FVSU Blog

One of the greatest gifts I received from a friend about 10 years ago was the development of an interest in world affairs and politics. My interest was fueled by Rush Limbaugh, the local radio station AM 940 and a subscription to Time Magazine, which I have devoured over the years. I guess I am what you would call an armchair politician- commentator wannabe. I don’t claim to always endorse the Republicans, nor do I think the Democrats have all the answers; and while I never thought Ross Perot had a snowball’s chance of winning the highest office in the land several years ago, I applaud his efforts and still think it took a lot of…well…lets just say gusto - to run the race.

 

Recent events around the world reminded me how fortunate we are as American women to be able to move about freely, voting, living, loving and basically being whoever we want to be. Sometimes we re-invent ourselves as the occasion calls for, however one thing remains the same: we are women with a woman’s heart. I like to think that the old country song says it best when it describes a woman as “the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world.” If you think about it, women have delivered by virtue of their biological functions some of the greatest gifts to mankind, as well as some of the worst monsters. I myself am not a mother, unless you count the 100+ students in the Vet Department that I lay claim to between the months of August and May. But I have often wondered about the mothers down through history that bore the famous and the infamous and the tears that they surely shed over their offsprings’ triumphs and downfalls.

 

Women unquestionably have bore the brunt of heartache, impassioned disappointments and the fostering of hope against all odds throughout the ages. While men wage war and move mountains, women are patiently waiting back home: steady, sure and reliable. I have thought a lot recently about some women that I don’t even know. I will probably never know them. They are the ones fostering the “Lipstick Rebellion” in Iran, a country that I know little about but have been following for the past few months from my armchair. As someone who has lived in Middle Georgia most of my life, I cannot say that I  fully understand or can appreciate what the women of Iran are going through, however I empathize with their struggles, their fears, and the assaults on their person. Notice that I said I “empathize” not “sympathize.” I cannot respectfully “sympathize” with the struggles of these ladies as I have never had to wear cloistering garments to go outside, never had to worry about being beaten for a show of perceived civil disobedience on the streets, or lived in fear of much of anything. I do however empathize with the passion and energy that women across Iran are showing, an impassioned display carried forth as only women can.

 

I recently read an article on MSN News accompanied by a picture of a young woman in a green head scarf, arms raised surrounded by other women as they protested with one united voice against what they felt was wrong. I empathize with these women in their struggles, for who among us gals has not had to struggle to achieve or capture something to call our own whether it is a job, a man’s heart, an education or a million other “wants.”

These ladies are no different than my Middle Georgia sisters; they are struggling to arrive at a place in their lives where they can be happy in their own way on their own terms. I don’t pretend to completely understand where that place is, no more than they can understand the hopes that I have for my life and where my “perfect place” is. But I do applaud them and respect the efforts that they put forth.

 

Today I shed a woman’s tear for the death of a fellow woman who lost her life. Neda Soltan, a 27 year old student of philosophy, was recently shot and killed on the streets of Iran and is quickly becoming an iconoclastic figure of hope and change for millions. Heralded as the Angel of Iran, she is quickly on her way to being regarded as the first martyr of Iran’s Lipstick Rebellion, paying the ultimate price for her beliefs. And yes, I think about her mother, shedding a mother’s tears…. Wherever you are, whomever you are, if you are woman, feel her pain.

 

–Dr. Oreta Samples is the lead veterinary technician in Fort Valley State University’s Veterinary Science department.

Yesterday, I got a rare chance to speak to a parent. Ms. Ameta Cartwright was delightful, excited. She and her son, Eric Goodall recently visited Fort Valley State University for the first time during last Friday’s Summer Orientation.

 Cartwright and her son were impressed by the warmth of faculty and staff members at FVSU. They had visited some of the major HBCU and college campuses around the country including Howard, Morehouse and Virginia Tech. But, she said none could compare to the warm greeting received at Fort Valley State University.

 “My son’s so excited to attend school at Fort Valley, he asked if he could come early,” Cartwright said.

