My Comments on Other Blogs

Beezy said...

I'm glad you mentioned "self-responsibility of education." A lot of times, I find myself blaming others for my educational downfalls, instead of looking at what i can do to improve the situation. Just because the teacher didn't cover a certain subject in class, is it not my responsibility to find understanding of the subject on my own? Just because I stayed up all night studying and overslept for class, is it the teacher's responsibility to let me make up the work? No, it isn't. I have to take responsibility for my own education. And it starts with letting go of excuses and taking responsibility for my own education.

(Comment on Albert Ellis’s post, “Convocation Speech,” Thursday, October 14, 2010)

Beezy said...

You're right, Haikeem. It's funny how a nation built on Christian principles can have a problem with saying that line. What kind of Christian is ashamed to say that God rules over their nation? It's crazy that a pastor, a leader of the church, can set such a bad example to other Christians. As a Christian, we should love and accept everyone, even if we don't agree with or love the things that they do.

(Comment on Haikeem Johnson’s post, “One Nation, Under GOD,” Friday, September 10, 2010)

Beezy said...

I totally agree with you on this. This class has helped me grow as a writer, too. Through discussions in class, I have learned to dig deeper when writing and get into detail about the subject. I've learned to write with a purpose, and to ask questions when writing. I, too, hope that I can grow more before the end of the semester.

(Comment on Dominique Alexis’s post, “Self-Assessment,” Thursday, October 14, 2010)

Beezy said...

I agree with your definition of success. Although I did not attend convocation, I was able to hear some of the inspiring things Dr. Carson had to say while listening to him online. I definitely believe that one must lead by example, and Dr. Carson showed that by taking the time out to speak to us.

(Comment on Jordan Bailey’s post, “Ben Carson Convocation,” Thursday, September 30, 2010)

Beezy said...

So right. As a freshman, it's so easy to feel unsure and scared about every little decision we make. I, too, find myself questioning everything. It was so inspiring to realize that the man who is leading our country has been through the same thing and still feels it sometimes.

(Comment on Erin White’s post, “Inspiration,” Friday, September 17, 2010)

Presentation

Should I be labeled by my color, or answer to what you call me?
Should I just ignore your title of my race, politically correct or not?
Should I feel less than because I am Black, Colored, Negro?
What my ancestors didn't really have a choice in what they would answer to, but now, I have the opportunity to choose who I am.
I will no longer be a second-class citizen, judged first by my appearance, the mocha skin that you see, the wide nose, and thick lips that are so characteristic of my people.
I will no longer let you ignore my intellect, criticize my character, omit my opinions, or turn a deaf ear to my truths.
You want me to lose myself.
You want me to get lost in the me that you want me to be.
So should I be who you me to be, or should I just do me?

Letter to Raise Awareness

Important Person

Somewhere important

Washington, DC 12345

Dear Important:

                There aren’t enough of us. There aren’t enough minority youths pursuing education in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.  As an undergraduate electrical engineering major at Howard University, I know that African-Americans, particularly females, are severely under represented in this field. In my entire freshman class, only five females are in electrical engineering. Of those five young women, only three of them are expected to stay in the engineering field. This is a problem. Our young African-American women are more than capable of studying in these fields. The disconnect lies in exposure. There must be more programs to expose young people to all of the fields that they can pursue in STEM. This is why I propose an after school program dedicated to showing youth all that is possible with a degree in one of these fields. The program can be very simple, showing students the different projects that they can do, from building robots and computer programs to designing bridges and prosthetics. There is such a wide range of things available, and it all starts at getting them involved while they’re young. I will be in your office early next week to discuss the prospect of this program through your institution. Please contact me if you have any immediate questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Bethany Robinson

What is in a Name?

Something that's really boggling my mind right now is the topic of what African-Americans should be called. Black, African-American, Afro-American, Negro...it's all so confusing. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's, Negro was the new term, a step of in dignity from being referred to as a colored or the n-word. Then, as we continued to "fight the power," the simple term "black" became the most socially acceptable. But now, as a student at Howard University, I see African-American and Afro-American everywhere. Is it really that important? I'm not sure, but I know that whatever I am called, I won't let a name define me.

Environmental Justice

The forum on environmental justice was more than anything a eye opener. It reminded me of how important issues get swept under the rug just because the media doesn't want us to know what's going on or because they see it as old news. One issue of particular interest to me is the air pollution in Mossville, Louisiana. I can relate because I am from Louisiana, and have driven through the area several times, so I know how bad the conditions are. I am now inspired to get involved in anyway I can with Ms. Roberts to help these people.

