On Oct. 10, 2014 I had the unique opportunity to present my research paper "Education and the Social Un-Mobility of the Black American" at the Wake Forest Communication Department sponsored "Mob-ility Symposium" in Venice, Italy. As a mere student I was surrounded by decorated academics and scholars from around the world. It truly was humbly.
Thankfully, my wonderful friend Giselle was able to capture around 20 mins of my presentation before the camera stopped recording. Unfortunately the epic conclusion (my favorite part at least) was not recorded. Therefore, the following is my conclusion summarized: "Although life is simply not black and white, life still very much so seems black and white. Especially in America. The evident inequality of the African-American, that persists in America due to various reasons, continues to impact their equal access to socioeconomic mobility. I acknowledge that problem is complex, but I believe it starts with the reform of the public educational system -- which should put all Americans on equal educational grounding from the start. While this reform is for all of our sake today, it moreover is for the sake of next generation. We need to teach all our children -- not merely some -- that they too can freely dream the American Dream." This speech was not about me nor is it an argument for what reform should look like. Rather my speech is about those who deserve the equal opportunity to the American Hope of socioeconomic mobility. These are often forgotten men and women, particularly African-Americans, who I cannot and will not forget as I continue to pursue my own dream. For the record: my dream is to help all those who no longer dream themselves to rediscover that their dreams are both worthy and achievable.
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I write this blog while witnessing a massive battle between a thunderstorm and the ferocious Venetian Lion, San Marco himself. Each brings his weapon of choice with thunderous steadfastness, unrelenting and unrepentant against the opposition, calm amidst the cloudy mist of hostility. With San Marco, a sword of historical words and wood; with the storm, a spear of thunderous rhetoric and rain.
Yet while our home, Casa Artom, is rumbling with eager anticipation of an inevitable victim I already know to whom victory belongs. And tomorrow morning I plan to meet him in Lido, on his golden shores of victory and at the end of his promised rainbow -- there I shall find San Marco in his glory glaring triumphantly as the defeated storm retreats, in search of another day. Thus my concern is not with tonight, but with my morrow for I have to prepare for the hostile forecast ahead of my life. On October 10th, 2014, I will have the unique opportunity to partake in the Mob-ility Symposium at Casa Artom, located in Venice, Italy. Alongside scholars and the alike, I will be presenting my paper entitled: "Reassessing the American Hope: The Effect of Education regarding Socioeconomic Un-mobility concerning the Urban American and the Exceptional Person". Due to the length of the paper -- as well as the inability to the present the paper in full -- my presentation will be entitled "Education, Hope and their relationship to the Un-mobility of the Urban American". As the title suggests, I will tailor my speech to focus mainly on the specific relationship between education and hope regarding specific aspects of socioeconomic mobility seen through the Urban American. Although this opportunity is once-in-a-lifetime, I still have my slight anxieties. I am but a newbie student versing a recognized symposium -- yes, even as one of the toughest Wake Forest third-years, I will be entering an academia coliseum full of harden senior scholars. Thus, the question holding my mind hostage: how does a mere Undergraduate compare with those whom teach Graduate-level education? There are two sides that fight a war, two generals whose sole goal is to return home to their families victorious. Although I am a one-star general, new to this level of opportunity but not to the war itself, I feel as if I have been training my whole life for this one battle. In other words, my years of waging war against my laziness, battling the lies of self-defeat, and fortifying my skill set through constant practice are finally paying off. I feel filled with the spirit of San Marco, the same man who did not ever consider fearing Death but rather battled him selflessly until he was finally martyred into a joyous slumber. Mark's weapon of choice, evangelism through truth, is still waging a contemporary war without tangible flesh. His legacy inspires me as I build my legacy. Therefore, as I face the cloudy grays ahead, full of the horrific unknowns, I stand unmoved on the golden shores of life, glaring upon the impending thunderstorm and prepared to fight with my broad bow of boldness. For I already know to whom the victory belongs. I can almost touch the promised rainbow. |
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