The Conversation between Boy Willie (Piano Lesson) and Barack Obama

The intended perception of this conversation was to indicate that Barack Obama and Boy Willie went through the same struggle. Also, to show the importance of legacy. Without a doubt, I do believe that these intentions were surpassed during the presentation of the Conversation between Boy Willie and Barack Obama.

However, the main point that really spoke to me was legacy. From my understanding, legacy is very important, you should not keep legacy wrapped up, you ought to show off your legacy, and it is important to understand where you came from. When I first chose Howard University to further my education, I did not perceive it in the way I do now. Howard isn't only about a Black university, or some place where Blacks can come in order to feel welcomed and comfortable about their race. No! It's more than that. It's some place where you can contribute and become more knowledgeable about your legacy- the struggle, and historical moments- from slavery until these present times. Through this, blacks of the past were able to pave the way for us, in order to make a better tomorrow for those who are following in our footsteps.

It also taught me a valuable lesson for my future. When it is time for me to bring forth offspring, I will ensure that they know about the entirety of black history and their legacy, as well as my legacy.

"Without struggle there is no progress" (Frederick Douglass).

"The System"

Black vs. White Police- what a battle, or is it considered as strife. Black people have always had a problem with White police, or was it the other way around? However, which ever way you decide to say it, the White Policemen ALWAYS won. Where I'm from we refer to police as "the man" or "babylon," and despite the fact that we don't have any white police in our country, we still fear them whenever we travel to the United States.

From my point of view, I don't think that its fair the way Black people get treated by the police. Why is it that when we drive fancy cars, or live in big houses, we either sell "dope" or we stole it. Although, in such cases as these, the innocent suffers for the guilty; but some black people really work hard to achieve what they have.

I have a number of relatives who have experienced this sort of treatment in the U.S. Simply because of the area they live in, or because of the cars they drove. Where I come from my family is considered quite wealthy, and this is because we work tremendously hard for our standard of living.

My whole ideology of "Black vs. Blue: Time for a Cease-Fire?" (Carstarphen 199) is even though blacks are considered a rebels, they ought not to be abused by "the system". Yes you have those who are guilty, and you have those who innocent as a virgin, so it is about time we put to a stop the reinactment of slavery.

"Nigger??"; "Blackness??"- Are you kidding me??

So many things come to mind when I think about the words, and given meanings of "Blackness" and "Nigger". First off, having read 'The English Language is My Enemy' by Ossie Davis, I was appauled by the synonyms that are used for the word "BLACKNESS"- "Evil, wicked, malignant, unwashed, foul, dirty' and the list goes on. Just because we're Black- technically speaking, doesn't mean we are ant of these things. It makes me furious knowing that people who are pale think of mee in that way.

However, when it comes to the word 'Nigger', I see it as being a double standard; this is because:
1. It's considered okay for your "hommies", people you're "cool" with, or people who are the same color as you- to call you "Nigger".
2. It's considered derogatory when someone "White" refers to you as "Nigger".
This is because there is a dfferent meaning when someone black or white calls you a "Nigger". For the Black it refers to being my "homie" or "my boi" or "my brother from another mother"; and as for the White, on the other hand, it refers to the synonyms listed above that are used to describe "Blackness".

All in all it is not a great feeling knowing that this is what people who didn't have to work hard to get where they are; people who fit into the American System with ease; and/or people who are considered "perfect" at no everything they do and try to attempt- think of blacks.

Know Where to Put Your Faith

With God all things are possible. And despite all the negativity Ben Carson still knew to place his faith. In "Saving a Life" by Ben Carson, he carefully explains the process of a hemisherectomy performed on a little girl by the name of Maranda Francisco. Before the hemisherectomy even started all odds were against him; however, in the end he left "the results in God's hands".

Having read this essay it felt as though I was in the OR during the surgery. He made each incision, each drill, each injection, and each seperation seem very precise. Even though at times it seemed as though Maranda would not make it- due to inflamation and countless amounts of blood loss, Doctor Carson still kept the faith.

In Introduction to Psychology I learned about the brain and its like to human behavior. In this case, seeing that the left hemisphere of the brain was removed- due to inflamation, the right side of her body would have been paralized. However, the choice was either dying or having a portion of her body paralyzed. And despite the fact that being paralyzed would feel like torture, I would still rather life.

"When my thoughts turned to God, I thanked him for wisdom, for helping to guide my hands," said Dr. Carson. I couldn't have said it better myself. Through all and all we should all remember to give thanks to the one who deserves it; no matter how big or small the situation, God deserves all praise, honor and glory. And I am positive that Maranda and her parents feel the same way.

