"You are the future"

Dr.Thornton's lecture this week was extremely passionate and inspirational. As apart of the class of 2015 , I know that I knew that coming to Howard I was becoming apart of history. Iconic people such as Thurgood Marshall, Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston and Donny Hathaway have all gone on to be the best people they could be in their field.  Going to college was the first step in becoming  a success abut it doesn't end here. Graduating and furthering my education even more will define my future and the legacy that I leave behind when I leave Howard. Dr.Thornton's speech made me think about the rights that we have as a citizen and what they really mean. although being born in this country makes you a citizen on paper, the color of our skin and the size of our pockets determines our rights. The ongoing racism and prejudice against African Americans in America has does not reflect the rights that were supposedly given to us as a birth right. Being a citizen in this country SHOULD mean health care for everybody, free education, and more assistance and job help for those less fortunate. What it should mean and what it does mean are two different things. What being a citizen does mean is if your rich you have health care and if your poor you don't. if you cant pay for college out of your pocket. then take out loans and go into debt before you can drink. out of all the Howard alumni, the person that is the biggest inspiration to me is Zora Neale Hurston. Not only is she from my state, but her literature has always been inspirational to me. she writes with such confidence that it comes through the paper. although i am a biology major, she really inspires me to be a better writer. overall Dr.Thornton's lecture had an impact on the way I carry myself here at Howard.