Final Assessment and Blog Comments

Final Assessment

During the past six weeks in my Freshman Composition course, I have honed my experience with blogging. I have strengthened my communication with the outside world and expressed myself accordingly. For instance, I was not a fan of political or social issues, but lately, I find myself reading newspapers and magazines so as to keep myself up-to-date. In essence, the whole blogging experience has broadened my horizons. Also, I have written a letter of awareness to explain how I feel about the security in the college. Blogging has now become a lifestyle. However, not only has my freshman composition class exposed me to blogging, but it has also been influencing my writing.

Writing papers has always been my most-hated task in school. I am rather a “Mathematics” person so to say, but I usually did very well in my English papers. However, my experience in my English class has helped me sharpened some of my skills in writing. I have learnt to develop a good thesis, to set out a well-organized outline, to do a lot of research and cite sources, to effectively use transition words to connect paragraphs, and to wrap up my essay with a good conclusion. It has been a whole new level of writing. The expository essays have helped me to think more critically and understand little abstract details in essays. Therefore I am proud to say that I have become a better writer.

Blogs I commented on:

- Nestor’s Blog http://nestorkimbo.blogspot.com/2010/11/letter-to-raise-awareness.html

- Tolisa’s Blog http://tolisaabrams.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-10presentation.html

- Radiah’s Blog http://radiahshabazz.blogspot.com/2010/11/in-response-to-sertima.html

- Elaine’s Blog http://elaine128.blogspot.com/2010/10/words-that-spoke-to-me.html

- Faidat’s Blog http://motherreborn.blogspot.com/2010/11/mr.html

Presentation on Nigeria

http://www.slideshare.net/eademuwagun/english-002

Letter to Raise Awareness

Chief Leroy K. James

Chief of the Campus Police Department

Howard University

2244 10^th Street, NW, 2^nd Floor

Washington, DC 20059

Dear Chief Leroy,

I am a freshman Electrical Engineering major from Nigeria. I have been a resident of Drew Hall for the past three months, and I really appreciate different security strategies implemented to reduce crime within the campus. I really liked the idea of mounting emergency poles within the school area, and giving out contact numbers in case of emergencies. However, occasionally, when I head back to Drew Hall from the Health Sciences Library during late hours, I observe a lot of lapses in the attempts made by the Police Department to reduce crime.   

In relation to this issue, I would like to point out that the town in Nigeria where I lived had a relatively high crime rate. When the chief of the town realized that all his personal efforts to reduce crime proved abortive, he called the residents of the town to make suggestions to improve the security of the area. This was a wise and successful move by the chief because he was able to hear the voice of the people who saw the day-to-day lapses in the previous attempts to curb robbery. After considering and implementing the new laid-out plan of the community, crime has since been reduced to the lowest minimum.

In essence, I strongly believe that the first strong step that the Police Department can make is to organize a conference where the students’ voices and opinions on security would be heard. I assure you that you would be surprised with the turnout of people because a lot of students stay up studying for exams and writing papers in the library and afterwards, hope with crossed fingers that they reach their respective rooms safe and sound. Therefore, in the suggested conference, issues like poor patrolling, delay in arrival for emergency pick-ups, and others that would be raised would be addressed adequately.

Thanks for your anticipated consideration. I hope to hear from you soon, because I would be willing to give you details of the reform that I have in mind. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely

African Childhood Vs African American Childhood

There was an interesting discussion in my Freshman Composition class about family related topics—extended families, single-parent families, relationship of parents with their children and so on. As an international student, I compared and contrasted the opinions of the African Americans in my class with my personal opinion. First, I realized that the American system is a very free system where the children can blatantly choose to do what they please irrespective of their parent’s opinions. This assertion might not be true for every African American family, but it is definitely evident in a considerable amount of families. American kids can choose to stand their ground and argue with their parents. However, it is very different in Nigeria, where I come from. When an elder speaks, the younger person must not say a word, talk less of argue. Respect is a very important virtue in the African system. Children are bound to obey their parents. And if they disobey, they are scolded accordingly. Also, I noticed that most African American kids are exposed to hard drugs at very early ages. In Nigeria, to my knowledge, drug-addicts are mostly adults. On the other hand, I realized a common trend as I compared the African and African-American families. Most children are more comfortable around their mothers than their fathers. It is only pragmatic to suggest that mothers are the most caring among the parents, even though there might be some exceptions. It was a very enlightening class discussion, as I learned a lot of other important facts about African Americans.  

