Response to Professor Segun Gbadegesin

My first semester at Howard I was petrified that I would get a professor with a thick accent that I could not understand so I prayed over and over again and over analyzed that opinions of biased peers on ratemyprofessor.com to assure that this wouldn't happen, and it successfully did not until Dr. Gbadegesin.

However, after twenty minutes of deciphering what he was saying the first five minutes of his introduction I was finally able to get the hang of understanding his accent and overall I am glad because he a lot of important lessons and stories to bestow to our freshman seminar class.

Upon telling us the story of IWA, the moral that was portrayed is that you cannot lose you Iwa (existence/character) or you lose everything. This statement is more than truthful and it is obvious that even though this story of IWA is not apart of our contemporary black culture, this moral is universal. In school we are not taught the multiple sources of knowledge of existence and moral issues; instead we are taught that these moral standards are taught by the Artistoles, Socrates and Jesus'. There is always a constant issue in which we, as Blacks, are misrepresented and always made out to be less important and intellectual than which we actually are. How can our youth be expected to be proud of themselves and their people and follow standards that were presented as never having been for them or discovered by them? 

Professor Gbadegesin also goes on to define wisdom for us as how we use our knowledge and money to benefit others (the community) and not just for personal gain and greed.  This is also a moral lesson that we as blacks need to follow. Way too many of us become wealthy and "forget where we came from" as we buy expensive jewelry, cars and clothes just to impress people who do not really care for us at all. If we were to donate/invest even a minute fraction of the money that we utilize for our wardrobes we could make small but impacting changes in our communities; if we showed that we care, we could change the world but we need invest to gain a sense of community again in order to do this. During this lecture we were given the quote: "a man of character is a man of wealth." To me I believe this means that if we have a character that is made up of integrity and community action, we are already wealthy and we will be blessed by God and good Karma as opposed to if we just selfishly act and help no one, even if we have the means.


Daisa Gainey
Sociology '14

(9/22/10) RE: Civil Rights, Hip Hop and Hope

The strength of youth and our generation to make a change if we see a problem is constantly being highlighted, and past historical moments and eras show just how strong we can be if motivated properly. The Civil Rights movement was a time when blacks (young blacks specifically) decided to band together for a positive cause. in the Civil Rights, young children-young adults withstood the violence against them during the movement as they stood for change and did no give up regardless of the various threats that were thrown their way or the violence that was implemented on them. Professor Pollard also shared his definition of freedom as the community responsibility not only individual rights. The Civil Rights Movement was also not marked by groups like The Black Panther Party but also by groups of people under Motown Recording Company who was the house of people like The Temptations, Sam Cooke, Diana Ross and James Brown amongst many others who created music about black struggle, pain and empowerment. 


And to continue and relate his lecture with Hip Hop and hope Pollard stated that "the movement that was civil rights has moved to the movement of hip hop." Presently there is a lot of debate that hip hop is dead with the lack of social awareness messages in our songs and an uprise of disrespect to our women and children being portrayed instead, but I do not believe it is dead - more like taking a nap and avoiding its responsibilities. Hip Hop and media reaches our children faster now than ever before and depending on the messages being portrayed it can be very detrimental so we as a community need to do better on making sure that we are putting out positive messages to empower one another as opposed to killing one another. We have contemporarily gotten too attached to the money and fame that comes with selling false, detrimental images to our people and are not caring about the affect that it is having on current and future generations. However, something has to be done, and soon before not only our ears are bleeding from the poison we sell one another to listen to but also the holes formed by bullets in our body allow blood to pour out like niles to detrimental endings.


Daisa Gainey
Sociology '14

Be the Change You Wish to See in the World.

African American culture is absolutely beautiful to me. In today’s lecture Dr. Pollard discussed prominent black leaders from the past. He first talked about the leaders in the fight against racism such as MLKJ, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. Also black power leaders Elaine Brown, David Hillard, and Assata Shakur. These individuals helped shaped my life today. Without their trials and tribulations I would not be able to do what I am doing.

                From this point he moved on to infamous black poets such as Muhammad Ali, Nikki Giovanni, and Maya Angelou. Out of all the poets he mentioned Maya Angelou is by far my favorite. My mother LOVES her and has her poem ‘Phenomenal Woman’ committed to memory. Maya Angelou’s poems speak to blacks about life, beauty, and other inspirational topics. Another poet I love who was not mentioned in the PowerPoint was Maya De Vale and the other poets on Def Jam Poetry. Their poems speak to the generation today.

                The last group of people Dr. Pollard touched upon were the musicians. Music, rhythm, and dance are a HUGE part of African American culture. Whenever one is at a party with a lot of black people and that slow jam comes on you will hear singing, see dancing, and people sliding to the electric slide. Dr. Pollard started from music back in the day such as Aretha, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Bob Marley, The Supremes, and The Temptations. From the oldies he brought up artists from my favorite time period for music: the 90’s. Artist such as TLC, Biggie, Tupac, Salt N Pepa (80’s), Lauren Hill, Common, Alicia Keys, Maxwell, Aaliyah, and Brandy consume a major part of my iPod. After mentioning these artists we discussed the age old question: What is Hip-Hop?

