The play Miss Evers’ Boys took place in the 1930s Alabama. This was a time when racism still existed especially in the southern states. The play is about the consequences of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment. There where hundreds of black men that were misled by the government into believing that they were undergoing treatment for syphilis. These men were lured into a “Medicaid” type program. They were only being allowed to die. If they died then the deterioration would be documented. When they first started this experimentation they knew first hand that it was immoral and illegal.
The government plays a big part in this because they actually misled illiterate black men who didn’t know any better. One of the most horrible things about this play is that this went on for forty years before it was investigated. Even though this is hard to watch, it's an important part of American history and shows how people's ignorance can harm others. From this I started thinking about European diseases and how the purpose was to kill the African American Race. One of the main ones are HIV/AIDS. From seeing this play it makes me think about all the things that have happened to African Americans and how the government went all long with it such as slavery. One thing I know is anger will not solve anything we as blacks need to come together to make a change.
Niesha S.Bush
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Practices of Freedom and Justice: A Charge to Keep
Who ever came up with the idea of the Leap program did an awesome job because Ms. Kimberly Worthy talked about how the school creates an empowering educational environment that enables each learner to develop fully as a human being with a positive caring lifestyle, and healthy work ethic. This is very important because each student has the opportunity to open up and not be afraid of what the world has to offer. The purpose of the school was mainly to ensure each student academic success but it also helps socially and emotionally.
The effort to live by “Ubuntu” can enhance teaching, learning, and the overall quality of life of the community because it’s a code of good deeds. The codes are things like being honest, look good, never give up, etc. These are the things that make a great community long as the people follow the code, “Ubuntu”.
Although places in Africa are not safe the students are inspiring because they score off the charts on test. From this I get the idea that they don’t let their circumstances defeat them in getting an education. Another important thing about the Leap Program is the validation of cultural experiences. It is a place of not being ashamed, as they say abandon all fears. This is great thing because having fear can actually harm a person in the long run. Also Ms. Kimberly talked about how they correct each other when they are wrong. This only allow them to become better people. One of the things that really caught me was the part about not having clocks. Africans feel that clocks are an European thing. With a clock I think it actually stop the learning process which is like breaking a bond or separation. Just by the results from the students test shows how powerful the Leap program is.
Niesha S. Bush
The effort to live by “Ubuntu” can enhance teaching, learning, and the overall quality of life of the community because it’s a code of good deeds. The codes are things like being honest, look good, never give up, etc. These are the things that make a great community long as the people follow the code, “Ubuntu”.
Although places in Africa are not safe the students are inspiring because they score off the charts on test. From this I get the idea that they don’t let their circumstances defeat them in getting an education. Another important thing about the Leap Program is the validation of cultural experiences. It is a place of not being ashamed, as they say abandon all fears. This is great thing because having fear can actually harm a person in the long run. Also Ms. Kimberly talked about how they correct each other when they are wrong. This only allow them to become better people. One of the things that really caught me was the part about not having clocks. Africans feel that clocks are an European thing. With a clock I think it actually stop the learning process which is like breaking a bond or separation. Just by the results from the students test shows how powerful the Leap program is.
Niesha S. Bush
Miss Evers' Boys
Miss Evers' Boys is a play about the very essence of racism. Not the classic form of racism that we see every day-the product of classic Jim Crow-but racism as more than just a social function. The scene was set in the 1930's. Slavery had ended but there still lived a large number of uneducated African Americans undergoing numerous social issues. The main issue of the play was the spread of syphilis; primarily in African Americans. The government played a large part in this social injustice by permitting doctors to deceive illiterate African Americans in order to use their bodies for an unsafe experiment.
What is most angering about this play was the audacity of the American government to blatantly lie to African Americans to use them for experiments. They subjected them to harmful treatments such as back shots and mercury rubs to attempt to cure them; however, even after a safe, effective cure had been discovered they would not make it available to the patients.
These misgivings continued all the way until the 1970's, and the debt against African Americans involved amounted to a measly $10 million settlement. Just 40 years ago, America was still committing inhumane transgressions against the oppressed.
Although unjust experiments aren't being held on African American's today, a lot of underprivileged are still not receiving adequate health care. How is this not another form of modern racism?
In conclusion, this play successfully ignited an unforgiving anger within me. Not anger for revenge, but anger to make a change.
Kristen Bailey
What is most angering about this play was the audacity of the American government to blatantly lie to African Americans to use them for experiments. They subjected them to harmful treatments such as back shots and mercury rubs to attempt to cure them; however, even after a safe, effective cure had been discovered they would not make it available to the patients.
These misgivings continued all the way until the 1970's, and the debt against African Americans involved amounted to a measly $10 million settlement. Just 40 years ago, America was still committing inhumane transgressions against the oppressed.
Although unjust experiments aren't being held on African American's today, a lot of underprivileged are still not receiving adequate health care. How is this not another form of modern racism?
In conclusion, this play successfully ignited an unforgiving anger within me. Not anger for revenge, but anger to make a change.
Kristen Bailey
Practices of Freedom and Justice: A Change To Keep
This week's lecture focused on the functionality of teaching; more specifically the many effective techniques of teaching children of different races. One main point is the five main tenets of teaching African Americans. These include African logic, African epistemological styles (symbols, images, rhythm), African axiology (values/relationships), and cultural visibility in the curriculum. All these factors naturally play an important role in the education of African American's. If we are not able to relate to the material how would we be able to value it.
