When I first decided to come to Penn State, I had a laser beam focus on being a STEM major. My scholarship program (The Millennium Scholars Program) was very adamant and strict in my involvement with research, joining organizations that focused on STEM, and getting good grades in my STEM classes. But I knew myself. I knew I needed to take classes that I chose for my own enjoyment and I knew I wanted to take advantage of the different cultural opportunities in college. So during my first semester of college, I took African American 100 (Af Am 100): Living While Black with Dwayne Kwaysee Wright as my first general education elective. After this class I decided to be an African American Studies Minor and not once have I ever regretted it.
Af Am 100 was a class that focused on contemporary issues and various forms of oppression that Black people experience while living in America. The class consisted of readings that enhanced my knowledge of AfAm Studies terminology, class discussions where I had to listen to opposing arguments, and a teacher that constantly challenged every single comment/point I made. The class topics ranged from defining race to homosexuality to the criminal justice system to stereotypes to politics to dating preferences and more. I also read the acclaimed Race Matters by Dr. Cornel West. Overall, the class was an eye opening experience and Dwayne was a key figure that influenced my decision to minor in Af Am.
I am sure my journey is similar to others, where I took one class and enjoyed it so much that I added the subject as a minor. I think my discovery is different though because I decided to minor in an area that is directly related to my life. Growing up, my mother was keen on confidence, self-love, knowing my history, and giving back to the community. However, before college, I never had to sit down and have long conversations about being Black (and African American in particular). I never discussed the different ideologies and conceptions that existed between African Americans, Africans, Caribbeans and various other ethnic groups. I did not even understand race, ethnicity, or nationality in its entirety.
Because I am African American, one may fight it obvious that I would choose to minor in the subject or odd because I already know so much about it. In actuality, minoring in African American studies had taught me so more about life that any other subject. There was so much I was unaware of in terms of my history and in understanding other cultures. This post is to recognize how THANKFUL I am that I chose to be an African American studies minor because it honestly changed my life. Not to be dramatic, but it is true. The way I see people, debates, interactions, issues, etc. has drastically changed and as a result, I have grown so much as a person.
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