Summary of Dr.Carr's lecture

Tamika Philip

In this week’s lecture Dr. Carr talked about African teaching and learning. In the beginning of the power point presentation, Dr. Carr showed the class different African symbols used to represent basic teaching and learning terms. A few of those terms were, “Sedjem” (listen), “Ma’at” (truth), “Medew Nefer” (good speech), “Seba/ Sebayt” (teach/teachings), “Sedi” (educate), “Medew law” (staff of old age), etc. Dr. Carr also emphasized the fact that we are all descendents of Africans. He also stated that, “African’s were deep thinkers, and the goal was to recover African Deep Thought from its historical African background…and to show that such deep thought serves as the basis of what we now refer to as ‘academic’ work.” In my opinion, there are many traits in African- Americans that were passed down from our ancestors, such as our ability to learn and understand. According to Ayi Kwei Armah, The Eloquence of the Scibes, 274, 279, “the Ancestors may be contacted in the books, songs, prayers, proverbs, music, ritual and art…the soul which wishes to receive inspiration makes a habit of visiting these sites of ancestral excellence, to ask questions, to listen and to read, to analyze and to sift.”

In conclusion, Dr. Carr’s lectures are very intriguing. His tone and choice of words makes each lecture an unforgettable one. So far I am able to say that I have learned something new at both lectures. My only concern is that a few of the power point slides are not clearly perceived in my mind.