 Cartwright summed up her experiences in a letter to Dr. Said Sewell

 

Dear Dr. Sewell:

 I hope this email finds you excellent and in happy and

healthy spirits. It was a wonderful pleasure meeting you, today, at The

Fort Valley State University’s Orientation session. I enjoyed your very

engaging words to the students and parents - they were very inspiring,

moving, and challenging. On our ride home, my husband and I spoke about

the story you shared with us today about your Mother dropping you off at

Morehouse College (1988) and crying…..and I know she is smiling now!

 

As we all were today, especially, my son, Eric Goodall, he was extremely

delighted to meet you and honored that you invited him to be one of your

25 young men to participate in your program!! Eric is an extremely

bright young man, with incredible potential and his manners and respect

for others make us proud. Although, like many of our young men, he needs

to stay focused and execute better time management. And I know he will

acquire all of those attributes and many more at FVSU.

 

We are overjoyed by what we experienced today at FVSU. The entire staff

was extremely hospitable and polite and their warm welcome made us feel

at home. I am sure my two young girls, who joined us today, will

consider FVSU as their university of choice!

 

 

Thank you, Dr. Sewell, for all the work that you do - your compassion,

integrity, and love for education and educating our youth to shine like a

beacon of hope. Many blessings to you,

 

Ameta J. Cartwright

 

 

I know there are thousands, if not millions of people all over the world who claim to be Michael Jackson’s biggest fan, but believe me when I tell you that NOBODY loved Michael Joseph Jackson the way that I did and always will. Now I’m no extremist. I would have never stalked him, nor do I idolize him the way some people did. After all, he was just a man. But he was a man like no other, and my love for him was sincere, and everyone knew it.

 

Just minutes after the news of his death was announced in the media, my phone was bombarded with dozens upon dozens of calls and text messages from friends, old classmates and people I haven’t spoken to in years all saying that I was the first person they thought of when they heard the news.  It was such a weird feeling to have people sending me condolence messages as if Michael was a personal friend or relative. But that’s exactly what he felt like to me. And I took his death HARD!

 

As I think back, I realize that MJ has always been a part of my life. I was born the year “Thriller” was released and like so many others, I literally grew up listening to this man. My late grand aunt would often tell me about the times she would take me shopping as child, and I would run up and down the grocery aisles telling complete strangers that Michael was my cousin, because I really believed he was.  In high school, I was known for my love of Michael. I knew ALL of his work, owned all his records and would randomly break out into classic MJ choreography between classes.

The love I had for Michael only grew stronger throughout the years. My college roommate thought I was borderline obsessed when she saw the theme I chose for my side of our room was, “The Michael Jackson Hall of Fame”. I had all of his original LP’s ranging from ABC to Dangerous displayed around the room. To make matters worse, in her opinion, I had the alarm clock on my phone set to the classic hit, “The Way You Make Me Feel” AND I would blast Michael Jackson (and Tevin Campbell ) everyday in the shower. After four years of living with me, the poor child couldn’t even stand to hear an MJ or Jackson 5 song. But that’s just how much I love him.

 

I love “The King of Pop,” so much, in fact that EVERYBODY knows not to say ANYTHING negative about Michael in my presence because I will defend his character and talent to no end.

 

This man has contributed so much to society, even beyond the realm of entertainment.  Yes, he is UNQUESTIONABLEY the greatest performer of all time, but he was so much more. People tend to speculate about the rumors (and lets stress the fact that this things are rumors) surrounding Michael’s personal life, but the FACT is this: Michael broke racial barriers, contributed to worthy causes and his influence changed music and changed the world. Michael Joseph Jackson’s legacy will forever be a part of black history, world history and MY history. WE LOVE YOU MIKE! MJ FOREVER!

- Tauheedah Shukriyyah Asad

Michael was one of my earliest crushes.  I heard him on the radio throughout my childhood when he performed with the Jackson Five and his Off-the-Wall album. But as a preteen, I first saw Michael when my best friend Karen brought Thriller to school. During our lunchtime recess, she bragged, “Look how cute he is.” We all agreed, just looking at his picture at the time, made us gasp with “oohs” and “awws.”  He looked adorable, his chocolate body was decked out in an immaculate white suit against a black background, with a baby tiger on his knee. He made every preteen girl’s knees weak. Michael Jackson was so handsome, he even made Jheri Curls look cool.

