No Scrub

Such a variety of interesting and controversial topics were touched on in class and readings these past few weeks. Between Olaudah Equiano and Mary Wollstonecraft alone, there are plenty of debatable and considerable arguments made. In the case of Equiano, I feel as though his story,"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" has either been under appreciated or forgotten just like that of Wollstonecraft simply because of the passage of time and the fact that "times are different." Now, I am not the type to beat a dead horse but I do think there is value in trying to comprehend the depth of man's shortcomings in the case of slavery and discrimination whether in regards to race or gender. As we become more aware of our hypocritical past mentalities, we are less likely to fall as deeply into destructive behavior of the sort but without correction as part of preventative methods, our past is capable of rearing its ugly head again and taking our minds and bodies captive. For example, how are Christians going to understand the depth of their past and current sin and our history of depravity as a human race unless we confirm the Old Testament? Now, if freedom from these sins come from recognition  of our wrongs and surrendering to Christ, it would make sense that acknowledging the past and working to fight that dark past is vital. Now how do Christians continue to fight sin? By remember the New Testament and the actions of Christ which set all believers free and provides them with power to overcome sin. A small glimpse of this freedom is seen in people re-acknowledging the past and continuing to battle that evil capacity within us which could be the allowance of sex-trafficking or discrimination by assuming stereotypes towards others. 

     Wollstonecraft was another author who revealed much through her "A Vindication of the Rights of Women." Her call to feminist rights through the destruction of a stereotype that was destroying the potential dreams of women around her stirred quite the reaction. Wollstonecraft was tired of seeing women around her succumb to this false personae as a woman who cares little for wisdom or intellectual matters, but is more concerned with appearance and attention from the males. I do agree that women should participate in intellectual matters and use their thoughts and intelligence towards the greater good, which for women, can be an easier mountain to overcome in dealing with interpersonal relationships. Hollywood has definitely continued to overdo the "ditziness" associated with many females but nowadays, can even overemphasize the independent and selfish mentality of a woman to serve herself and no other. All human beings are called to service whether they desire it or not. Women and men serve one another in some capacity daily whether they are aware of it or not. Reading this writing did remind me of information and research shared with my Honors Global Issues class from Dr. Bullard. According to Margaret Mead in her studies of the Tchumbuli people, the typical gender roles are reversed. What does this mean? Women are the hunters who don't see men as peers but inferior. They tend to take on a more rugged appearance with little regard to pleasing a man visually. On the other hand, men are the ones who desire to dress up and adorn themselves so that they may gain the interest of women when they aren't being the gatherers for their tribes. To me, this is an extremely odd and demonstrates just how far humans can wander off the path. I do believe that men are physically the stronger vessel but just like women, are made in the image of God and saved by the same grace. We are all given different gifts but in my own circumstance, I prefer to use my gift to form meaningful relationships with others by serving and loving them. I have no problem with womanly duties or working a full-time job but I do have a problem with a guy who does not consider his family to be his job to care for. In the words of TLC, "I don't want no scrub."

     In conclusion, I would like to end with a song by my favorite band. I have a feeling I have posted this song before but once more, it relates so well to my thought process while going over the struggles of Frederick Douglass as a slave to a freed man. Douglass spoke of how he felt chosen to represent and stand up for his brothers and sisters who were daily being born and dying into a world of slavery. People like Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, Jr. found their callings and toiled daily in order to provide a better life for those that they would never meet in the future. Yet as satisfying as it may seem to toil, it is pointless without a calling. Someone can't be called unless someone is calling them. In the instance of Martin Luther King, Jr., Equiano, and Douglass, these men were called by God according to their views and I agree. The legacy and change that was brought wasn't possible with the help of just these few men alone. It took a much greater being to call them and help them fulfill that calling.

Interesting enough, the band above, Company of Thieves, is currently setting aside the band as Genevieve Schatz, the co-foudner and lead singer of the band, tours and performs some solo material. I am extremely excited about hearing what she has to bring. Regardless, it is quite the change. CHANGE. It's a scary yet comforting thing. I am extremely excited about new classes next semester serving as Vice President for my sorority and being one step closer to studying abroad in Spain yet I loathe the idea of close friends graduating and not see my honors family daily. I'm also despising the fact that I will more than likely be quitting my current job and applying for a new one. An inspirational young woman by the name of Corinne Bailey Rae once said in her hit single Put Your Records On "The more things seem to change, the more things stay the same. Oh, don't you think it's strange?" It took awhile to make sense but it most definitely does now since I've been in college. Looking at Equiano Douglass, and Wollstonecraft, I imagine they even felt the same way as they fought for freedom and equality among difference minority and ill-represented groups. Change is inevitable. Aging is inevitable. We aren't capable of stopping time. These means that we will either constantly be shocked and molded by the never ceasing change in our lives or become immune to the natural shock that comes with it. We choose.