Dr Williams' Lecture (Week 6) by Saida Yusuf

Our last lecture was given by Dr. Dana Williams. Dr. Williams spoke to the group on how to create a good research project, which is very important information seeing as our group is going to have to come up with a research question and project that answers the question. Dr. Williams went over how to correctly formulate that question and how to go about researching it. Dr Williams helped me understand how to gain the most accurate research possible to make my project a success. Methods and the framing for our group projects were stressed as the lecture went on. Out of all the lectures given in our freshman seminar experience I would state Dr Williams as being one of the most important, because although all of the aforementioned and previous lectures were about important topics, this is a certain one we will have to deal with in our near futures. Beginning the research is one of the most important steps in achieving success with this project, so Dr Williams lecture helped me understand how to do that. All in all it was a great way to help us dive into the groundwork of our projects.

Dr. Segun Gbadegesin's Lecture (Week 5) by Saida Yusuf

For this weeks lecture, Dr. Segun Gbadegesin spoke to us about communal responsibility and self actualization. Literally, I am aware of the importance that the two terms hold in the dictionary. Communal responsibility being the duties one holds to their communities, and self actualization being aware of ones’ self, which is always important. Dr. Gbadegesin taught us about the goddess of existence, Iwa, and her importance in the African community, tying education into the mix; he also quoted Nwalimu Julius Nyerere stating “the purpose of education is to transmit from one generation to the next.” This brought a family reference to the air when I thought of what my father always tells me how he came to this country to provide for us, his children, and teaches us things that we may not learn in our lifetime because he is our father. Things specifically told to us so we can pass it on to our children. We should take note of this important quote in our lifetime, reiterating how important our ancestors, God, faith, and education are. All in all Dr. Gbadegesin’s lecture made things evident to me that I wouldn’t have thought of had I not attended this weeks beneficial seminar.

Dr. Pollard's Lecture (Week 4) by Saida Yusuf

This weeks lecture was given by Dr. Alton B Pollard III. It was on the Practices of Freedom, and he touched lightly on freedom, religion, and how these terms have changed over the years for African-Americans to assimilate to their lifestyles. For example, during the times of slavery Freedom for African-Americans meant to literally be free from enslavement to the white man. However, now, freedom can mean many things. Mental slavery exists, by listening to sexist or racist infused music, promoting the theme of women as objects, or black people being good for only the drug trade or their image as ‘thugs’. Freedom from mental slavery is also considered breaking from the norm, individuality. The definition of freedom has changed so much throughout time. Dr. Pollard also tied religion into freedom, speaking of how freedom is the bullet point for all religion in the African community. Religion was defined as being the phenomenon that occurs when a human being accepts the sacred divine into their hearts. As freedom has changed over time, can we say religion has? Personally, I don’t see this as being possible, as I practice a faith that’s texts date back to thousands of years before my time; however, who am I to speak for everyone.

Learning, Wisdom and the African World Experience - Week #1

               This week’s presentation was based primarily on African terms and symbols. Dr. Carr taught us numerous words but my favorite three were Iwa-l’ewa meaning character with beauty, Ma’at meaning truth and Sedi meaning educate. These three words are my favorite because they mean the most to me. In order to succeed in live one has to be educated either by going to college, or learning a trade or just simply learning how to survive in certain living conditions. For example, a New Yorker has to learn how to live in a big city so they can be safe throughout their daily lives. If someone were to move to New York City but still live by the same standards and conditions they lived by while living on a farm in Wisconsin that person would not be happy or safe living in NYC. Learning how to adapt in different environments is crucial. Being truthful is also a necessity. If one isn’t truthful to others then they won’t be able to deal with others. People surround themselves around people who are honest ad pleasant to be around but if you can’t tell the truth then you are limiting yourself for many job opportunities and relationships with people. In order to have a healthy relationship trust has to be present so not be truthful automatically prevents some relationships form being formed. Having a character of beauty is a great trait to have because beauty is more than just physical appearance but it’s also skin deep; true beauty shines from within. When someone’s has a character of beauty then they are an enjoyable person to be around and they make the worst things in life better. Since Dr. Carr’s speech I have been trying to posses these qualities.

