Friday was an amazing experience for me. Even though I was extremely tired from studying the night before I managed to show up for convocation. I was very proud of myself especially after hearing all the inspirational thoughts of the board at Howard. I learned that UNCF is trying to increase the amount of minorities who attend college and actually graduate. I also learned that, the number of minorities who attend college is fairly low. We ass a community should try to enforce the importance of education on teens. Minorities fought to hard and for too long to just not seek education as their primary goal. All success is from a good education. In addition, he spoke about alumni giving back to their schools to give the economically disadvantaged the privilege to attend school. I learned that HBCU's need to work harder on recruiting minorities to attend their universities so that more minorities could be educated. Lastly, he made a very inspiration point when he said there's people who want things and do what ever to achieve it and then they’re those who just want and don't achieve.

Convocation

Out of the 130,000 African American who receive Bachelor's degrees annually, only 26,000 receive them from HBCU's.

The current unemployment rate of African Americans with college degrees is 8%
The current unemployment rate of Whites with college degrees is 4%
Only 30-35% of African American Males are currently pursuing a college degree.


These are three statistics that UNCF President Lomax brought up. It really bothered me.

President Lomax stated that it proved two very important things. One, that racism does still exist, and two, "only the best and the brightest are encouraged to aspire to earn a college degree."

President Lomax also stated that academic opportunities should be granted disregarding race, religion, sexual orientation, and national origin. However, I feel that one very important thing was left off of that list and it is something I feel that contributes tremendously to reason that many blacks decide not to attend HBCU's. Acacemic opportunities should also be granted with a disregard to economic status.

I found it extremely ironic that a convocation, a blessing upon the school, was taking place without know who all would be "blessed". The issue of the purge was still up in the air at the time of convocation and students were not sure whether they would be able to stay or leave the University. Yet, some were required to attend an event which (at that point) had nothing to do with them. President Lomax personally stated, "Students are customers that can take their money elsewhere."

I personally am on a scholarship because I decided to let my brain pay for college since my family did not have the luxury of affording it. Though I could not literally take my "money" elsewhere, I could take my "brain" elsewhere. To the likes of Stanford or Cornell. Thus, I would be contributing to the statistic of earning a college degree at a non HBCU.

If the UNCF really wants this statistic to change, they must first encourage the member schools themselves to develop a desire for brains as priority and not money.

-Britni Cuington

Convocation

How lovely it was to not have classes on a wonderful Friday. I was so excited to have a relaxing day. Although the thought of convocation crushed my feeling of relaxation, I made my way to Crampton Auditorium. Hoping not to be disappointed by the ceremony, I walked in and found myself a seat. Convocation is nothing what i thought it would be. I was awaiting a seriously boring and waste of my time speech from so monotone person (excuse my imagination). But instead I felt great about the ceremony. It was seriously nice. It was very welcoming and enjoyable. I enjoyed the university choir, maybe because my friends are in that choir, but all in all, it was wonderful. I left the ceremony feeling welcomed and inspired to succeed. I realized the importance of scholastic excellence in every endeavor and being satisfied with the quality of education that I am receiving here at Howard University. The convocation served as a nice “welcome home” gift for the freshman class of 2015.

Practices of Freedom and Justice: The Black Diaspora

Dr. Richard Wright mentioned something that really changed the way I looked at ignorance in the African American community: "There is no such thing as a black, ignorant person unless that person willingly acted as an accomplice to the oppressor."

I fee that Dr. Wright meant that ignorance is a voluntary action. I also believed he proved it when he told us about an event that happened in the fall of 1961.


Malcolm X, a voice for the people, came to Howard University that same day to argue the point that intellectuals hold the responsibility to educate and motivate the less educated and politically unaware. Malcolm X stated, "It is your [student's] "responsibility to use your intellect for the liberation of our people."  Malcolm X's statements were poignant enough  to influence the actions of all Howard University and turn the student body until political activists.


The lasting point that Dr. Wright made was the importance of activism in our everyday lives. Dr. Wright encouraged us to "include activism as a part of your education," and do not wait until you have graduated to become active, "drop your bucket where you are."

-Britni Cuington

INSPIRATION

So far I would have to say Thursday's seminar was by far the best seminar I have attended. It was absolutely the most inspiring seminar. This weeks seminar was given by Dr. Richard Wright. He has been through the times of segregation and he spoke to us about his experiences.

Dr. Wright said one very mind boggling thing " The decline of the education of Black people came with the end of segregation". When this was said i immediately thought that he was saying segregation was best so that we, Black people, will learn more and and have a hunger for education. As I thought about the statement more it started to make sense. Blacks wanted to learn and wanted to show themselves when we were seperated. We wanted to show that we can learn as much and more than white people. but when segregation ended black people started to see that they were becoming equal to whites now they do not have to strive so much to be equal.

