Kujichaguilia △ Self-Determination

Haiku

Photo Credit | MLLive

I think I can I

Know I can I think I can

And so it will be

“To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves for ourselves and speak for ourselves” (Karenga, 1966).

Today marks the second day of the seven day Kwanzaa celebration. Kujichaguilia means self-determination. The key to success is belief in yourself. For African Americans, Kwanzaa is a time of deep reflection and commitment to the community. The determination for “self” must also be applied to the determination needed to overcome inequities. Only we have the right to define ourselves.

If you want to learn more about the Kwanzaa celebration, feel free to review the meaning of the principles in the article below:

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa Teach Us About the Holiday Spirit

The author Allison Gaines is the founder of Justice Can’t Wait:

Justice Can't Wait

Reference:

Karenga, M. (1966). Official Kwanzaa Website. Retrieved December 14, 2020, from https://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.html