Scribes & Important People by Shamelle Crawford

On Tuesday, September 14, 2010 Dr. Benjamin gave a lecture on The Eloquence of The Scribes: Initiation, Expectations, and Mastery- Continuing Legacy of HU.
The lecture was very informational and quite interesting. She spoke on scribes and how they played an important role in history and at Howard University.As well as important people related to Howard. It started back during the ancient times in Egypt the Egyptian scribe would use papyrus scroll. As well as barley rations written on clay in cuneiform during 2350 b.c. Some professions scribers could take on where accountants, journalism, and government postitions. The Different kind of scribes ranged from royal to anonymous scribes.Some important people to Howard consist of General Oliver Otis Howard, Moredecai Wyatt Johnson, Inabel Bums Lindsay, Alaine Leroy Locke, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman.

In Nov 1866, Oliver Otis Howard was trying to determine how to train color ministries and result of that came Howard University. The school started out training black lawyers, doctors, & teachers. The first black president of Howard was Moredecai Wyatt Johnson which the Adminstration building also known as the "A Building" is named after. He was a respecatable man that made a significant contribution to Howard. The university originated with 8 schools and by the time he left it was composed of 10 schools. Mr. Johnson was president from 1926-1960. Although, she does not have a building named after her Inabel Bums Lindsay was the first dean of School of Social Work and the only dean in D.C. In 1945, she started the School of Social Work which was the second accredited school serving blacks. She retired in 1967. Another important icon was Alaine Leroy Locke Hall which is the building for COAS or College of Arts & Sciences. He was the first black rhodes scholart; promoting black artist, writers and musicians. He was best known for his work of Harlem Renaissance. He publishsed a magazine "Survey Grahpic" which informed whites of black culture. An important man to black history is Frederick Douglass in which the math, Sociology, Anthropology, and more departments reside at Douglass Hall. Mr. Douglass was an editor, autho, and journalist that became the most electrifying speaker in 19th century. He spoke for his people and was good at it. He seved as the board of trustee member. Finally, we have Harriet Tubman who made history. She was known as the moses of her people for the Underground Railroad in which she rescued over 300 slaves in 20 trips. The Harriet Tubman Quadrangle is compromised of five halls named after five historical ladies whom have done something of significant for women or african americans. Sojourner Truth, Prudence Crandall, Phillis Wheatley, Baldwin, and Wheatley.

Overall, the lecture was good and I enjoyed learning about all these people and much more who made a difference in there community. As well as how important, a scriber is and what they can do.