For a "United" America!

Is the United States of America actually united? The undisputed answer is “NO.” To a layman, unity simply means oneness and equality in love. These three key words in the definition of unity—oneness, equality and love—are almost certainly absent in the American society today. A novice foreigner might ask, “Why is there an absence of these important virtues in such a great country?” An American citizen, black or white, would respond in just one word, “Melanin.” Melanin, the pigment that gives dark color to the skin, is the major cause of disunity in the supposed “United” States of America. Sadly, this pigment has left a huge dent on Black history. This huge dent is called slavery. According to Randall Robinson, the “246-year practice of slavery” caused “a yawning economic gap between blacks and whites” in the United States. It is best to think of those 246 years as a period when the development of  blacks stood still—as a result of oppression from whites—and that of whites soared higher. However, if whites want to make amends and make United States really “united,” restitution would be the best option, because it would improve the standard of living of blacks. Restitution could be by improving health care and education for blacks. This step would definitely close down the “yawning gap” with time.

Environmental Justice

I wasn’t able to make it in time to the symposium where this topic was discussed, but I was able to picked one or two things from the question and answer session, and also from handbooks that were shared at the end of the panel discussion. From the handbooks, I noticed that there was one word that kept recurring—rights. Everybody is entitled to enjoy the human rights. However, it is the function of the government to ensure that the rights are implemented in fairness. If the government fails, the whole concept defeats its purpose. For example, Michele L. Roberts spoke about the failed implementation of human rights after Hurricane Katrina occurred. The government failed to substantially remedy the destabilizing effects of the disaster on the inhabitants of the Gulf Coast Region—quite unfortunate. However, the people that survived that tragic occurrence are saying there must be a climate change treaty which would subsequently lead to a healthy environment. Besides protecting human rights, the government should make legislations to reduce carbon dioxide waste, to mandate the use of clean energy, to make everyone contribute in drastic decision making, to stop racial, ethnic and gender discrimination, and to generally improve environmental, health, educational, and economic conditions. Again, the government plays the main role in making the United States a better place environment-wise. Therefore, justice on the path of the government would ensure environmental justice for all.

Self-Assessment

During the past six weeks in my Freshman Composition course, I learned a lot about blogging. It has since been another way for me to communicate to the outside world and express myself accordingly. Also the blogging experience made me to delve into issues I was previously uninterested in before. For instance, I was not a fan of political or social issues, but lately, I find myself reading newspapers and magazines so as to keep myself up-to-date. In essence, the whole blogging experience has broadened my horizons. However, not only has my freshman composition class exposed me to blogging, but it has also been influencing my writing.

Writing papers has always been my most-hated task in school. I am rather a “Mathematics” person so to say, but I usually did very well in my English papers. However, my experience in my English class has helped me sharpened some of my skills in writing. I have learnt to develop a good thesis, to set out a well-organized outline, to do a lot of research and cite sources, to effectively use transition words to connect paragraphs, and to wrap up my essay with a good conclusion. It has been a whole new level of writing. Therefore I am proud to say that I have become a better writer.

Political Correctness

Political correctness is a major issue that should be addressed in a school and even in the country at large, because it serves as a yoke from progress. “It is time to come out of the cocoon and broaden the things that we admire and the things that we expect” (Carson). In a modern society like ours, everyone should not be scared or shy to air their opinions about a particular issue. In the 2010 Howard University Convocation ceremony, Ben Carson gave an example of a bird who supposedly could talk, sing and dance, but was eaten because he remained silent, and couldn’t defend itself. The anecdote implies that if people fail to air their intuitive opinions, they would not make progress, and therefore remain unaccomplished. Ben Carson also pointed that his generation is full of negative and ignorant people who keep arguing with each other, instead of drawing out reasonable ideas from each other’s opinions. Hence, as a promising generation, it is definitely time to “think out of the box” (Carson), so that we can make progress and outshine the achievements of the former generation.

Carson, Ben. “2010 Howard University Convocation.” Cramton Auditorium, Howard University, Washington, DC. 24^th September 2010. Speech.

