27 Dec Kwanzaa Community Conversations 2024: Self-Determination!
NGUZO SABA:7 Principles of Kwanzaa
Umoja – Unity
Kujichagulia – Self-determination
Ujima – Collective Work and Responsibility
Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics
Nia – Purpose
Kuumba – Creativity
Imani – Faith
Video by RDNE Stock project on pexels.com
Op-Ed on The Grio Dec 26, 2023
The Hidden Potential of Kwanzaa Principles: Self-Determination
I can remember so vividly the day Nelson Mandela, leader of the movement to end South African Apartheid, was released from prison after 27 years on February 11, 1990. Apartheid is Afrikaans for “apartness” or, to speak in the American vernacular, it means segregation. One intriguing question lingered in the back of my mind as the world erupted in support of the anti-apartheid movement, including Americans. How can we not recognize that the system of apartheid with its inequity, and injustice in South Africa was the same as the system of segregation with its own inequity and injustice existing in my home country of America? In both countries, self-determination was sorely lacking.
Gil Scot Heron said it best in his song “Johannesburg”:
Somebody tell me what’s happening In Johannesburg.
The Valley is like Johannesburg.
New York is like Johannesburg.
Freedom ain’t nothing but a word, ain’t nothing but a word.
Self-determination (Kujichagulia) is to define ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Self-determination is a principe conceived from the right to define, name, and speak for one’s self. It is to define one’s own identity, culture, and values, rather than being defined by others. It drives individual, community, and socioeconomic empowerment to insert Black voices in to the larger society with impact. Community conversations include engaging dialogue and discussions of the importance of self-determination in our personal, interpersonal, community, and societal lives. Cultural expression of self-determination comes through arts, music, personal storytelling, historical narratives. Personal expression comes through our critical self-reflection, self-confidence, independent thinking, genius, and purpose. Political engagement, advocacy, and equity comes through in social activism and antiracism activation. Self-determination also requires overcoming stereotypes and balancing individuality with community. It must be taught to children as emergent future leaders and torch bearers.
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