1.30pm, 12th July 2012, we will all be sat in a Hall, listening to the Vice Chancellor speak about the opportunities available to us in the big bad world! Sometimes when I think about it, I must admit, I shed a tear or two. Hull has been good to me no doubt. From the freshers parties, to the takeaways, to the Library trips and nursing of hangovers in lectures, I must say, this University has offered me the STUDENT LIFE!!
The night before leaving London, I remember my mother offering me advice on how to live in Uni. Difference being, the advice I received from my mother will be condemned by many for being one thing 'THE PLAIN TRUTH', 'BE YOURSELF NG, FIND YOURSELF'. You see, a lot of young Blacks come to university with so many reservations and opinions that they believe should they attempt to explore equals being onboard a one way ticket to Hell! Unfortunately, this has restrained a lot of young people from enjoying the University experience. Whilst some will read this and challenge my opinion, it is worth taking time out and speaking to one or two Nigerian students for example about their University experience. Unfortunately, I fear this will be encompassed of 'Black House Parties', lots of Gossip, and Church.
I embrace my race, I embrace my culture, I embrace my identity but I am not afraid to learn, to integrate, to mix. During my time in University, I have witnessed intended segregation integration in the black community. Although, it is good that we have events that unite us as an ethnicity, as a race, the nature of these events are either religious on one end or extremely secular on the other. I can count on one hand (pardon the slight exagerration) the amount of black students I saw during a talk about race within the Black History Month period for example. However, to say that the clubs are cramped with us is an understatement, to push it, I wouldn't be surprised if the next time I attend one of our 'Afrobeats' parties, the venue is so packed that people are at the risk of falling out.
Pardon me for allowing this article to reek of Pessimism, but I think it is high time that we change our attitudes, especially whislt we are still young. I must acknowledge that like myself, a few of us have refused to conform to the lifestyle of the black University student. A few of us have decided to just be ourselves and unfortunately, this has attracted constant criticism from our own community. I have lost count of the amount of times I have been called an Oreo, or Self Loathing African, or Lesbian or 'Oyinbo'. Bad news for my taggers, I am me and none of these. My refusal to conform does not make me hate my race or culture, it simply allows me to be me.
All the same, I have enjoyed Hull. Regardless of the gist i've heard (i must admit who ever takes the time out to generate the gossip is quite talented), its been fun. I have learned more about my people, about my culture. I have made fantastice friends spread out amongst all cultures I can imagine. I have achieved things i never thought I would. But most importantly, till this moment, I have mastered the Azonto! lol
Ps I could not make up my mind what to rant about......so I just did! Meh!
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