The Only Hope of Resistance

"Dere's a Great Camp Meetin' in de Promised Land," "Look Away in de Heaven, Lord," ("Slavery Resistance" 96), controlling the animals with cruelty as a means of revenge, destroying the fields, committing suicide, dismantling the limbs from their bodies, and poisoning their masters, was the only hope of resistance for the Southern slaves in the 1800's.

Slavery has been around for centuries as a means of economic benefits; or was it a way for the slave masters to alleviate stress by beating and torturing the slaves to death? In 'Slavery Resistance' by John Hope Franklin, he makes mention of the numerous occassions when slaves were being tortured to death by their masters and how the slaves began their revolt because of this. There were instances where a slaves' body was dismantled and his parts were thrown in the fire, and there was even a time where a slave was killed by an axe by his master. The pain and anguish that was inflicted on the slaves drove them to do many absurd things which initiated their only hope of resistance.

To me, resistance may be defined as the capacity to withstand any sort of force, but I believe that to the slaves it meant FREEDOM- they were free from their masters and also free from this world. The slaves' freedom meant everything to them. The probability of this knowledge was 100 to 0, because if a female killed their offspring just so their offspring would not go through the same thing that they went through should tell you a lot about how bad things were on the plantations. Slaves went to the extreme of grinding glass and adding Arsenic Poison to their masters' provisions; they even attempted to run away- some of the slaves were successful but others were not. Although some of the slaves got caught, that still did not stop their strive for their optimism.

"Old pirates, yes, they rob I;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly."

Were the words of the Late Great Reggae artist Bob Marley; this song can desperately relate to slaves because it depicts where they came from, what they have been through and where they ended. They're free at last.

Not a Curse, but an Honor

Being black is an honor; not because of where we come from, but because of the hardships our ancestors had to tackle during their time of slavery. In 'Never African Again' by Gerald Early, he indirectly speaks about slavery and he states " For we must accept who and what we are and the forces and conditions that have made us this, not as defeat or triumph, not in shame or with grandiose pride, but as the tangled, strange, yet poignant and immeasureable record of an imperishable human presence." And from my point-of-view, this statement, reinforces the Africanness in African Americans; because Africanness is relevant to American Blacks to help understand what it means to be an American. That statement is outstandingly true because you cannot forget where you came from, in order to become what you are now.


I am not African American, but I am of African descent; and I am not ashamed of it. On the other hand, what I am afraid of, is the fact that I am not knowledgeable of my ancestors culture; however, I am conservant of my islands culture.


The fact that my ancestors culture is unfamiliar to me, is exactly what 'Never African Again' reflects from my view. How can someone who says that they're black and they're proud or it is an honor to be black, not know where their "Blackness" or "Africanness" is all about?


It is time for us as blacks to make a difference- through color comparisons we are already different; so how about putting some meaning behind who and what we are, and find out what makes us so black and proud.


Below is a link to a music video entitled Black like a tar by Richie Spice (Jamaican Reggae Artist). It basically talks about being black, being proud and knowing who you are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPaq2tK-JMo

Americas Race Relations

The United States of America has always been seen as a racist society; whether if it is black against white, white against black or even white against Hispanic- racism was always a problem, and probably always will be for the United States of America because it is a predominately white country. However, in the year of 2009, the hopes and dreams of African Americans- better known as "Blacks"- came to reality when an individual of their kind had been elected as the President of the United States of America- President Barack Obama. Not only has this been a great achievement for the black race, but it is also a chance for the American race relations to be impacted. After a year in office, it can be said that having a black president has impacted the American Race Society on a 50 to 50 basis- both socially and politically. Socially, there is now somewhat of a balance between some White Americans and African Americans. African Americans can now feel protected, and encouraged to stand up for what they believed in. The lives of black kids have also benefited; they can now stand up to racists and feel as though there is a hope for their future. But from the Political point-of-view, Americans feel as though the African Americans will benefit more from having a Black President because of past incidents with other leaders of the "American" Government. To put it briefly, from my discretion, it is safe to say that race relations have not improved on a one hundred percent basis.

Below is a link to video entitled 'A girl like me'. This video has a lot to do with America and their Race Relations; it depicts the way society made black boys and girls think about themselves. It is a real touching video. 'A girl like me' video also has a clip of a set of High School students who re-conducted the Brown vs. the Board of Education Study, where black students between the ages of four and seven were given a black and white doll and they were asked several questions, for instance- "Which doll is the good doll?" or "Which doll is the prettiest doll?". Out of the twenty-one kids, fifteen of them choose the white doll overall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWyI77Yh1Gg

Race is something that should be taken seriously. No matter what colour you are or what background you are from; because at the end of the day, we are all still human beings.