So yes our hunger for eduction, for a change in life has died a but. But from his lecture I feel he recindled a flame into our, the students, spirits. He has put a voice into our head that says "steadily make a change". And my hinger to be a leader and to change the University and maybe even this country has grown trumedously from Dr. Wright.

" As educated intellectuals it is our responsibilty to use our intellect to liberate our people. If we do not liberate our people we are useless intellects."

-Kapri Robinson

CONVOCATION

Friday seemed like a great day to sleep in since classes were cancelled; however, we had to attend the convocation. At first, I dreaded the thought of having to wake up on a morning that I had no classes to attend an assembly in the auditorium. We were already in the second month of school; did we really need a welcoming?

The convocation was much more than I expected. It did not just only welcome us to Howard University but it also introduced us to many important facts. For one, we as Americans of color must make it our priority to earn college degrees in order to compete in the corporate world. The UNCF is working to double the number of African American graduates; however, we cannot stop here. We, as blacks, should be focused on what we CAN do and not what we CAN’T do in order to make a better future for ourselves today.

“In reality, some HBCU’s are weak, some are well, and some are soaring”. HBCU’s should be recognized for work they have done in the past and the work they are still in the process of in order to produce more black college graduates. “Our colleges must continue to modernize, organize, and manage in order to produce powerful results”. Howard University has always been a leading HBCU; however, Howard needs its alumni. Only 11% of alumni give back to the university. With the giving back from the alumni, Howard will be able to fund more programs and give out more scholarships. The future of HBCUs is in our hands.

-Carina F. <3

Practices of Freedom and Justice

This week’s topic for Freshman Seminar was “Practices of Freedom and Justice: The Black Diaspora”. The main focus was blacks’ cry for freedom and justice. Now in a new continent, blacks were now faced with mistreatment and segregation. However, this strengthened the blacks. This segregation forced them to come together as one in order to help one another for a similar cause. They came together as their own community, helping each other and considering each other family.

Another focus brought up was the importance of an education in the black community. Education serves as a building block, strengthening the foundation of the blacks. With an education, blacks were able to become more than their ancestors ever dreamed of. It helped them to succeed in life and it continues today. It is important for us to get an education, especially since it was kept from us in the past. Blacks were not allowed to have an education and now that we have the right to, we should take advantage of it.

Straying away from the past, Dr. Wright brought up the idea of "purging" students who were not able to meet their financial needs. His first argument was that "purge" was not a proper term to be used when making reference to the students of Howard University. "Purge" has a negative meaning to it and he insisted a better word be used. Also, how can we as blacks make something better for ourselves if we are prohibited to do so because of insufficient time to meet finances. The university raised the tuition 12% but did not give enough time for students to earn that 12% from elswhere, putting a number of students at risk of being "purged". However, after consultation, the university decided to not "purge" the students but instead, give them until the beginning of the spring semester to meet their financial needs.

- Carina F. <3

Were we worth the fight ?

This week in freshman seminar we explored a more recent stage of oppression that African Americans faced. We discussed segregation and its effect on the black community. When Dr. Wright spoke about segregation, the three points that stuck out to me the most during the lecture was that segregation helped the black community, that people of color were more eager to learn that teens today, and the new generation at Howard University are not inspired to change the injustices that go on at their own campus.

When Dr. Wright said segregation helped people, I was quite confused because from what I learned in was a horrible time for colored people. He made me realize that colored people needed segregation to unite them. By segregation occurring all colored united and helped each other and protected each other from the oppression. This made me realize that everything happens for a reason, if it wasn’t for segregation, colored people would have never fought for their rights and I probably wouldn’t be considered “equal” today.

Secondly, Dr. Wright discussed the colored peoples eagerness to learn and do good in school; unlike the way our generation is today. Back during the time of segregation people sent their kids to school and not doing your best wasn’t an option. Nowadays, minorities are failing in school drastically and dropping out is common. I don’t understand why during the times of inequality and suffering minorities strived for success to be free from oppression. But now that we are free, we don’t use everything that our ancestors fought for. Its like they fought for our freedom for nothing.

Lastly, the idea that our generation are not inspired to change the injustices that go on at our own campus really hit me; the fact that our school is now making it harder to receive a college education. They raise our tuition last minute and expect us to have the money to pay it. The financial aid office doesn’t give out great financial aid packages. Finally, they are going to purge anyone who doesn’t pay their tuition. To not allow a large percent of their student body to attend classes due to money is absurd. But we, Howard University’s “legacy” sit and do nothing.