Back in the eighties, the music industry was segregated. There was MTV and VH1, and Friday Night Videos, that first showed the pioneering genre of music videos. But before Black Entertainment Television (BET) came around, there weren’t any black faces. You’d see artists like Cindy Lauper, A Flock of Seagulls, Madonna, Wham!, and Culture Club with Boy George singing their hits, but never anyone black. Michael Jackson was one of the first black faces I saw on music videos. When he danced — he electrified the whole screen. All you’d want to do is watch him move.

One week, Friday Night Videos advertised that they were premiering Michael Jackson’s latest video, Thriller.  
I nearly cried when my Mom said I couldn’t stay up late to watch it. I’d set the VCR on record, crossed my fingers and wished that the video wouldn’t mess up. Bad luck struck in the form of the stomach flu the next morning. My Dad wanted me to rest for the day, but I was determined to see Thriller. Fighting nausea, I dragged myself out of the bathroom and sat in front of the t.v. set. I squealed as the video began. At the time, Thriller was the coolest video I’d ever watched. Even with all the advances in music videos, nothing has topped it since.

I begged for my own copy of Thriller. When school let out for summer break, I nearly made my parents crazy, begging for one. At my birthday party, after the store-bought chocolate cake and canned soda pop came, my heart soared when my Mom brought out the original LP of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album in shrinkwrapped plastic. I was so happy! I was so proud. All that summer I’d go out on the porch and play Thriller on my record player, dancing and singing. I nearly fell out when I scratched the record, and couldn’t play Wanna be Starting. The record was quickly replaced with a cassette tape (which I couldn’t dance to outside, and wasn’t the same.)

When the Victory Tour was announced and Denver was included on the roster, I almost fainted. I begged my father to get tickets, and he patiently waited overnight until he could buy some. The seats weren’t the best, but I was just happy to be at the Red Rocks Ampitheatre just so I could get a view of Michael. Back then, there were no jumbo-trons, so the best we could do were binoculars. I owned all the memorabilia: his dolls, t-shirts and even the Michael Jackson calender.

In sixth grade, all I could do was daydream about him. When I hit Middle School, when rap music and other artists like L.L. Cool J, DeBarge, Prince, Salt-N-Pepa and others hit the scene, it was suddenly not so cool to like Michael Jackson. My friends and I would debate who was cooler: Prince or Michael? If you were mature (my friends argued) you liked Prince. Michael Jackson love went undercover. Things just changed so rapidly… and with the new BAD album, Michael, himself looked as if he was changing.

Michael Jackson is the standard that all the imitators still strive to be like. A testament to him is how many young people still love him. Although, there will be other “stars” I feel priveleged to have grown up in a time with the likes of such legendary stars such as Jackson, Madonna, Prince and others. When I learned Michael was in the hospital, I didn’t think it was all that serious. When he died, I was in shock. It all seemed so sudden, and even though he gave his all, he still had so much creativity and passion to give. Michael was a brilliant artist, creative genius and incredible dancer who was a part of (whether he knew it or not) some of the happiest times in my childhood.  He will always have a special place in my heart.


–Christina Milton

He was an idol to many and recognized worldwide. He was and is the best thing that ever happened to the music industry. He was a role model. He taught us our ABC’s and 123’s and that it didn’t matter whether you were black or white. For decades, he proved to be a great inspiration for musicians and dancers in the game, and those aspiring to be. To whom am I referring? He is none other than Michael Jackson, the King of Pop.

Today is truly a dismal day for Jackson’s fans and supporters. Just as the world waited in anticipation as he prepared for a great come back, the news of his demise was announced.  His death came suddenly, shocking the nation.

Michael Jackson overcame many obstacles: ongoing health problems, criticism for being in the public’s eye for all the wrong reasons, and financial woes.  But he was vigilant in his efforts to leave a positive legacy despite relentless troubles.

All I can say now is he’s in a much better place where he can rest and where there is no one to judge him, criticize him or deprive him of his well being.

May you rest in peace Michael Jackson.

Apple Jones