Common Text Conferences Inspires Freshmen Students

Every seat in Cramton Auditorium was filled with freshman students on Monday night as they awaited a lecture from Howard alumna Isabel Wilkerson for the semi-annual Common Text conference.

Every semester freshmen English students are assigned a book to read and discuss as a class as a part of the English department's Common Text program. Students are also given the opportunity to write an essay that can be showcased at the semester's conference. This year, the students were asked to write an expository essay of approximately 500 words based on Wilkerson's book "The Warmth of Other Suns."

Wilkerson won a Pulitzer Prize for her work as the Chicago Bureau chief of the New York Times in 1994, which made her the first black woman in the history of American journalism to win the award. She has also received the George Polk award in Journalism. Currently, Wilkerson is a professor of journalism and a director of narrative non-fiction at Boston University. Last fall, Wilkerson published "The Warmth of Other Suns," a collection of stories from African Americans who were a part of the Great Migration. 

Wilkerson's message urged freshmen to broaden their thought process as well as to become educated on their history.

She also explained the power of the Great Migration, it's magnitude on African American culture, and how it forced the country to change the caste system. It forced media to take a look at the south and how it was being operated and governed. Media took attention to the segregation practices in the south, and due to it's strong impact on society, was able to open the eyes of the people.

"This is not African American history, this is American history," Wilkerson said.

"We can thank our parents, grandparents, and ancestors," Wilkerson said. "These people were able to do what the President, congress, or the powers that we could not do. They freed themselves."

She explained further on about the Great Migration and how mighty African-American ancestors were.

"The courageous people left the south without knowing when they would see their families again," she said.

Mariah Peyton, freshman biology major, said, "The conference moved me to appreciate my culture more."

Afterward, the floor was opened to the audience for questions.

Freshmen Jared Brown and Ashley Smith, both public relations majors, were glad to have attended the lecture.

Brown said, "I only came because it was extra credit, but it was worth it."

Smith agreed saying, "It was short, sweet, and to the point."

The Common Text Conference continues with the display of student multimedia projects relating to the book and the Great Migration Thursday night in Blackburn Center.