Finding something in nothing
Dr. Howell’s lecture this morning helped me realize that in finding the source you sometimes start from nothing. As historians, we sometimes decide to look at the areas or aspects of history that lack substantive sources to examine what we intend to study. Also as historians, we need to understand that in the nothingness that we tend to find when exploring certain aspects of life and history that there is something. Dr. Howell spoke of finding ledgers that seemed to frame his research, and I believe that this is significant in that this one document helped him figure out the path to more sources. Understanding that sometimes you will start with nothing but in that nothingness, there is a something it is up to you and your passion for your research to figure out where that something will come from.
Dr. Jackson’s lecture from the afternoon left me with the notion that backyard study can help those of us in academia figure out what we are passionate enough to study just by looking in the background. Dr. Jackson told us to look at the background to find out what around you inspires and impassions you. For me, I believe that my predetermined area of study and passion comes from the fact that I am a black woman and the fact that I was raised by and around amazing black women and understanding their role in society.
Dr. Jackson’s lecture left me with the idea that finding the something in the nothing also has to do with finding the path that you intend to take. Finding that way does not always come from a something it often times has to deal with finding the nothing. For example, Dr. Jackson intended to go to Law School, but his life took him on a different path he did not see anything on the road to a Ph.D. for himself, but he was open to it. I think overall this day of classes has taught me to find the something from the nothing and that means being receptive and open to the things that aren’t a part of the path I have carved out for myself.