The musicality of August Wilson

On November, 13 2008, I forced myself into going to The Musicality of August Wilson, knowing that I would receive extra credit for attendance in both my English and Psychology classes. However, oblivious to the Fantastic works of August Wilson and the talent that would soon fill the shallow walls of the Blackburn reading lounge, I was in for a shocking surprise. The August Wilson presentation kept my attention the whole way through, I absolutely enjoyed piano lesson and Joe Turners’ Come and Gone. In piano lesson, I felt as if the actor was speaking directly to me, which increased my focus on every word that sipped through his lips. The woman, who aggressively spoke about not having any more babies in Joe Turners’ Come and Gone, astonished me with her words as they were electrifying and made the act come to life. With only two days of rehearsal the actors and musicians put on an excellent viewing of scenes from August Wilson’s plays. All of the people who were involved, especially those who are current Howard University students are commendable performers. I believe it to be inspiring when those Howard alumni who have achieved a great deal revisit the University, and share their experience with others. Their success gives hope to current students who are striving towards their goals.
I left the reading lounge that day with newfound knowledge about a man named August Wilson. In the two short hours I sat through this forum I learned that: August Wilson was a native of Pittsburgh and used the rhythms from the streets of Pittsburg in all of his plays. Also August Wilson wrote a play for each decade in the twentieth century, a first and only among the various playwrights.

November 4th 2008 Election Night

On November 4th 2008 around six o' clock, my friend and I were one of the first to arrive at the Ballroom for the viewing of the 2008 election results. The room seemed ready for an audience, there was a big screen displaying a local news channel and chairs organized in a multiple of rows. Soon people began to arrive and the atmosphere was friendly, even Ben and Jerrys ice cream came to support the event by passing out free samples. More and More people arrived, soon there were not enough seats for everyone. Time had past and it was nearing ten 0' clock and I still had work to complete, but something just would not let me leave. Especially when I heard that NBC was going to put us on television, everyone began to call their family members, including me.
During the viewing not only was the crowd eating delicious ice cream, and listening to the television but other things was going on as well. For instance there was a panel discussing the importance of the 2008 election, current Howard students informing the crowd on improvements in the polls in different states, a trivia question game about the 2008 election, and of course Howard had WHBC radio station playing hit songs, which the crowd would remix to make a reference to Obama. However, no matter what was going on all stopped when a poll closed and some results were revealed, all eyes and ears were then focused on the screen. I can't exactly remember what time it was, but I do remember the exact moment of when the screen flashed in BIG letters that Barack Obama was the United States new president. Chaos filled the ballroom, people shouted,cried, prayed, jumped, danced, sang,the moment was unforgettable. Dr. Carr spoke a few inspirational words along with our current president and the Mr. Howard University. At the end everyone in the ballroom silenced for prayer and then we sung the Black national anthem together. Afterwards my friends and I ran outside, we hugged everyone we knew and telephoned our family/friends. We even screamed Obama at random people and surprisingly they responded in the same manner. Eventually we gathered around the flag pole in the rain to join hands and sing. No one cared that it was raining because our president was now black.

The Bluest Eye

For my Introduction to psychology course I attended a briefing about the infamous play The Bluest Eye. My professor, Dr. Harrell was apart of the discussion panel along the sides of Dr. Carr, and other significant Howard University professors. As apart of the presentation different students of each professor read the underlying meanings of specific parts of the play, which they had previously written in class. In the play The Bluest Eye the main character is Pecola, an African American girl who believes she would receive better treatment from society and look attractive if she had blue eyes. The discussion developed around Pecola's belief and generated other topics, such as black poverty, colorism, and the idea black is beautiful.

Dr. Gregory Carr's Lecture

Dr. Gregory Carr's lecture on November 6, 2008 was enticing and far from being monotonuous, for his emotions could be felt through each word he spoke. Dr. Carr enlightened his audiance about the importance of African studies, and how the major can be used in a variety of fields. Dr. Carr also disscussed Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presendtial election, refering to the celebration that followed as "Obama-mania".Dr. Carr shared with us previous African Americans who attempted to run for president or other higher political offices, and their unique campaign strategies. For instance one man, I cannot recall his name, created a Blues song as his campaign slogan. In addition, I gained knowledge about Howard University's African studies department sponsering educational trips to diffrent places of African decent.Dr. Carr stated that they are currently planning a trip to Brazil. Overall, the fact that African studies can help better a person in any occupational field, and assit in a person's self-discovery was the prominent concept in Dr. Gregory Carr's excellent lecture.

My Howard Tour

In November 1866, shortly after the end of the Civil War, members of the First Congregational Society of Washington considered establishing a theological seminary for the education of African-American clergymen. Within a few weeks, the concept expanded to include a provision for establishing a University. Within two years, the University consisted of the colleges of Liberal Arts and Medicine. The new institution was named for General Oliver O. Howard, a Civil War hero who was both a founder of the University and, at the same time, commissioner of the Freedman’s Bureau. (http://www.howard.edu/)

In 1929, Congress appropriated over one million dollars for the construction of a new library at Howard University. The cornerstone was laid on June 10, 1937, and the building opened for service on January 3, 1939. The building is named The Founders Library in honor of the 17 men who founded the institution and to whom the charter for Howard University was issued. Founders, as the library is often called, is located on the site of the historic Main Building in which the general library collection was housed from the late 1800s until the first library building was erected by Andrew Carnegie. Albert I. Cassell, FAIA, is the architect of The Founders Library and several major buildings on the Howard University main campus. (http://www.howard.edu/)

• This is me standing in front of Founders Library's museum door, the museum contains a lot of Howard's History and is a very interseting site to explore, I believe every Howard student should visit this museum, they will be amazed at how far back some pictures are dated.
  

The Departments of Drama, Art and Music merged to form the College of Fine Arts and in 1960 the three moved into the newly erected Lulu Vere Childers Hall with its adjacent Ira Aldridge Theater. (http://www.howard.edu/)

The first essay on the history and geography of Africa was written by a Howard faculty member by the name of George William Cook (A.B., 1881) (http://www.howard.edu/)

Howard Hall is the oldest extant building on Howard University's campus. Originally the home of Oliver Otis Howard, the Civil War General and Founder of Howard University, it was completed in 1869 as one of the first four buildings on campus. Howard Hall was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974. Restoration of the house was completed in 1998 and it now serves as the University's Alumni Center. (http://www.howard.edu/)

Convocation 08

Place: Cramton Auditorium
Speaker: Dr. Sidney A Ribeau
Celebration: 141 school years
Thoughts:
Howard University's Convocation was a very inspirational ceremony, it gave Howard students like myself an eagerness to live the full Hu experience by accomplishing what seems impossible. The phenomenal orchestra and choir were unforgettable as their loud yet beautiful songs manifested throughout the auditorium. Dr Sidney Ribeau talked of Howard aspiring to new goals, which included customer service, more financial aid, reconstruction of buildings,more international coverage, and plenty other important plans for Howard University future. As he amplified these strong promises the crowd rose to their feet and applauded in concurrence. Many may have thought that Dr. Sidney Ribeau speech was inappropriate because it was spoken in a formal style. However, I believed this technique made his speech more personal, and if it was not for the close connection he built with his audience speaking formally he would have put most to sleep. Ribeau was speaking to a very diverse audience so it was essentially for him to be more personal with his delievery. Overall the convocation was an excellent experience, but I am not sure if I will attend next year, for it seems as if convocation is more of a freshman experience. Those freshman who did not attend this year really missed out on a treat, and might want toconsider going to convocation at least once before they graduate.