Umoja: Unity
This year, the narrative that Black America “sat out” of activism spread like wildfire. Maybe you didn’t see a sea of Black faces at the No Kings rallies. But we’re always here for each other. Communities ramped up mutual aid. Consumers boycotted Target. Incarcerated men secretly filmed their prisons, fracturing the societal wall of incarceration to shine a light on the shocking conditions.
Kujichagulia: Self-determination
We also reject the state’s definition of what we need. Earlier this year, DeVante Blow spoke out about wanting more than prison time for the white supremacist who attacked his young son. “We need to solve the problem at the core,” he said. The state isn’t principled or visionary enough to end anti-Black violence, but we are.
Ujima: Collective Work and Responsibility
Amid the Rodney Hinton Jr. news, Ohio civilians patrolled the streets with the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch program. Armed and ready, they safeguarded their community from neo-Nazis.
Nia: Purpose
This spring, ICE arrested Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for defending his community from anti-immigration attacks. Purpose means stepping into our greatness to fight for better—and that requires bravery and conviction. “It’s OK to be afraid,” said Baraka. “It’s not OK to be a coward…You either… [sat] at those lunch counters ... to bring down Jim Crow, or you stayed in your dormitory.”
Imani: Faith
Now, just sit with the words of freshly crowned ancestor Assata Shakur: “To fight is to actually believe that this world is…changeable…We have to…convince enough people that that is a realistic vision.” “I have faith in our ability to transform this world from a hellish reality, to one that will eventually lead us toward heaven.”