Blog #5 (Self-Assessment)

In my blog posts over the past few weeks, my blogs have typically been about President Barack Obama and race relations. This has been a large topic in our class discussions, and I have felt that it was important to also express my opinions through my blog. One thing that really surprised me as I reread my work is my deeper understanding of Obama. Before I began writing this blog, I knew little about my president compared to the knowledge of him that I now have. Of course, I knew little pieces of his biography-he was mixed race, raised in Hawaii by his white grandparents-but after reading Dreams from My Father, I can now see the total picture, and how it has made him into the great leader that he is today. One change that I noticed in the progression of my blog is that as I went along, I began to be more detailed in my blog posts. Because I became interested in the topic, it made it easier to write more thoroughly about the subject. The aspect of my weekly blog that I value the most is the freedom to express my truth, what matters to me. The blog began to feel more like a journal than just an English class assignment. It became personal, an outlet for me to discuss things that were important to me that isn't usually talked about in my everyday conversations.

My experience writing research essays for this class has been both a good and bad one. I feel that I have grown as a writer through the papers I have written in this class, mostly due to the resources that were available to me as I wrote. Office hours were an excellent way for me to see exactly what the teacher was looking for, and to achieve that goal. Another resource I found useful as I wrote essays was the Writing Center. I feel like being able to talk one-on-one with another student who knows exactly how to help you, whether it is with grammaticism or developing an idea, is an invaluable tool. One negative of writing research essays for this is class is that I don’t feel that I adequately understand all the concepts introduced this semester, particularly the different types of expository writing. I also don’t feel like I learned anything more about using technology through this class. In terms of using a global perspective when writing, I think that this class has definitely helped me to think more in terms of all groups of color, from Black to Latino, using a more global perspective as I approach writing about race relations.

Obama as Community Organizer

“If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress.” These words, penned by President Barack Hussein Obama II, summarize our president’s belief that if we continue to work for change, it will come. This is a principle that Obama has held from the beginning. Early in President Barack Obama’s career, he worked as a community organizer in Chicago’s poverty-stricken Southside. Today, Obama serves as the first African-American President of the United States. There are many similarities between Obama as community organizer and Obama as president.  He is still a man of the people, dedicated to his cause, and hopeful.  Although his job is now on a more global scale, President Barack Obama still has much in common with the young, ambitious community leader that he was in Chicago.

Trip to Kenya

Barack Obama travels to Kenya before law school in an attempt to discover more about his heritage and his family. He uses this opportunity to search for healing in the knowledge of his father. Sisters, brothers, and particularly Barack's grandmother, give him insight into the man that his father really was. Obama's paternal family is close, loving, and very welcoming, although the actions of his father has plagued the family with problems and bitterness. Overall, Barack Obama's trip to Kenya gave him insight into who he is, although it raised many other questions that may never be answered.

Being Mixed Race

Obama discusses being mixed race as an inescapable trap. Ray teaches Obama that black people have to be tough in order to not get ran over, and that growing up in Hawaii had not properly prepared him to be black. Obama had learned to discern when to be black and when to be white, with no coherence of his two races. When he meets Joyce, he finds that the problem with her, and other black people like her, is that they lose part of being black by attempting to get “lost in the crowd.” They would still always be treated differently, no matter how expensive their clothing or perfect their English.

Blog #2

Earlier today, President Obama told a White House news conference of fears that voters may blame him for the poor economy. Although the economy has been showing improvement, it has been a long, slow process. And, because the Democrats currently have control of the legislature, he understands that voters may find him at fault for the poor economy and rising unemployment rates. Obama seemed very defensive during the conference, but remained firm in his belief that his plans for the economy are working. He called for more support from the voters, and more cooperation from the Republicans, who have made the process very difficult by rejecting many of the proposals put forth by the Democrats. Obama contends that the "dreadful economy has made it hard to demonstrate real progress."


Works Cited
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100910/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama

Building the ‘More Perfect Union’ in America

More than 200 years after the writing of the Constitution, America is still struggling to create a “more perfect union.” Racism has continued to keep our country divided and has stopped America from being able to reach some shared goals, i.e. better health care, jobs, and schools for all people. Our bruised history, from slavery to segregation, has made it hard for people among different races to unite and focus on achieving our common objectives. According to President Barack Obama, it is everyone’s responsibility to move on from the past. But what can we, as African-Americans, do to improve race relations in the United States? It starts with breaking free from the bondage of the past, and not letting it control our futures. While we do not have the power to change what has happened, we do have the ability to take responsibility for ourselves. African-Americans can start now, demanding more from ourselves and the people in our communities. Even when faced with discrimination and prejudice, we control how we react, and how we teach our children to react also. We must reach out to the people of races, and strive for unity in America. We have the power to narrow the gap between the races, and it is ultimately our responsibility to do so, for ourselves, and for future generations.

Obama, Barack. “A More Perfect Union.” National Constitution Center, Philadelphia.  18 March 2008. Speech.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU