Convocation

I thought it was amazing that Bermuda Premier Ewart F. Brown came to help welcome the class of 2013 in the 2009 Opening Convocation. Initially I was honored by his presence. Unforturnately, I was horribly tired from study all night the previous night, and only caught the speech in bits and pieces. I wish Premier Brown was around to give me his speech when I was procrastinating earlier in the day. However on a more serious note, my attendance at the Convocation wasn't all for naught. I too stepped away from Cramton Auditorium inspired!
It was brought to my attention that Premier Brown is a Howard alumnus; a title that I one day aspire to attain. I thought to myself "I'm in the same position Premier Brown had been in several years before. Why can't I one day be in the position he's in now?" I left the Convocation slighlty embarassed that I'd fallen asleep, but for the most part, I was in awe of the greatness and excellence that is reared from this illustrious university. So in closing I'd like to leave with my audience the words of Howard University's alma mater as it's perfectly appropriate for describing my sentiment immediately following the Convocation:
"Reared against the eastern sky
Proudly there on hilltop high,
Far above the lake so blue
Stands old Howard firm and true.
There she stands for truth and right,
Sending forth her rays of light,
Clad in robes of majesty;
O Howard, we sing of thee.
Be thou still our guide and stay
Leading us from day to day;
Make us true and leal and strong,
Ever bold to battle wrong.
When from thee we’ve gone away,
May we strive for thee each day
As we sail life’s rugged sea,
O Howard, we’ll sing of thee!"

Pan-Africanism or Not?

Two selections from our Revelations book, "Pan-Africanism" and "Never African Again", strike an intriguing argument that is significant in the black community. How should blacks in America be identified? Should they be "negro", "African American", just plain old "black"? In addition Pan-Africanism calls for all members of the African Diaspora to unite and suggests that somehow the problems blacks face like prejudice and discrimination would disappear if blacks return to African from which they came. The opposition suggest that black Americans should limit their ties with Africa as it isn't necessarily a direct influence on their cultural experience. It seems regressive to resort back to the essence of African rhythm by sitting around pummeling primitive drums when one can simply download the sounds. That's a humorous anology, but it makes no sense to return to Africa now that blacks have stamped their footprint on American culture. It's also foolish to believe that Africa isn't suffering from issues similar to the issues in America like poverty and prejudice; or worse like genocide and apartheid. My point of view is somewhere between the two. It's regressive to resort to Pan-Africanism whole-heartedly, but it's just as regressive to forget where one comes from and lose culture.