Howard University Opening Convocation, One Hundred and Forty- Four Years

This year’s opening convocation was an exciting even that left me with high expectations for the next four years here at “The Mecca” Howard University. Dr. Michael Lomax, president and chief executive officer of United Negro College Fund, delivered an exceptional keynote address as this year’s convocation. As the convocation orator of 144^th convocation ceremony Dr. Lomax gave an inspiring and thought provoking speech to an auditorium filled with eager bright minds both young and old.

In his inspiring speech Dr. Lomax emphasized the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States. He made it a point that HBCU’s are crucial to producing African Americans that will contribute great things to our society. It has actually been proven according to Dr. Lomax that HBCU’s as far as African Americans getting degrees students at HBCU’s outperform majority of other institutions. At historically black colleges students perseverance are greater than that of those at other schools that they are more likely to continue on towards attaining a higher degree or work in more challenging fields of study. He stressed that historically black colleges and universities not only provide a great education but they hold a legacy that only students at HBCU’s can understand. This is an experience like no other, the culture at these prestigious institutions of higher learning are beyond amazing in every way. HBCU’s were established to give the black community an opportunity, if not an equal opportunity as that of other races towards an education. Through HBCU’s students have learned to embrace their culture rather than hide from it, they have learned a greater appreciation.

However like Dr. Lomax reiterated numerous times throughout his speech “great colleges must not be complacent.” As students of Howard University and of an HBCU it is our duty to not become satisfied with what we have and how far we have come but to continue to strive for greatness. We owe it to ourselves and others that have come before us and that will come after us to continue our legacy in any way that we can. Whether it be by upgrading our resources such as textbooks and equipments. It is our job as students of such a historical school to not only preserve the history of Howard University to take care of our “home”. There is no reason that such an astounding university should have so many flaws.

As a whole we need to do better. As HBCU’s we must work together to make sure that we all attain the greatness which our institutions were created for. As students we must work both in the classroom and outside the classroom as well as every aspect of life. We must take every opportunity given to us and strive for nothing but the best.