My RE-education in Higher Education

Ever since I came to the University of Oklahoma I have made a conscious effort to relearn American history from a different perspective. During the 12 years that we all spend learning history before college, it is from a westernized perspective. We have been taught that in every history book Christopher Columbus discovered America, then when we get older just to discover that that is not entire the truth. 

When I took my first African and African American(AFAM) History Class, I began to realize that the history that I have been taught my entire life is not necessarily the whole truth or even part truth. Since then I have made AFAM my minor. This is my attempt to try and discover a different history, one not recognized in the history books of a High School. In most American history books slavery is simply a section in a chapter, not even being recognized as the cause of an entire war. Also Native American's are viewed as a people who started wars and not the true victims as they really are.

I honestly was upset when I started to learn new things in my AFAM classes but I got used to it as time passed. I felt as if I had to go back and re-learn everything that had been taught. So now I am still on my mission to re-educate myself while I am on my journey of higher education. It's great. I learn new things almost everyday. It may sound cheesy but its the truth.

I am thankful for this opportunity to take classes that interest me and impact me in such a tremendous way. Other Universities do not have an actual degree program dedicated to such topics. I am taking this time to learn more about myself and my ancestors history that was never taught to me previously.