Arick D. Scott's Reflection

     Last week, during Freshman Seminar, the guest speaker was a divine man by the name of Dr. Alton B. Pollard III. Dr. Pollard is the current dean of Howard University’s School of Divinity. Being such a spiritually intact person, being a pastor and dean must come naturally to Dr. Pollard. When speaking last week, he started his lecture by first describing the idea of religion by using a generic definition. Dr. Pollard describes religion as being as spiritual and mental belief that varies by culture and geographical region. There are many different beliefs around the world today, but almost every belief acknowledges the idea of a God, idol, or a higher power. Religion became somewhat of a tool that anointed priests or divine figures would use to manipulate others into behaving appropriately within society and it was used to explain the unexplainable topics such as: creation, birth, death, weather, natural disasters and spontaneous unfortunate events. Religion has been the bridge between humans and the uncertainties throughout our lifetime. Dr. Pollard continues his lecture by talking about a key factor of almost every religion: faith. Faith is the idea that one can trust and depend on his/her deity to supply and provide thus person with understanding, protection, and general purpose. Faith is the idea of believing strongly in one’s religious beliefs. Dr. Pollard relates faith to the African slaves will to endure and progress. African slaves suffered through hard labor for many years with the idea of someday being free. Dr. Pollard even played the song “Ship Ahoy” by The Ojays. This song is referring to the slave ships that cruised the mid-Atlantic passage during the slave trade. Slaves were finally freed and assimilated to American living and, in turn, created the African-Americans that exist today. Our African-American culture is rich and jubilant as we still carry many of the religious beliefs that nurtured the sanity of our ancestors. I would like to thank Dr. Alton B. Pollard III for once again reminding me of my existence in the United States and how important faith is in any lifetime, back then and now.