as by human beings or a war between the two could start. In history wars have started between two types of people so this is a possible outcome. Personally I think cloning is a bad idea because diversity is a good thing to have. If everyone is the same then diseases spread quicker and life is boring. I enjoy meeting people with different back grounds and different experiences so if everyone was the same life would be different for the worse.

Jasmine Westbrook