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Academic achievement, character, social skills, motivation, passion, and curiosity would be the first things I pack with me if I were selected to travel and study abroad.
I matriculated through my undergraduate studies as Political Science major with a concentration in International Relations; however, I was never afforded the priceless opportunity to study and travel abroad. Having an interest in further enhancing my knowledge and understanding of one of the most powerful forces operating for people and communities, I felt studying politics would be a perfect fit. Comprehending management, policies, ideas, ideologies, institutions, and social behavior as an undergraduate ignited my interest further of African American communities and its history of inequalities. With prior knowledge in
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studying within the interdisciplinary that combines political science, economics, history, foreign languages, and globalization, studying race, gender, and class abroad in South Africa as a graduate student would be an opportunity to develop invaluable skills as a scholar and professional. These diverse interests, my longing to teach, and my love of African culture would finally be united by being selected to study aboard. Exploring within the field of African American studies as a graduate and earning a doctoral degree in the future will provide the platform to produce critical analysis and research of the complex experiences of African Diaspora.
Learning and teaching African American studies is the foundation to dismantle inequalities in not only America but also the in international communities. Studying and teaching the history of African Americans is essential for contributing to a healthier future; motivating others to broaden their prospective to not only become knowledgeable on a particular people, but also enlightened on vital issues of inequalities when it comes to sexism, ageism, ableism, classism, and of course racism. Study abroad is one of the most effective ways I can acquire global skills and open up to fresh personal and professional opportunities. By studying abroad, I will have the opportunity to see a side of my field of Africana Studies from the lens of the most ethnically and culturally diverse country in Africa. I will develop needed skills as it pushes me as a researcher out of comfort zone to experience another culture, language, environment, and education
system. I will make every effort to properly represent the institution of Georgia State University and the African American Studies department. Studying abroad, my goal is not to simply visit, but rather fully immerse in the culture interact fully and grasp an understanding of the customs of South Africa. I am hoping to gain cross-cultural competence and further assist in my passion for innovation and advocacy when it comes to the African diaspora. Academic achievement, character, social skills, motivation, passion, and curiosity they are packed up and ready to go and as souvenirs I will bring back understanding and appreciation for South Africa’s people and history, broader perspectives to bring into the classroom, and personal and professional development.
Stewart’s essay “The Field and Function of Black Studies”, he implies that black history is dominated by continuing challenges by its critics and the weak attachment of many scholars to the black studies movement and to black studies units even when the research of such scholars examines the black experience (pg. 45). Statistics show that 70.2 percent indicated that the number of full-time faculty members who have appointments outside black studies and another academic units is stable, proving the fact that black studies has established a beachhead in higher education. This statistic demonstrates how things have been stable in terms of growing the teachings of black studies, which causes challenges. A challenge that can be seen from this issue, is the lack of financial support available to faculty and students. Small budgets are provided to Black Study departments at many universities, therefore, making it difficult to purchase materials and hire more educated, experienced staff
Being a resident of South Carolina, African-American Culture was chosen as part of the applied learning project for the Intercultural Nursing class, because African-Americans make up more than a quarter of this state’s population. According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau, the total population for South Carolina (S.C.) is 4,625,364, with 27.9% being of African-American descent. The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding and sensitivity to issues and cultural variances or phenomena that are unique to the African-American Culture. Another goal is to identify nursing interventions that are important for the nurse to consider in caring for this population. These phenomena’s include variances in social organization, communication, space, perception of time, environmental control, and biological variations associated with the African-American culture. (Giger, 2013 and South Carolina minority, n.d.)
The aspect of African-American Studies is key to the lives of African-Americans and those involved with the welfare of the race. African-American Studies is the systematic and critical study of the multidimensional aspects of Black thought and practice in their current and historical unfolding (Karenga, 21). African-American Studies exposes students to the experiences of African-American people and others of African descent. It allows the promotion and sharing of the African-American culture. However, the concept of African-American Studies, like many other studies that focus on a specific group, gender, and/or creed, poses problems. Therefore, African-American Studies must overcome the obstacles in order to improve the state of being for African-Americans.
Next is John Henrik Clark, who refers to African America Studies as Africana Studies because he believes that Black tells you how you look, not who you are. He goes on to state that he calls African American Studies “a dilemma at the crossroads of history” (Clark 32). This is because European people knew history well enough to distort it and use it, as well as political weapons such as the gun and bible, to control the world. This is the reason why a look at African culture will show what Africana Studies are about or should be about. Africana Studies should embrace the Africans all around the world, in places like Africa, North and South America, the Caribbean Islands even those in Asia and the Pacific Islands. Clarke states that Africa is
Introduction This paper examines the struggle African American students are more likely to face at a predominantly white institution (PWIs) than at a historically black college or university (HBCUs). Each author has his or her own take on this hypothesis; most of the author’s studies suggest that African American students have a hard time adjusting to an environment at a PWI (Littleton 2003). However, African American students at HBCUs tend to be at ease with their learning environment. Though many of the author’s agree with one another, there are other authors whose studies come to the conclusion that race is not a factor in college education anymore. That being the case, on average, the African American population is approximately four percent at PWIs (Littleton 2003).
Johnson, Charles, Patricia Smith, and WGBH Series Research Team. Africans in America. New York: Harcourt, Inc. 1998.
