Weekly Journals
Throughout the semester, I took time to reflect on my journey as a writer. Below are my weekly reflections of my growth.
Week 1
I’m excited about this class as it will help shape my art of persuasion within my writing. To start off this course we brainstormed debate topics. The classroom is very open and allows for students to express their opinions without judgment but with argument. Professor Collins enjoys rebutting her students in order to help them build confidence within situations that introduces room for debates. I enjoy this kind of engagement due to the fact that I intend to attend law school in the future.
For this debate, I was on the side that was against vaccinations, as well as against receiving the SARS COVID-19 vaccine. I truly believe that due to the actions of the medical industry within history, that the black community is allowed to be skeptical of the action of the industry in the present. While collaborating with my group we made a document to write down any resources we can use for the debate. Alongside this in a group chat, we collaborated with one another about possible rebuttal topics and how we can counter them during our argument. After we spoke about what arguments could be used we decided to write down anything that could possibly stand as evidence to support our arguments.
Week 2
This week we read Audre Lorde’s “Transformations of Silence into Language and Action” and were told to think about silences that have been punching us inside our mouths. Although I have spent my entire life trying to combat my silences, it was hard to specifically pinpoint those silences that I have been afraid to speak upon. During class discussion, students spoke about some silences they had that related to the reading. Connecting the ways speaking up helped free her from the slow death she was allowing herself to endure, students were able to think about the ways using their voice has adjusted their lives for the better.
In my paper I am choosing to write about the times I spoke up against microaggressions, as well as assumptions that are placed upon me on a daily basis. A big struggle for me was speaking saint microaggressions due to me being at a PWI for the first eleven years of my educational career. I allowed my peers to make comments about my appearance and culture without care for the effects it would have on my identity growing up as a young black girl. Alongside this due to me being perceived in someone's eyes before I introduce my true self to people I have to constantly combat opinions that I hold no control over. This is especially hard when there are daily reminders being told to you that you hold no responsibility for the idea of you that someone else holds in their minds.
Week 3
I will personally say, Professor Collins is the professor to make me get my stuff together when it comes to writing. She does not play about this process because she cares about the achievements of her students. I may feel frustrated at times because I used to allow myself to coast, but she truly makes me want to engage with the writing process to connect me deeper with my piece. We worked on a grammar organization worksheet so that our writing is somewhat digestible in her eyes. This paper was truly hard to write because we were given a page limit that we could not go over unless we wanted a point reduction.
I peer-reviewed two other students' works for class and I enjoyed the ways they exposed their feelings within their work. Because all of us come from different walks of life, the silences we hold are different, and reading about the journeys of my peers locating their voice encouraged me to expose a more personal part of my life while I wrote my paper. The criticism I received allowed me to edit and structure my writing in a better way so that the ideas I wanted to get across were clear and concise.
Week 4
In class this week, we began to discuss the book Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, as well as held class discussion about an article regarding Afrofuturism. Afrofuturism is a prevalent theme within Octavia Butler's work as it was seen in both Kindred and now in Parable of the Sower. I haven’t received the book yet so I can not begin the readings, but I spoke on the phone with my Mom and she says I will enjoy it. I’m actually excited to read this because I enjoyed Kindred when I read it in 10th grade.
The beginning of the book starts with “EARTHSEED: THE BOOKS OF THE LIVING”. Professor Collins asked us to think about what this means. After contemplation, I think it means the events happening within the book are written while Lauren, the creator, is alive. Then as the book expands, I assume, there will be other sections of the book where the introduction title is written differently. I think it may hold similarities to the way the Bible is split into the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Week 5
In class, we began discussing the book more in-depth and what kind of lens we should read the book with. We discuss how Lauren begins each entry with mini parables. We also discussed what a hero’s journey is; the hero goes into an adventure without the intention of receiving a reward while also being challenged by temptations. In terms of a spiritual hero, the hero dies and comes back to life during their adult years. A question that was also asked is what is a sower? I did not have the answer during class but now I know a sower is one who plants seeds.
This week our groups got together and worked on survival bags. My group and I made a google doc so we could make a list and compile some items that would deem necessary during an apocalypse. There were a multitude of items listed and once we felt that we had enough essentials we organized the list and turned it in on the blackboard. In another class discussion, we compared lists amongst groups and learned of things we forgot and could have easily omitted during this process. I know my group members and I forgot about money and seeds; so that puts us at a disadvantage if we needed to start maintaining land or bartering in order to obtain goods.
Week 6
Another week, another essay -- that’s what it feels like sometimes. This is only because time has been flying by so fast that every time we have some time to rest, it’s already time to get going again. For this essay we are comparing the two works we finished; Cosmic Slop and Parable of the Sower. Speaking of Cosmic Slop, I truly enjoyed the three short films. I feel like everyone really enjoyed space traders and tang because of the ties it holds to Parable of the Sower. I really enjoyed the First Commandment because I felt a connection to some of the ideas shown in the film because I attended a Catholic School for the first eleven years of my educational career.
For my essay, I chose to write about the journey within the minority community with religious and spiritual beliefs. Due to slavery a lot of the original spiritual connections the black community once held were ripped away causing us to have to assimilate to a new religion while connecting it to our roots. I know with Father Carlos he was struggling with the Santeria he speaks about influencing his church congregation, and Lauren was struggling with god and the way he treated his people.
Week 7
As we began to close out the semester, Professor Collins began to prepare us for our final paper. The paper will be the piece that showcases our growth as writers during this semester, as well as prepares us for longer pieces of work that we will have to write in the future. In class, we were asked to begin brainstorming arguments surrounding Afrofuturism, as well as one that could be argued as for or against using the primary sources.
As we began to throw out ideas, Professor Collins told us that we should have strong although statements that would set up the argument and also have a three-point thesis statement. While writing down ideas, one caught my eye as a multitude of conversations I conduct with many peers is centered around the relationship between black men and women. “Although some would say that the future black male and female relationships are sustainable however given the toxic nature of black relationships the future for it is bleak because…”. This statement here prepped me in order to pinpoint my true argument for my last paper in this class.
“In order for the black revolution to happen and exist, they have to be on the same accord politically, socially, economically.” As I think about the situations that continue to come to light whether it be through social media or the news, there are conversations that need to be addressed before the black community is able to flourish the way they intend.
Week 8
The final week of class has been a bittersweet time. I was excited to present my parable but learned of sad family news. Although I was not able to properly showcase my wisdom to class; I was provided an opportunity to present them to Professor Collins and also held a closing conversation with her. The words we shared were not only ones of gratitude but also encouragement.
For the parables, I used most of the wisdom I have gained within the past year as I have been going through a spiritual and mental journey. Although sometimes wisdom cannot be shared simply through words, but also actions. I knew I had lost a brother, but I recognize that Tyreem would not want me to stop working towards my goals and dreams. Propelling myself forward I focused on completing the assignments at the task while also simultaneously spending time with loved ones during this time.
The final paper is a tough one because I did not do well on the outline. In all honestly, I did poorly due to forgetfulness as well as trying to rush through instead of properly taking my time throughout the process. While writing this paper, I chose to speak my thoughts instead of simply writing as Professor Collins showed me that sometimes my thoughts get edited as I write; losing the meaning and weight of my words.
Professor Collins gave me the structure that I lost during my years in high school. Students are always given the creative freedom to write about topics they are passionate about, but we skate through with no structure and she established exactly that from the beginning of class. I appreciate her effort to extend as much support that she could during our time together, even if it was through a Zoom meeting. She saw greatness in all of her students and simply wanted us to succeed with a strong base as we continue our paths at Howard University.