The last book that I read was Grounding of My Brothers by Walter Rodney, a scholar and activist from Guyana. This book helped further my understanding of Pan-Africanism, communal love, and Black study. As someone who considers themselves a student of the disciplinary subject, Black studies, I was able to understand how important it is to have a connection outside of the academic gates when grounding those who are necessary for the progression of the African diaspora. Walter Rodney has an understanding of the nuances within the diaspora that allows his connection to reach Caribbean Africans, African Americans, and those still within Africa facing neo-colonization. Through this book, I learned more about Rodney's ideologies and how he uses these ideologies to learn from those who are outside of Western academia. One of the most prevalent themes within this book was the idea of being a student, constantly, regardless of any sort of juxtaposition that may occur due to opinion, educative differences, or epistemology differentiation. If Black academics and those who want to serve their community can adopt this purview, we can understand and educate rather than have pretentious quarrels that lead to a lack of continuity within our community. Ultimately, I was reminded that as someone who attends Howard University, resisting elitist petit-bourgeoise attitudes that come from Western academia and remaining connected to your community with learning and teaching should be emphasized as you matriculate through College. Reading has allowed me to remain cognizant of my position within the world as a Black man from Flint, MI while helping to build an understanding of various theoretical frameworks that can apply to all of the African diaspora. As I continue to read through books made by great practitioners of Black study such as Frantz Fanon, Walter Rodney, C.L.R James and W.E.B DuBois, I can develop my own connection toward the progression of my community amongst the hands of neo-colonization and international imperialism. Through learning the history of pre-colonial Africa, or historiographies related to the development of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, I can pass that history to my community to help educate those who may not be as knowledgeable about our history beyond our throes under white supremacy and settler-colonial rule. As I progress and learn through reading about various topics and historical facts, I've been able to continue to destroy that mental blockade placed by institutional racism from studying in public schools in Flint, MI. In my beginning experiences with progressing mentally by reading, I did more unlearning concerning perspectives shared by discriminatory media sources than learning about intricacies and nuances within the African diaspora. Reading not only helps you progress your capacity of knowledge, but it also helps you reflect on archaic stances that are nothing short of paradoxical. As I continue to progress with reading, I hope to serve as an example and teacher to my community and family while also continuing to be a student of my surroundings, learning from the same community that I wish to teach.