Jasmine Westbrook

Research and Methodology: Inscription as a Liberating Practice - Week #6

Research and Methodology: Inscription as a Liberating Practice

Week #6

This week’s discussion helped me the most because it was directed primarily on the research aspect of this course and it showed me the steps of proper research. I have done research papers before but I didn’t have all of these tools and procedures so I know the substance of the papers could have been improved. Dr. Williams broke down our research projects into 6 main components. They are: statement of the problem/challenge, current state of research, methodology, framework, development of thesis and conclusion. Even though these components are very basic if Dr. Williams didn’t mention all 6 along with their sub components, my group (Freshmen Seminar 5) would have left it something out and that could of leading to our topic not being as great as it should be so thank you Dr. Williams. With any presentation isn’t necessary to plan out what will be addressed to the audience and how it will be presented. Methodology is the most important component in my opinion because before you research your topic you have to know how your group is going to divide the work. After that you need to know how the information will be collected and displayed. Knowing your thesis is important also but if you don’t know how to collect the data to prove your thesis correct then it’s no pint in having a thesis I the first place. The other 4 components are important so I will be sure to include them all in my group’s presentation.

Jasmine Westbrook

Research and Methodology: Inscription as a Liberating Practice

            Dr. Dana Williams was the last professor to lecture our freshman seminar class. She basically gave us the breakdown of the purpose of the class and how we should go about completing our research project. She gave us detailed instructions on how we should go about collecting data. She also told us how we should go about developing a topic to research. The topic of research was to be carefully chosen because we would have to research the topic very in depth.

            She explained that each person chosen to lecture our classes was told to present research material to us so that we could shape/frame our findings to what they had presented. The purpose of the speakers was to teach us all how to research a different subject and preset them to a lecture hall. The entire time I had been attending freshman seminar I honestly didn’t know the purpose because each speaker talked about a different topic that, in my opinion, didn’t really coincide with one another. After Professor Williams explained that the purpose was to show us how to take a question or topic, research it, and turn it into an informational lecture, it all became very clear to me.

            She also gave all of the dates each of our groups would present our projects. Gave the separate meeting places each group would go to work on our projects. Finally she read blogs from our fellow classmates as a sort of reflection of the class and how others responded to each of the lecturers.

Erin White

Omoluabi:Self Actualization and Communal Responsibility

            Dr. Segun Gbadegesin is the Associate Dean of Humanities in the College of Arts and Sciences and the professor of Philosophy. He spoke about the Ma’at cultures and traditions.  He told the story and ancient African myth of Iwa and Orunmima, the God of Wisdom, and how everyone takes on their own personal destiny. He spoke a lot about our character and the importance of having a good character. He wanted us a black youth to understand that our character is what defines us and it embodies everything we have to offer. “A man of character is a man of wealth”, he said.

            He stressed the fact that we should carry out the Ma’at lifestyle and if we did so our lives would be fulfilling. There would be no question in our motives because the Ma’at lifestyle goes untouched and unchallenged; everything done in the culture is for a special purpose. He touched upon our existence; challenged us on if we knew why we existed. If we knew what our purpose of existence was and if we were successfully fulfilling what we had been brought here to do.

            He tied his lecture into education and made it apparent that we must take full advantage of our Howard University education. Howard would help to build character and allow us to focus on getting to know ourselves better and to build our character.
Erin White

Freedom and Justice

Dr. Cain Hope Felder from the school of divinity spoke about justice and the practices of freedom in the United States. Although I could tell Dr. Cain had a very important topic and was even very enthusiastic about carrying out his lecture, it was often very difficult for me to understand a lot of things he was saying.

