"Ego Tripping"

Hello My LEDA Fam!
I want to share with you all one of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets- Nikki Giovanni! She is a role model and Sorority sister of mine!

Poetry is not only a genre of literature; it has transformed into the voice for many individuals' emotions, feelings and beliefs. Poets have the job of using words to create stanzas of lyrical prose. Early poets like Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson and Ralph Emerson took words and created images of nature and love. As the years progressed, so did the view of poetry. Various types of writing, music, and even dance can be poetic. Earlier famous poets were predominantly white, famous poets presently have encompassed various ethnicities and cultures. Poets like Maya Angelou, Pablo Neruda, and Langston Hughes have utilized poetry to discuss issues of oppression and other societal issues. Poetry in the African-American community has targeted societal issues such as racism, oppression, poverty, and racial identity. One poet that has focused on issues of love, life and other societal issues is Nikki Giovanni. Nikki Giovanni has used her poetry as a way to record "herstory", exude her self-pride as well as combat issues that we face in society daily.


“Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why)”

I was born in the congo

I walked to the fertile crescent and built

the sphinx

I designed a pyramid so tough that a star

that only glows every one hundred years falls

into the center

giving divine perfect light

I am bad


I sat on the throne

drinking nectar with Allah

I got hot and sent an ice age to Europe

to cool my thirstMy oldest daughter is Nefertiti

the tears from my birth pains

created the nileI am a beautiful woman


I gazed on the forest and burnedout the Sahara desert

with a packet of goat's meatand a change of clothes

I crossed it in two hours

I am a gazelle so swift

so swift you can't catch me


For a birthday present when he was three

I gave my son Hannibal an elephant

He gave me Rome for mother's day

My strength flows ever on


My son Noah built new/ark and

I stood proudly at the helmas we sailed on a soft summer day

I turned myself into myself and was

Jesus

men intone my loving name

All praises All praises

I am the one who would save


I sowed diamonds in my back yard

My bowels deliver uranium

the filings from my fingernails are

semi-precious jewels

On a trip north

I caught a cold and blew

My nose giving oil to the Arab world

I am so hip even my errors are correct

I sailed west to reach east and had to round off

the earth as I went

The hair from my head thinned and gold was laidacross three continents


I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal

I cannot be comprehended except by my permission


I mean...I...can fly

like a bird in the sky...

-Nikki Giovanni

When reading this poem, one can blatantly see the self- pride that is exuded. This poem was written in 1973, during a time of the Black Panther movement when people like James proud was singing "I'm black and I'm proud". The concept of being black as natural beauty was also seen through the fashion of Afro's at that time where hair was left unprocessed and embraced in all of its natural features and textures. Also during the 70's a growing rate of women becoming more free spirited and taking on the role of feminists. This poem embraces both feminism and African American history to create a poem that radiates pride.

The first stanza of the poem allows the reader to make the connection between Africa and the writer. This first stanza captures the attention of readers because of it's allegations. Giovanni writes that she "built the sphinx" and "designed a pyramid" The comparisons drawn between her and the Egyptians of ancient Africa allows for the reader to embark on an historical voyage, tying in poetic prose with historical events. The second stanza is a poignant one in which she contributes that "tears from my birth painscreated the Nile". This portrayal of women being strong enough to create a body of water is very powerful. In addition, in this stanza Giovanni states for the first time in the poem "I am a beautiful woman". These words speak volumes to the reader. Not many poems by African American writers have been able to connect historical framework and African American woman. The rest of the poem continues to support this fact that African American woman are the "mothers" of Africa and of creation.

Some other phrases that make the comparison between African American women and Creation so poignant are, "I am a Gazelle", "I turned myself into myself and was Jesus", "I sowed diamonds in my backyard", and "I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal". Giovanni craftily utilizes phrases like the one mentioned to create a poem filled with pride in African American history and in self-identity. This poem speaks to African Women who have been oppressed by the media, and broader societal images of African-Americans. It is a poem of uplifting and pride in who you are as not only a woman but an African American woman.

