Practices of Freedom and Justice

This week’s Freshman Seminar topic was practices of freedom and justice. His lectured told the class of tradition of learning for service to the black. The pursuit of freedom and justice has been a rallying cries of the educated in this oldest of traditions. Three main points that captured my attention in this lecture were the use of education for liberation, the topic of being an irrelevant intellectual, and Howard’s history of student activism.

Throughout history, blacks fought for the right to receive an education. . During the lecture I learned that W.E.B Dubois educated himself while enslaved. He later became an advisor to the president. Because he was educated, he was able to rise above the limits black men in society had during his time. The resonated to me because it made me think of my college experience. Having a college education will liberate me socially and allow for myself to benefit from more opportunities. This is why college is so important. His lecture reiterated the importance of being education.

Another point in the lecture that stuck out to me was the section about being an irrelevant intellectual. According to Dr. Wright, an irrelevant intellectual is an educated person that does nothing to help their community. This stuck out to me because it made me think about the true purpose of college. Coming into college, my main reason for pursuing higher education was to benefit myself solely. Dr. Wright made me realize that this was selfish. I should not only use my education to benefit myself, but my community as well.

The last part of his lecture that stuck out to me was Howard’s history of student activism. Prior to the lecture, I did not know about the Malcolm X debate or Stokley Carmichael. Along with those two stories, he also told us of a time where the student body took over the A building and changed the curriculum. His lecture really made me feel like I have the power to change things here despite being a student and its legacy. My voice and opinion have the power to make a difference.

In all, Dr. Wright lecture stressed the importance of education and the black community, like previous lectures.