                Overall through the whole presentation Dr. Pollard was showing us the prominent African Americans in our culture who expressed themselves and their frustrations. The people he named changed the world (in small and large proportions). This was my favorite week in Freshman Seminar.

Natalie Nicole Hampton

Nursing Major/ Spanish Minor

I could let my life pass me by, or I can get down and try -Maxwell

This week in Freshman Seminar we had Dr. Benjamin come and talk to us. At first she started out with her first slide page. It read: “The Eloquence of the Scribes.” To this I sighed, thinking: Haven’t we talked about the ancient scribes of Egypt and Mesopotamia EVERY SINGLE CLASS! With this idea in my head from the start I was prepared for a nap.

                Dr. Benjamin did talk about the scribes, but for only around a total of 5 minutes. She then went into the history of Howard University and the important figures each building is named after. This to me was still remotely boring, but thinking back on it while writing this blog I appreciate her for giving me this information. African American youth today never really think about the past and even if they did they cannot even fathom what black people had to go through. Learning about the rich history of HU made me appreciate even more all that I am blessed with today. The people these building are named after (Frederick Douglas, Ernest Everett Just, Oliver Otis Howard, and Mordecai Johnson to name a few) are all people who did not sit back and let the world be. These men and women changed what was going on in the world in their own little small way.

                Because I am free, in college, and living I the 21^st century I expect so much more of myself and I hope to someday maybe have a building and lasting memory. There are so many things I can do, and the ball is in my court.

Natalie Nicole Hampton
Nursing Major/ Spanish Minor

Who are we all? Scribes.

Webster defines a scribe, in a historical reference, as a person who copies out documents. However, in the lecture presentation it is obvious that a scribe is so much more than this. We were educated on the history of slaves in Egypt and all that they did which disproves much of Europeans will to say that they created and began everything. We may not have been speaking English, but we were communicating with a educated and formal language type in order to leave an account of history for those to come and to tell various stories.

Contemporarily, we usually believe that being a scribe or referring to a scribe is constricted by professions like journalists and writers but this is not. Regardless of ones major, job title, job description or training we are all scribes in our own personal right and we all have a obligation to your communities to take our talents/tasks and share them with our people and try to help them do better. We should not learn our crafts and simply use them for our own selfish gain, we must share what we learn just like the various people who are honored on Howard's campus daily such as: Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Alaine Locke, and so many others.

Thus, whether our major is sociology, english, biology, applied sciences, architecture, we are all considered scribes and like our ancestors and various iconic, we must master our field and act as the scribes we are all destined to be and share knowledge with those around us.

Daisa Gainey
Sociology '14

I want to join the Peace Corp.!

Abandonment, Dismemberment, and Reawakening: three very particularly different words each having deep meanings. Already amazed by the words chosen I was ready and eager to hear Dr. Dunston’s speech. But from these words she started talking about the genome and Biology. Yes—I am in Dr. Gordon’s Biology 101, BUT I was SO not eager to hear it for TWO HOURS that Wednesday. Although I didn’t want to hear it I decided to give it a shot and listen. The funny thing is the way she was using the idea of the ‘genome’ as a metaphor I actually understood in biology terminology.

                Although Dr. Dunston did not go through the entire power point (barely any at all) I went through it before writing this blog post. An idea which hit hard for me what the idea of what our ‘people’ need to do. The power point said we must: “research and OWN knowledge, rebuild communities, repair cities, and reform countries.” The reason this made me so happy is because this is what I want to do with my life. Upon graduating Howard University with a Nursing degree and a minor in Spanish, I want to spend four years of my life in a Spanish speaking country nursing. Ever since going to Costa Rica I fell in LOVE the language. I Also have SO much fun doing community service projects. Her words were the exact lifestyle I would like to enact.

Natalie Nicole Hampton
Nursing Major/ Spanish Minor

Why Do You Exist?

At one time in United States history, Blacks and other minorities were “proved” to be less than human by using science to justify the mistreatment and equality disparities. Dr. Georgia M. Dunston’s presentation was especially effective and empowering because it showed that genetically each genome, defined as the record book of history and legacy of human kind, is unique to every individual and we all come “fully prepared to give a unique expression to life.” This thought in itself shows that regardless of skin color or any other type of racial distinction between humans, it is our biological make up the deciphers our innate place in the world that we are supposed to inhabit, our purpose of existing. 

Another portion of Dr. Dunston’s lecture that was particularly memorable is the idea of energy. It was said that words, thoughts and actions determine the energy around you while thinking is the biological component. And depending on the energy that we surround ourselves with, everything that we say and what we do is affected. We all have the ability to affect the people around us including ourselves. Dr. Dunston made a very good point when she said that we are constantly speaking to ourselves, 24/7, and that we must in consequence watch what we say to ourselves and others because it can determine our reality. If one wants to succeed and steadily advance they cannot continually tell themselves that they “will fail” and that they can’t do something, they will eventually begin to believe it and will thus inhibit themselves and never be able to reach what they are supposed to do. 