Giovanni ends this poem with words of liberation. She writes, "I mean…I… can Fly like a bird in the sky… this supports the notion that after creating so many things on this earth, everything else is possible. Leaving the reader with a sense of hope, pride and faith was truly accomplished with this poem.
Various media outlets have embraced the poetry of Nikki Giovanni as well as her dedication to academia. Ego Tripping received many reviews after it's arrival to the American Literature scene. Raheil Tesfamariam wrote in the Washington Informer "I discovered Nikki Giovanni's "Ego Tripping" and my life was forever changed. That poem commanded me to love myself, my sisters and my people…I love Giovanni for sharing those thoughts of Afro-centric self-love with the world; I love her for daring to tell Black women that they are beautiful and "so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal." This supports the notion that Giovanni's poetry has been used as a way to gain self-affirmation for African American women. Nikki Giovanni's unyielding pride allows for her to portray a positive image of black woman in society. She continues to enrich the canon of American Literature by tastefully and craftily utilizing words to create timeless poetic pieces.

-Mellisa Thompson-

Be Happy!

Happiness has different meanings for everyone; we each have to define and seek it for ourselves.

STEPS:

Figure out what is important to you in life. For example: Do you value a certain kind of job; materials things; a relationship; time alone or with others; time to relax or to be creative; time to read, listen to music or have fun? These are just a few of the possibilities.

Think about times when you felt happy, good or content. Where were you? Whom were you with? What were you doing, thinking or feeling that made you feel happy?

Decide to make more time in your life to do more of what is important to you and makes you feel happier. To be happy, you have to make happiness a priority in your life.

Start with little things and work up to bigger ones. Little things might include reading an engrossing book for 15 minutes; taking a walk; calling a friend; or buying great-smelling soap. Shampoo, candles or tea that you will enjoy every time you use it.

Focus on what is positive about yourself, others and life in general instead of dwelling on the negative. In a journal, write down as may positive things as you can think of. Keep it handy to read over, and continue adding to it.

Appreciate what is working in your life right now. In the major areas of your life, such as your health, job, love life, friends, family, money and living situation, what is going well?

-Liza-
Director of Scholar Support

How we find you...

Working with great high schools and guidance counselors who in turn help us recruit great students is the heart of what LEDA does. But, it’s a difficult process! There are a lot of websites out there that can give you a pretty good statistical snapshot of what an area looks like – such as the Educational Needs Index (www.educationalneedsindex.com), the National Center for Education Statistics, and the Census Bureau. In other words…it’s pretty easy to figure out the demographics of an area, such as what the average income is and what the test scores look like. But it’s MUCH harder to measure all the other intangible things that make a school great…like staff, innovation, and spirit.

Fairly often, a LEDA Scholar will tell me about a school or group of schools which we missed in his or her area, and that has amazing students. How we find and support these other deserving schools, counselors, and students is a conundrum we wrestle with all the time. Numbers are important…but they are only a small part of the story. Increasingly, LEDA is reaching out to community-based agencies so we can build a bigger base of recruiters who know our high schools far better than we ever will. But we are also open to any and all additional suggestions about how to find more deserving applicants like you...

-Heidi Fisher-
Director of Research & Recruitment

In response to hate incidents...

In response to recent the campus incidents involving racist and antisemitic slurs and the noose hung outside a faculty member's door, five Columbia and Barnard students are fasting until the administration recognizes the urgent need for reform. To see the hunger striker's blog, go to http://cu-strike.blogspot.com/An academic environment that allows for such explicit acts of hatred among the people considered to be the brightest of the country, tomorrow's leaders, is frankly, terrifying. Knowledge is power. Students at this great university should be exposed to more than just the Western canon, also known as Columbia's core curriculum. The ethnic studies department was gained through efforts of student activism in 1996(at the time 700 universities in the U.S. had ethnic studies programs and Columbia, which had none, required six semesters of Western civilization). But the program, understaffed and underfunded, is struggling; Columbia's promise, unkept.