Slavery. Many people today would like to forget that part of America 's past but, for African Americans, it is not so easily forgotten. For African Americans, life in America has been tumultuous to say the least. Since those first few horrendous centuries, African Americans have been making strides towards a better existence. Things are better now because of the countless African Americans who strived and believed that things could be better for their people. Even though African Americans still have a ways to go, African Americans have come a long way over the course of 100 years because the foundation of the NAACP, the Harlem Renaissance, the "I Have A Dream" speech, and the fact that an
De Walt conducted. “"In Search of an Authentic African American And/or Black Identity: Perspectives of First Generation U.S.-Born Africans Attending a Predominantly White Institution” is a study that looks into the lives of six first generation US born African students and their lives on a predominately White college. Walt writes about how the students struggle to relate to African American students and what the author calls “continental Africans.” continental Africans are people who were born in an African country and have very strong ties to that country. As someone that would be considered a continental African, I still find it difficult to navigate between these two groups of people. Another interesting point that De Walt writes about is how thee definition of an African American has changed over time. Previously an African American would only include someone would is a “generational African American” which are people who have linage that dates back to slavery in the Unites States. Now it includes people that celebrate their US nationality and some other African country such as Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya (De Walt 484). Understanding this change in what it means to be an African American now is important because it highlights the intersectional nature of African students identities. African Students can be both America and African the research will focus on what that look like on a college
As I reflect on who I am and which culture I identify with, I am met with reservation. My parents are both Black Americans, they were both born and raised in the United States, their parent were also born and raised in the US. It is obvious that we derive from African descent; our skin color and physical features yet I find it difficult to relate or identify with my African heritage as slavery has played a pivotal role in separating us from our African origin. African enslavement left us devoid of a way to define ourselves. It severed familial ties and deprived us of any viable opportunity to reclaim them.(www.huffpost.com) We are descendants of African slaves but when I speak to someone who was born in Africa or research African culture, I
Studying abroad, which has become a common phenomenon, can be a fun and meaningful experience. Many university students are interested in studying abroad because it gives them an opportunity to explore different cultures and broaden their horizons. As Mark Sherry, Peter Thomas and Wing Hong Chui argue in “International Students: a Vulnerable Student Population,” the goals that students pursue international study are often to acquire different ways of learning and to improve cross-cultural understanding, which helps them gain self-confidence as well as maturity (33). This experience turns out to be beneficial to those who study abroad. Nevertheless, when students are surrounded by a wholly new environment, many problems that hinder their passion inevitably emerge in this process, which makes them a vulnerable group. To resolve these problems, international students should change their habits and pay attention to self-regulation; while local community is supposed to offer them proper and considerate accommodation.
The African American Struggle No group in American history has been more subjugated than the African American people. The most common thread in our history is the mistreatment and hardship of African Americans. There is a tendency for the sorrow and strife this injustice causes to be woven into the music of this resilient group. They utilize the medium of song to tell their story, either to help them cope with their reality or educate those around them. Throughout American history, the struggle of the African American people is echoed all over.
I know that my term abroad will involve much more than site seeing, trying new food, and meeting new people, it will bring out a lifelong story to share what I experienced academically, personally, and professionally. Academically, I hope to be able to share my learning experiences, from the objectives learned in the courses to the different techniques used. Taking what I learn abroad, I would have the option to implement the knowledge gained into future courses I take and share insights and perceptions that were used, with my peers at my home campus. There are obviously countless experiences one gains personally from studying abroad. My hope is that I am able to look back on the friendships and connections I created, and the life lessons I was confronted with. Living a whole semester in a different country will bring along the involvement of learning how to live within a society that differs from what I’m use to. I expect to use my new cultural experiences in hopes that it will assist me down the road when adjusting to new environments and situations. Lastly, I hope that I am able to gain experience that can be utilized within future professional work. Being able to utilize my experiences and knowledge gained from being abroad in a future job would be great. Most importantly, I hope that what I learn abroad can be applied to everyday experiences and be put towards
Consistently thousands of individuals leave the solaces of their homes to study abroad. For what reason do they do it? Many feel that studying abroad gives them a sort of eminence in their nation of origin. It might even prompt a superior occupation. What's more, many individuals need to study abroad for the unadulterated joy and energy it brings. Studying abroad is vital time of anybody's life. It contains loads of exposure, experience and self-improvement. It has profound impact on students since individuals from everywhere throughout the world came at one place having diverse cultures and distinctive school of musings. When they study together they find new strategies for study and research. This is eventually useful for entire world not for single nation. Along these lines entire world can walk together in each field of life. When they converse with each other they came to know different religions, conventions and it influences them to think in an unexpected way. I believe that studying abroad is very beneficial
Studying abroad may be the most thrilling and unsatisfactory experience. Nowadays the percentage of international students is increasing rapidly. According to the National survey, the statistics of International students are 19% in U.S.A. Students have the opportunity to study in the foreign country to learn the other country culture and to do better than native people. Some students have problems in foreign countries such as financial issues and cultural shock. Despite, of the negative effects student, can also make life experience.
I always want to be an international student because I believe that learning in different surroundings will offer me a chance to explore the world. In order to become one, I have been preparing myself for this upcoming challenge. Long years of studying and paying most of my attention to school work made me wonder whether it is worthwhile to spend so much time on textbooks and became curious about what it is like to study in another country. In 2011, I seized the opportunity provided by my senior high school and became an exchange student in the U.S. . I didn’t fit in perfectly in the beginning, but throughout my exchange year, I had learned to adapt m...