Daisa Gainey
Sociology Major
Class of 2014

My son's middle name WILL be Djehuty...

           This week we retouched on the Learning vs. Wisdom conversation. This main difference between these two Dr. Carr lectured was Remembering. He screamed about how being successful in Learning with Remembering will result in Wisdom. The important aspects to this success are: Reading, Writing, Counting, Measuring, Reflecting, and Service.  To be honest, up until this point during the lecture I was bored and tired. Then Dr. Carr started discussing where these aspects of Learning derived from and I became interested.

I had always loved the idea of ancient Egypt. The hieroglyphics, people, food, history, and culture have always interested me. So when Dr. Carr started discussing some of the important Deities I eagerly listened.  This first was Djehuty. He was the scribe of all eternal principles such as listening, inscribing, reading, and writing. The second was Seshat, Djehuty’s equal female counter part. Her specializations were in general math (specifically accuracy, reliability, and measuring.) Lastly we discussed Ma’at the blind goddess. She deals with the truth, balance, justice, and bringing goodness into a space. Overall these three Gods previously stated represent the origins of Learning, Remembering, and Wisdom. Learning this displayed how African tradition essentially shaped society today. Learning about this made me step back, say “WOW”, and parade my nationality proudly. It is very disgusting how the white man forgets and takes claim to everything my people have established.

Natalie Nicole Hampton
Nursing Major/ Spanish Minor

Week 2: "You'll always have you to depend on, but will you?"

Most of us get caught in the glam of the connotations - negative and positive, that come along with saying “I go to Howard University” and all of the glee that we see on peoples faces as they interrogate us about homecomings, legendaries and if we’ve seen Wale or P. Diddy yet - and as we answer with nothing less than pride we subsequently forget the founding principals of our university. We forget that it was because white schools would once not take us that we were founded to increase the advancement of African decent, that it is because of our past and history that this university was even founded; we forget all that Howard University has intellectually and done in conjunction with the human community. In Dr. Carr’s last lecture he spoke on Howard University and its connection with the world, creating a connection between learning and teaching wisdom and what we need to do to foster a pathway to approaching our history and lives in order to work on a better future. 

The issue that Dr. Carr lectured on that caught my attention the most was taking appropriate responsibility and control of issues in our life. Dr. Carr said that we have three sources: our text, our teachers and our selves. This is applicable to more than just school and why we have no reason to fail in academics if we have even one of the aforementioned three, but this is also why we should not fail in general and ties into the miseducation of many Black Americans. In the black community we have grown deathly crippled by a broken history that falsely is stated to have begun at slavery and how we need others (whites etc) but this is far from the truth. We built whole empires, such as Egypt, and were once kings and queens with prospering kingdoms. So with knowledge like this how could we justify depending on others and blame our failures on anyone but ourselves?Thus, I believe that if we, as a community, come to terms with the fact that we are in control of our destinies and that whatever we want to happen or allow to happen is in our hands - we could advance more and take full responsibility of our psyches instead of falling victim to the lies we are constantly being force fed.

Daisa Gainey

Sociology Major 

Class of 2014

Freshman Seminar: a blatant waste of my time? NAWTT!

I truly respect Dr. Carr’s enthusiasm. The passion he has for teaching us our precious African roots and the infatuation he displays when presenting is something I’ve personally never experienced in a teacher.

                I attended a preparatory school, majority white, for the past 7 years of my life. Whenever we would talk about Black History it would always start at slavery. Sitting in class, being the only black, it was awkward. I could feel the pressure from my pale classmate’s stares whenever slavery was brought up. With all honesty, I felt ashamed and never spoke up during this section in class. Thinking back to these times and thinking about my experience in Freshman Seminar I feel really stupid.

                I entered Freshman Seminar thinking that this was honestly going to be a blatant waste of my time but after the first class it became my favorite class. Dr. Carr screamed about ‘African Deep Thought’ and how we must learn the difference between Learning and Wisdom. He talked about how global traditions and how they are rooted in classical, medieval, and contemporary African traditions. This part of the lecture really hit hard for me.

                All throughout grade school my knowledge of my African roots always steamed from slavery. Learning about African language and Egyptian hieroglyphics and how important they were for the start of civilization as a whole. The thought that my race, my blood, my people started the base and essentially shaped the world we know now made me feel extremely opposite. Not to say that I was ashamed of being black, but I never thought of it as something special. After the first class of Freshman Seminar and since coming to Howard I walked out feeling like a new person. I am so proud of being black, my culture, and I’m glad I now know the awesomeness of my roots :)

Natalie Nicole Hampton

Nursing Major/ Spanish Minor

Welcome to Freshman Inception

This blog was created to serve as the e-portfolio required for Freshman Seminar, a required course for students at Howard University College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Program. This blog will be updated at least once a week by an array of students, as this is a group blog.

Student introductions and such coming soon.

Daisa Gainey
Sociology Major
Class of 2014