The other issue of concern is Columbia's expansion into Harlem, called the Manhattanville Project, which will displace thousands of underprivileged Harlem residents while also leaving hundreds, if not thousands, jobless. This ongoing process of gentrification is not to be ignored. If you are interested in signing the petition for change, please go to http://www.petitiononline.com/kwzchen/petition.html

As LEDA Scholars, and as the future leaders of this nation, we should never forget the value and importance of diversity and how even the best curricula may need reevaluation to better represent and serve the academic community. And frankly, a safe academic atmosphere for ALL students should be any university's main concern.

-Jesssica Salinas
LEDA Scholar Co-hort I
Barnard College 2010

P.S.: I'd like to note that Dennis Dalton, Professor of Political Science at Barnard and a Gandhian scholar, has joined the hunger strike in solidarity with the strikers and the demands.

"Language is a struggle"

“Language is a struggle”

-bell hooks

It is indeed very difficult to divorce oneself from the intrinsically prejudicial or even racist linguistic paradigms rooted in a history of colonialism. These paradigms lock us in the ever-so-famous dichotomies of same/different, us/them, white/black, man/woman, straight/gay, etc. It is within these binary systems that power dynamics persist; one side always superseding the other. It is with this rhetoric that we perpetuate “colonization”. We need to be very cautious not to partake in this language game and learn to view our fellow human beings as empowered individuals.

As we look to affect change in this world, we need to abandon the colonizer’s attitude, or “the white man’s burden” of civilizing the Others. Instead, the first step to sustainable development is to recognize one’s agency!

Inspired by William Earsterly and Amartya Sen.

-Assia

LEDA and Bloom’s Taxonomy

Cognitive

The cognitive domain involves knowledge and the development of intellectual skills. This includes the recall or recognition of specific facts, procedural patterns, and concepts that serve in the development of intellectual abilities and skills. There are six major categories, which are listed in order below, starting from the simplest behavior to the most complex. The categories can be thought of as degrees of difficulties. That is, the first one must be mastered before the next one can take place.

Knowledge-Comprehension-Analysis-Synthesis-Evaluation

Affective

This domain includes the manner in which we deal with things emotionally, such as feelings, values, appreciation, enthusiasms, motivations, and attitudes. The five major categories are listed from the simplest behavior to the most complex:

Receiving Phenomena – Responding to Phenomena-Valuing-Internalizing Values

Psychomotor

The psychomotor domain includes physical movement, coordination, and use of the motor-skill areas. Development of these skills requires practice and is measured in terms of speed, precision, distance, procedures, or techniques in execution. The seven major categories are listed from the simplest behavior to the most complex:

Perception-Set-Guided Response-Mechanism-Complex overt Response-Adaptation-Origination

You tell me how you think this applies to LEDA.

Ms. C

"Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza"

I'm currently reading a book for my Intro to Latino Studies class at Columbia called "Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza" by Gloria Anzaldúa, who was born in Brownsville, Texas. I'd like to share this personal passage by Anzaldúa, subtitled "The Strength of My Rebellion," which resonates deeply with me.

"I have a vivid memory of an old photography: I am six years old. I
stand between my father and mother, head cocked to the right, the
toes of my flat feet gripping the ground. I hold my mother's hand.
To this day I'm not sure where I found the strength to leave the
source, the mother, disengage from my family, mi tierra, mi gente, and
all that picture stood for. I had to leave home so I could find
myself, find my own intrinsic nature buried under the personality that
had been imposed on me.
I was the first in six generations to leave the Valley, the only one
in my family to ever leave home. But I didn't leave all the parts of
me: I kept the ground of my own being. On it I walked away, taking
with me the land, the Valley, Texas. Gané mi camino y me largué. Muy
andariega mi hija. Because I left of my own accord me dicen, ‘¿Cómo te
gusta la mala vida?’
At a very early age I had a strong sense of who I was and what I was
about and what was fair. I had a stubborn will. It tried constantly to
mobilize my soul under my own regime, to have life on my own terms no
matter how unsuitable to others they were. Terca. Even as a child I
would not obey. I was 'lazy.' Instead of ironing my younger brothers'
shirts or cleaning the cupboards, I would pass many hours studying,
reading, painting, writing. Every bit of self-faith I'd painstakingly
gathered took a beating daily. Nothing in my culture approved of me.
Había agarrado malos pasos. Something was 'wrong' with me. Estaba más
allá de la tradición.
There is a rebel in me--the Shadow-Beast. It is a part of me that
refuses to take orders from outside authorities. It refuses to take
orders from my conscious will, it threatens the sovereignty of my
rulership. It is that part of me that hates constraints of any kind,
even those self-imposed. At the least hint of limitations on my time
or space by others, it kicks out with both feet. Bolts."

