07May2024
It seems like yesterday that I was learning to blog and learning what was expected in a Communications class related to the African diaspora, but it is not yesterday. It is today and the knowledge I learned has given me power to continue to reach for my dreams even when the mountain seems to hard to climb. I learned so much in my Comm300 class and it has given me the motivation to continue to learn about my ancestral diaspora.
My favorite text or discussion must be related to the African diaspora in Cuba. It was interesting and fun to learn about Cuba and how it gained its independence and how the African culture is intertwined with what is now considered Cuban culture. I became passionate about my ancestry. This class made me explore how African ancestry is the basis for many cultures around the world. I learned about how African food is a part of our current culture such as black-eyed peas. I learned about African religious practices and the black church and how these things interrelate. I learned that even the drum cadence in the music has had a profound impact on jazz and Cuban music. This class has caused me to be a little more serious about finding my true roots.
Most of the readings resonated with me because in every reading I learned something new. The readings related to Haiti were interesting and sad. I was proud of the Haitians because they had the only successful uprising of slaves to take control of a whole Caribbean Island. However, they paid dearly, which is sad. I have a new appreciation for their resilience. The truth about the history of Cuba and Brazil was also mind boggling. Just to know the emphasis on education in that country was enough to make me think is living in a Democratic country really better for us?
From here we must not let our taste for knowledge wane. We must continue to seek the truth about our ancestry and continue to keep our African roots and culture alive. We must seek to educate the next generation about our past so that they can feel proud of their heritage. We must continue to work together as a people to connect with our Afro Caribbean brothers and sisters and find a way to become and stay successful. We must continue to fight for our true freedom of expression and not let our diaspora take away the beautiful remnants of our culture. This class has inspired me to continue to learn about issues related to the African diaspora. I now have a yearning to learn more. I am so glad that I was introduced to Kweli TV. I never knew it existed and there are quite a few good movies and documentaries on that station that have sparked my interest. The one study skill that I have learned to do is to pace myself. I have learned that if I do a little bit each day, I can get more done than trying to cram it all in the night before an assignment is due. Although this is not a study skill, it is still a skill I learned and that is to blog. I did not have a clue about blogging before I attended this class. Now I have blogged each week. This helps to get information out to the world about different topics and sparks conversation and healthy debates.
The specific class content questions I have to ask are, what are your thoughts on not teaching critical race theory to our youth? Is there value in teaching this theory to middle and high schoolers in our current climate? Do you think we would ever be rewarded with reparations? If so, how would they best be used? Do you think that if the Atlantic Slave trade never happened, would this nation be as strong and/or would Africa ever have become the most feared nation? In your opinion, what value does blogging give students? What other skills are enhanced by blogging? As you can see, I have a lot of questions, but that is what this class does for an individual. It makes you think.
Below is a picture with Mrs. Clarice Phelps, world renowned scientist. First Black woman to discover an element, Tennessean. Knowledge is Power and Black Excellence.
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