Revolutionary resolutions
29th December 2014 · 0 Comments
By Edmund W. Lewis
Editor
Happy Kwanzaa, y’all. I hope everybody who reads this is celebrating the historical and cultural legacy of Africa and Africans and finding a way to incorporate the seven principles of Kwanzaa, “Nguzo Saba,” into their lives. Those seven principles are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self Determination), Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).
All of these principles have the power to transform communities of color and Black people into the kinds of dynamic, life-affirming places and people that are ripe for exponential growth and prosperity.
In the spirit of Kwanzaa, I share with you some of the resolutions my friends, mentors and colleagues have shared with me over the years in hope of fostering a more vibrant Black community with unity of purpose. Here we go:
• I will support independent Black institutions and call out HBCU administrators that allow people outside of the Black community to set the agenda and curricula for these colleges and universities.
• I will speak out loudly and clearly against injustice, inequity and the abuse of power.
• I will strive to live by the African-centered adage that says: “I am because we are.”
• I will not allow anyone from outside of my community to tell me or anyone who lives in my community what our priorities and concerns should be.
• I will study local, state and federal guidelines governing what law enforcement agencies can and cannot do to civilians.
• I will closely observe law enforcement officers as they carry out their jobs and will not hesitate to report any improprieties to the proper authorities, and encourage everyone else who lives in the community to do the same.
• I will seek out others who also object to the City of New Orleans’ and Recovery School District’s efforts to build a community center for senior citizens and a school for Black children above a toxic landfill and present a case for genocide to the United Nations if necessary.
• I will continue to call out Black and white elected officials who say they love and support Black children but say and do absolutely nothing about plans to build a school for these children atop a toxic landfill.
• I will speak out loudly and clearly against local, statewide and national legislation that negatively impacts, the elders, children, women, communities of color and the poor.
• I will make it clear to visitors to the city that the great food, music and culture they enjoy comes at a steep price for local Blacks and the working poor.
• I will do whatever I can to make sure that those who organize and participate in local marches for justice know and understand who men like Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and Andrew Jackson were.
• I will make a conscious effort to identify and patronize Black businesses that support the Black community.
• I will take a more active role in the education, socialization, growth and positive development of young people.
• I will make sure my children and grandchildren have a steady supply of African-centered books to read and positive Black films to watch.
• I will teach my children how to think for themselves rather than what to think.
• I will fill my home with positive images of people of African descent.
• I will make a conscious effort to listen to more music that feeds my mind and ennobles my spirit;
• I will find more time to read.
• I will strive to fully develop all of the talents and gifts the Creator has bestowed upon me.
• I will be open and straightforward in telling children and young adults at an age-appropriate time about the challenges and struggles Black people face in America.
• I will refuse to believe something simply because it appears in a printed publication or on television or the Internet.
• I will not keep paying property taxes while witnessing communities of color in this city receiving very little in return from City Hall in terms of police protection, street repairs, streetlight repairs and blight reduction.
• I will not keep paying property taxes and act like I don’t see the City of New Orleans systematically blocking Black businesses from lucrative public contracts and often awarding those contracts to businesses who live outside of Orleans Parish.
• I will wake up every day and remind myself that loving ourselves and one another are the most revolutionary things Black people can do. Harambee.
This article originally published in the December 29, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
