Although we walk across the yard almost every day, many of us do not know all the rich history behind Howard's campus. Dr. Benjamin spoke today about the history of Howard University and the meaning behind the names of some of its main buildings. She also posed a very important question: How will today's knowledge be used to solve tomorrow's problems?
Howard was founded in the 1800s by 17 people, including General Oliver Otis Howard, who was a civil war general who promoted education for former slaves. He was such an key figure in the history of this school that it was named in his honor.
Another important person whose name is common around campus is Frederick Douglass. The building Douglass Hall is named after him. He was the voice of the abolitionist movement and worked hard for equality and justice for all. He broke down barriers by persisting to be taught how to read and write, and eventually published many writings which were and are still highly regarded by blacks and whites alike.
Another historic person honored in a Howard building is Harriet Tubman. The freshman all-girls dorm is named after her. This is the dorm that I stayed in last year, and its name was such an important part of living there. Every time there was a meeting, our RAs and the other staff members were constantly reminding us that we should be the best women that we could be, and that we should live up to the standards of our dorm's namesake.
It is obvious that the founders gave the buildings the names they did because they wanted us to be inspired. Each time we pass the Tubman Quad, Douglass Hall or any of Howard's other majestic buildings, we are reminded of the people who sacrificed so much and worked so hard for equality and justice for us. These people created the framework for our success, but they do not, by any means, complete it. It is up to us to continue to learn from the voices of our past and use today's knowledge to create a better tomorrow, both for us and for the generations to come.
Erika Meijer
No comments:
Post a Comment