            I did however gather that he wanted to discredit the notion that those with darker skin are of any lesser value of whites or those of lighter skin. He spoke a lot about freedom and it having to do a lot with religion. He also said that the bible played a major part in the role of women in society.

            Justice and freedom goes hand in hand; especially dealing with African Americans. Due to discrimination there is a lack of justice when blacks are put into complicated situations. Thus taking away the freedom and placing them into the jail systems which has become modern day slavery.


Erin White

The Eloquence of The Scribes

 Dr. Benjamin gave a lecture on the importance of knowing the history of our campus. So often us as Howard students enter the buildings around us without thought. We don’t realize how important the names of each of these buildings really are. She told us about Mordecai Johnson being the first African-American president of Howard University. She went on to name Mary McLeod (Bethune Annex), Fredrick Douglass (Douglass Hall), and Ernest Everett Just (Just Hall). All of these influential African Americans played a major role in the education of blacks.

            She went through each of the sections of the Harriet Tubman Quadrangle; the freshman girl’s dorm. She briefly talked about Phyllis Wheatley; one of the youngest published African American women. Sojourner Truth; famous abolitionist, preacher, and a staunch advocate of women’s rights.  Prudence Crandall; a white woman who opened the first school for black girls.

            She went on to tell the stories of many other scribes at Howard University. Dr. Benjamin informed us that there were so many influential people with buildings as there namesakes that she couldn’t mention them all. In the short 50 minutes she had she gave all of the students a vital history lesson we will all never forget. We learned the legacy of our university and the importance of every building we enter each and everyday.
Erin White

Dr. Dunston

Dr. Georgia Mae Dunston, the founding Director of the National Humane Genome Research Center lectured on the importance of the human genome and how we as people must tap in to our entire genome instead of only using a small percentage of our genetic makeup. I learned that the research center was the only one of its kind to be on a college campus. The genome is opening up doors to worlds of knowledge that scientists never knew existed. Our genomes are what makes up the lifestyles we live and our behaviors as human beings. It is mostly important for us as African Americans because our ancestors were very strong and resourceful individuals; if we can tap into the genome in its entirety we have the ability to be very powerful individuals.

            She explained that when we have located and utilized the entire percentage of our genome instead of the small percent we have been using, we can truly live life fully; until then we are not reaching our potential of living a full life. She used the genome analogy to relate to our experience at Howard University. She was explaining to us that we are all here at this time for a reason and that we must take full advantage of it. 


Erin White

Learning, Wisdom, and The African World Experience

            Dr. Carr’s lecture was very informative and should have opened a lot of students’ minds to understanding the real value and importance of our African culture. I did not realize that Africans created and invented as many things as they did and Dr. Carr brought that to my attention. He spoke about the many finings of Africans a time long before they were enslaved. He told us how whites have fooled us all into thinking Africans were illiterate, despite the fact that they discovered astronomy, mathematics, and writing. The first language was spoken by our African ancestors.

Dr. Carr was very enthusiastic and engaging as he carried out the lecture, which held my attention and made me eager to hear every word he said. He made learning things I didn’t know about the early Africans interesting. When I left the class I wanted to know more. I learned some of the language they used, for example, Djaety: symbol of intelligence. They used hieroglyphs with words such as, Iwa pele meaning: good/right character, sedi: educate, Iwa-l’ewa: oneness of character w/ beauty.

He said, “The most serious threat to African dignity is the domain of intellectual ability” meaning that our knowledge is the greatest thing people can go after in order to destroy us. He told us that we need to transform humanity; meaning we need to come together and reverse the way things are going in our culture and generation. By motivating and informing our peers of the history of our ancestors and our actual destiny as a people. He also left us with three basic principles of learning:

1.      Be present (be there to learn)

2.      Read and write (repeat to sink it in and take time to think about it)

3.      Do what you do so well that those before/after you will mention your name.

The lecture overall was excellent and I am eager to learn so much more during our next class.


Erin White