Heirs to Greatness by Glenn Gladney

At the lecture presented by Dr. Thornton, he stressed the need for the young people to become more actively involved in the issues that plague society. Furthermore, the speaker said that blacks at today's universities should be held responsible to listen and voice their opinion in order to represent the black community. As a Howard University student it is my responsibility to be strive for excellence in my studies. In addition I must become "the best and brightest" by making myself mentally aware and knowledgeable on social issues that concern the global community. This also means to challenge my professors, politicians, and the news media. 

The orator further expanded on his lecture as he mentioned how the global community is need of strong "citizens". By his definition, Dr. Thornton believed that citizens of the world continuously push for the expansion of human rights. This differs for each individual that may view certain rights as more significant than others. For example, the speaker personally felt that universal healthcare was a basic human right that should be guaranteed. 

A representative thinker of Howard that fits this description is Thurgood Marshall. His accomplishments within the judicial system paved the way for blacks seeking success. His push for the passage of the 14th Amendment was vital in securing his beliefs on basic human rights. His hard work and perseverance inspires me to press forward in my pursuit of academics. I feel that academics serve as the tool for me personally securing my beliefs on basic human rights.