Another key point was culturally relevant teaching. The school systems must teach children from an alternative paradigm, one that validates and exalts culture. The days of forced assimilation and the colonial classroom are long gone; thus, we must make it a priority to teach the youth to value their culture as well as the culture of others. Instead of tearing the culture down and degrading traditions as we have done in the past, we must now use facets of these cultures to educate.
A third point was communal responsibility. As we have learned in previous lectures, this is a big part of what Howard tries to endure in its students. With these three initiatives, America can make a huge impact in educating its disadvantaged.
Kristen Bailey
Another key point was culturally relevant teaching. The school systems must teach children from an alternative paradigm, one that validates and exalts culture. The days of forced assimilation and the colonial classroom are long gone; thus, we must make it a priority to teach the youth to value their culture as well as the culture of others. Instead of tearing the culture down and degrading traditions as we have done in the past, we must now use facets of these cultures to educate.
A third point was communal responsibility. As we have learned in previous lectures, this is a big part of what Howard tries to endure in its students. With these three initiatives, America can make a huge impact in educating its disadvantaged.
Kristen Bailey
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The Eloquence of the Scribes
This week's presentation, led by Dr. Thornton, was about self-actualization and recognizing our past in order to effectively plan for our future. He elaborated on how history repeats itself, and that in order to be successful in the future we have to strive for excellence.
Here at Howard University, we have an excellent staff, full of top-rate professors. The game plan is drawn out for us, we just have to create our own lane and work hard to achieve the goals that we set for ourselves. Being that we are already climbing the ladder of success by attending a university, we owe it to those that came before us, and those to come after us to succeed in our endeavors. As African-American students, it is important to give back to our community.
I feel that if I had to choose a profound representative thinker of Howard University, I would pick Dr. Carr. Dr. Carr is not only an a profound professor, but an excellent motivator. He has the ability to make a 50 minute class feel like 15 minutes. Aside from being a great professor inside of the classroom, Dr. Carr also participates in numerous community service activities and organizations. He has inspired so many Howard University students with his teachings, and I am honored to have listened to him speak. My wish is that I can be an influential member of our society, so that I can give back to my school and my community.
The Eloquence of the Scribes
This weeks lecture focused around the concept of Self-Actualization. Self-actualization can be described as the search for truth and service. This topic required introspection of the part of the audience.
What can I do to be a part of the best and the brightest at Howard? Being a university, striving academically is an obvious prerequisite for being part of the "best and the brightest", but there are also other facets of life at a university that students should excel in. These include community service and extracurricular activities. Community service is not only a leisurely activity, but a requirement for educated African Americans. It is our responsibility to attempt to better the African American community as a whole. We can do this by joining organizations based on improving important issues and spreading awareness.
To be a citizen of the world means to be socially and politically responsible; not only for oneself but also the surrounding community by making ones voice heard. It means being informed about issues the affect the world as a whole and working to improve them.
Representative thinkers of Howard University who have impacted me most would be the professors in the chemistry department; more specifically Dr. Hosten and Dr. Raghavan. This is because they are truly invested in the education of their students. They go above and beyond to provide extra resources for their students success while at the same time the take on a somewhat parental role by standing back and letting us learn by making mistakes in the lab. Their approach for teaching is helpful guidance. They offer key advice, but let us take the reigns in our learning.
Kristen Bailey
What can I do to be a part of the best and the brightest at Howard? Being a university, striving academically is an obvious prerequisite for being part of the "best and the brightest", but there are also other facets of life at a university that students should excel in. These include community service and extracurricular activities. Community service is not only a leisurely activity, but a requirement for educated African Americans. It is our responsibility to attempt to better the African American community as a whole. We can do this by joining organizations based on improving important issues and spreading awareness.
To be a citizen of the world means to be socially and politically responsible; not only for oneself but also the surrounding community by making ones voice heard. It means being informed about issues the affect the world as a whole and working to improve them.
Representative thinkers of Howard University who have impacted me most would be the professors in the chemistry department; more specifically Dr. Hosten and Dr. Raghavan. This is because they are truly invested in the education of their students. They go above and beyond to provide extra resources for their students success while at the same time the take on a somewhat parental role by standing back and letting us learn by making mistakes in the lab. Their approach for teaching is helpful guidance. They offer key advice, but let us take the reigns in our learning.
Kristen Bailey
Saturday, October 1, 2011
The Eloquence of the Scribes
I found this week's lecture very interesting. Dr. Alvin Thornton is a very powerful speaker and is very engaging to listen to. To be the best and brightest at Howard University we must prepare ourselves for the future and confront what lies ahead of us. Dr. Thornton stressed the aspect that history repeats itself so with that being said we already know what's going to take place and can equip ourselves to take on the future.
Dr. Thornton stated a quote that was very powerful, "It is out of truth we get freedom." We gain our citizenship through knowledge. We become citizens of the world when we open to ourselves to not only what is in front of us, but what is around us also. Through knowledge we are free. We must make our own definitions of certain morals or someone will soon make them for us. Ignorance will only cause us to lose all freedoms.
Dr. Carr is a perfect example of someone at Howard who is a representative thinker. Dr. Carr empowers all he speaks to with the motivation to reach back in time and discover themselves so that they can transform the future. When Dr. Carr spoke to my freshman seminar class, I was instantly interested in finding more information about my ancestors and my history and not only being a student at Howard ,but a student who will transform Howard.
Out of all the lectures we have had thus far, I find Dr. Carr and Dr. Thornton's lectures most interesting. I leave having a feeling of wanting to be something bigger than myself. I really enjoy that feeling. :-)
Jesseca Farr
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