Should The Whole Country Bear The Cross?

A Christmas day was planned to be doomed for many families who had relatives on the Northwest Airlines Flight 253 heading to Detroit, Michigan, on the 25^th of December 2009. A Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, born into a wealthy home and spoilt with no parental guidance, had joined the Al-Qaeda group and was to execute this suicidal task. The suicidal mission was blowing up the aircraft which contained 289 people – people who had plans for Christmas. Fortunately, the mission proved abortive. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was caught before he could set off the weapons of mass destruction; the first big question is asked – “What actions should be taken as regards this ‘Nigerian’ who almost caused havoc on Christmas day?’’ However, most, if not all, Nigerians do not like the manner in which the question is framed. They would prefer it to be ‘‘What actions should be taken as regards this ‘Al-Qaeda member’ who almost caused havoc on Christmas day?’’ Although it doesn’t change the fact that the Al-Qaeda member is Nigerian, by birth, Nigerians do not want to be tagged as terrorists. The young man, who has made a bad name for himself, is facing the wrath of the law. Unfortunately, he has also made a bad name for his country; the second big question is asked ‘‘Should Nigeria be tagged as a terrorist country or ‘a country of interest’?’’ Using ethical analysis, according to Immanuel Kant’s principled point of view, the United States should shortlist Nigeria as a terrorist country because it is the ‘sensible’ thing to do for a man who tried to ruin Christmas – Only the Grinch ruins Christmas. In fairness, this is not reasonable because with all available facts and evidences Nigeria had no connection with the suicidal mission; why should brutal action be taken? However, according to J.S. Mills’ consequential point of view, the United States should not shortlist Nigeria as a terrorist country for a number of reasons. First, as mentioned earlier, Nigeria had no hand in the proposed attack on the 25^th of December 2010. Second, trade relations between the countries would reduce, and both countries would lose immensely from this. Third, and not the last, making Nigeria a country of interest would create a bad stereotype for all Nigerians which is quite unfair, because just one Nigerian was found to be part of the Al-Qaeda community; hence, unfair judgment of Nigerians as a whole is impractical.

Multiracial Challenges

Stereotypes have always grouped people into various racial types. ‘‘You are not black; you are a boriqua; you aint no moreno’’ (Santiago’s Puerto Rican friends 183) is a statement that portrays a stereotype that is common among the Puerto Ricans, which is characterized by one’s behavior. This form of characterization calls for a big question – What is a black and white behavior? The whole concept feels wrong when answers begin to arise. Moreover, the typical American culture basically doesn’t really care about one’s behavior as opposed to one’s skin color. With respect to the two varying race classifications, a mixed race individual is always in a dilemma while trying to classify himself or herself. From my own point of view, a mixed-raced person should not care about the stereotypes, and accept all his racial backgrounds as his. Though challenges, in form of discrimination, might arise, leaving behind a racial identity, for the purpose of ‘‘fitting into a particular society’’ is considered a sin to me.

Santiago, Roberto. ''Black and Latino'' Essence Magazine 

The Surmountable Task - Improving Race Relations

It is very sad, as well as unfortunate, to realize that a pigment on the skin, referred to as melanin, has caused a lot of unnecessary stigmatization among the black population throughout the United States, and the world at large. However, the minority population should understand that it is their responsibility to show the white population, currently known as the majority, that they are not different from them (the black population) in any way way besides the pigment, and so, should not be deprived of the ''white privileges.'' Some of the examples of the privileges mentioned by Barack Obama in his speech ''A More Perfect Union'' include access to loans for African-American business owners, access to FHA mortgages, access to the top schools in the nation, access to great jobs that pay well, and the list continues. Therefore, taking a leaf from the Obama's speech, to clinch all these privileges, to be recognized as one people, and ultimately, to be one nation, the black population should seize the initiative of leaving the past, which was rife with pain, segregation and unfairness, so that we do not become its victim. Also, African-Americans should be well educated and well aware of their environment so that they can work together with the ''majority population'', cancelling all forms of stereotypes and making America one nation. If all these appropriate steps are taken, no one would care if there is a pigment on whoever's skin.


Obama, Barack. ''A More Perfect Union.'' National Constitution Center, Philadelphia. 18 March 2008. Speech.