Jessica Salinas
LEDA Scholar Co-hort I
Barnard College 2010

Looking to volunteer?

LEDA is more than just about getting into college. It is about helping LEDA Scholars become leaders and valuable members in their communities. Following the spirit of LEDA’s guiding principles of Excellence, Integrity, Compassion and Community, I wanted to take the time to let you know about a wonderful community service opportunity.

Project Sunshine is a nonprofit organization that provides free social, educational and recreational programs to children and families affected by medical challenges. They have partnerships with hospitals in over 30 states around the country, including many states where LEDA Scholars are located. Many colleges and universities also have campus chapters of Project Sunshine. Check with your school to see if you have one!

Volunteers participate in a number of activities that include arts and crafts, tutoring, knitting, etc. The main goal is to serve as a helping hand for children and families in their time of need. Activities occur quite regularly and there is always a variety of events to choose from, including on weekends.

Volunteers must be over 18 years of age and attend a one-hour volunteer information session that gives an overview of Project Sunshine’s mission and guidelines that all volunteers must follow. The best part: There is no requirement of hours! You can volunteer whenever your schedule permits.

As a volunteer of Project Sunshine, I have had the opportunity to meet many great people and volunteer at a numbers of events. The event I will be volunteering at later this month is a reunion party for one-hundred children who have received heart transplants. Volunteers will participate in arts and crafts activities with the children.

To learn more about Project Sunshine, visit: www.projectsunshine.org

If you choose to become a volunteer with Project Sunshine, please let us know. Maybe we can volunteer together!

-Billy-

How many mystery novels do you know where the murderer is revealed in the first sentence?

"Eunice Parchman killed the Coverdale family because she could not read or write” is the opening line to the 1977 novel “A Judgement in Stone,” written by acclaimed English mystery writer Ruth Rendell (aka the Queen of Crime). The novel centers on a woman who, because of her illiteracy, isolates herself from all those around her. As a result of this, television becomes the one medium by which she is connected to the world. Eunice will lie, deceive, manipulate and even kill to get what she wants (which is usually to watch her favorite crime shows.)

What I find amazing about this novel is that although Rendell presents the gist of the crime in the first sentence, I couldn’t help being drawn into Eunice’s world. At times I was disgusted with Eunice and yet I wanted to know more about her and why she committed this horrible crime. How could this woman, most often seen as a victim, become the aggressor and dominant force in this narrative?

Rendell has written over forty crime novels. Many of them follow a common theme; a disadvantaged main character that is isolated from society and the repercussions of this isolation on them and others. In “A Judgement in Stone,” Rendell shows the clash that can exist between literate and non-literate people. Rendell goes beyond writing the usual mystery novel; she creates a social commentary on what happens to those who are on the outside of society.

What is the world like for those who are illiterate? What role do they play in society? What would I do if I was Eunice? These are questions that I asked myself as I read this novel.

I am not one that reads crime novels as a hobby, but having read one of Rendell’s novels, I am hooked. Rendell’s prose and insights into the human psyche keep me coming back for more. If you are at all interested in psychology, sociology or criminology, I highly recommend this novel.

Read anything interesting lately? Let us know!

-Billy-