1. Umoja - Unity
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Let's reach all of humanity and understand the importance of unifying ourselves on the deepest level. Looking withing ourselves and finding shelter within the principle of oneness. A oneness that supersedes separation, one from our neighbor, but a oneness that acknowledges all of our reality as an extension of ourselves, the good, the bad and the ugly. Let's walk with what we can be proud of and learn from what may make us bow our heads in shame, in connecting with all and the few, as one, as the ultimate and eternal expression that condenses us to one dot in the Universe.
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Left: Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church is proud to announce the 11th season of "Umoja," which runs April 23-25. "Umoja" is a culturally diverse stage play that celebrates the rich history of African-Americans through drama, music and dance. This year's theme invites everyone to "Catch the Spirit!"
2. Kujichagulia - Self Determination
To define, name, create for and speak for ourselves insted of being defined, named, created for and spoken for by others.

It is the design of societal traditions and custome to impart and perpetuate itself so that it can remain in existence. But when one society defames another according to its own standards of right and wrong then the boundaries are crossed which threaten the societal fiber. Additionally, if a parent culture uses intimidation, coercion, defamation and slander to incriminate its members, it is at risk of destroying its fiber internally. Human beings will always reflect their parent culture. Responsible human beings will position themselves to embrace that which perpetuates and supports self-esteem and find viable ways to dismantle that which does not. In reaching out to all of Humanity, we cannot spew onto others the bite and the sting of that which brings about self hatred, lest we become the mouthpiece of the oppressors themselves.

3. Ujima Collective Work and Responsibility
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and reace

Adinkra symbol: Akoko nan "Parental admonitions not intended to harm the child."
4. Ujamaa - Cooperative economics
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other business and to profit together.

5. Nia- Purpose
To make a collective vocation the building and development of our community, in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.


6. Kuumba - Creativity
To do always as much as we can in the way we can in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than when we inherited it.
Traditionally, it has been the responsibility of the women to sustain the creative culture in the society. Then it stands to reason that the creative expression is oppressed in direct relation to the oppression of women. Admittedly, many of us tend to call the Earth, Mother Nature, expressing the womanly principle of design and creative organization.
7. Imani- Faith
To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents and our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

We will leave behind a legacy of cooperative change and progression that will sustain our name into antiquity. We are imbued with the faith that our past efforts will not go in vain but by the documented in the annals of time. We believe that we have in fact, given and and will see the profundity of our gift eventuate in humanity's future.
Thank you for reading this blog and for sharing it. I really appreciate you. Nana Baakan