Kwanzaa Celebration 3rd principal :Ujima

By Rev. Keith B. Wallace M.DIV., MSW, LCSW

Kwanzaa  the Kiswahili name meaning first fruits, while started in 1966 echos across the boundaries of time and space, through the vicissitudes centuries, decades, years and generations as we celebrate its 3rd principal toward healing, wholeness and empowerment as we work together. 

While Kwanzaa was born out of the African-American experience of oppression in the United States, its principals are as old as when the first humans on the continent of Africa exercised their self determination  in villages, and cities, on the vast expanses of the Savannah and or under the thunderous roaring falls Mosi-oa- Tunya.  which is known today for its colonial name of of Lake Victoria Falls. We gathered  in the shadows of the great cosmopolitans cities of Benin, Ife, Walata, Mombasa, Timbuktu and M’ Lanza, Kongo. 

And when we gathered we built the world class learning centers of Alexandria, Timbutu, Songhai, where we mapped the stars, developed algebra and navigated the seas to settle the distance lands of the Earth. 

In the horror of the Western Hemisphere’s Maafa, our holocaust we we plotted, planned, revolted as we gathered in the cane break, cotton fields, and swamps determined to forge the futures of generations unborn. Phyllis Weatley, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells were there fighting the cause of justice.  Christus Attics, Benjamin Banaker, Nat Turner and Auturo Schromburg were there too fighting\\ for our liberations.  

But it must be understood, that throughout history Black people and LGBTQ people were there determining our history, forging our destinies and contributing to the greater  good of  the development of communities. There was Gladys Bentley and Bayard Rustin, Storme De Larverie and  Langston Hughes, James Baldwin and there was Alvin Ailey and Audre Lorde. We have always been here sometimes in partnership but also leading liberation. We have always gathered.

Our Gathering places were  speakeasy, bars, board rooms, parks and pulpits but we gathered to make a change for our lives in the face of overwhelming odds. 

Ujima means “collective work and responsibility” To build and maintain our community together and make our peoples problems our problems and to solve them together. 

Forty years ago the scourge of HIV and AIDS entered the lexicon of this world. It was a disease that was not much known. It was a disease that baffled scientists and doctors alike.  All that was discovered about this disease is that was killing people.

It was a scourge the put fears in the minds of people as it infected and killed millions around the globe. Initially the disease seemed to disproportionately affect those on societies margins- which included the LGBTQ community and especially those who had were both LGBTQ and people of color.  

Consequently, with rare exception our government was indifferent,  people were callous and many faith communities shunned us. Many died alone without friends or family.  But in an exercise of Ujima we endeavored to take care of our own.   

We formed organizations, we protested, we grieved, we were bold and fierce when the lives of our families and loves ones were on the line. We spoke loud and would not be complicit with the silence of our oppressors When we spoke the world listened. We we Acted Up our government straighten up and the activism was a template for protest that would lead to some of the freedoms we enjoy as a community today.

The HIV/AIDS era is strikingly similar to that which is happening now with this dreaded Corona virus. We find ourselves in a world that has been turned on its head. Infection and death rates are rising as does the uncertainty of our times.

Unlike those countless, faceless LGBTQ brothers and sisters who marshaled  their resources to fight the 1980’s-1990’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, we must fight the pervading despair divisions, dejection, rejections and oppressions and suppression that impacts our  LGBTQ communities. 

In the throes of the worst of the pandemic of Covid 19, racial strife and the heterosexist violence against mostly our Trans women of color, Kawanzaa reminds us we must again exercise Ujima  or collective work and responsibility.  We must gather in unity and fellowship to make a difference for our community- to do for ourselves and partner to make a difference. “To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.” 

The clarion call of justice rings loudly as we celebrate  and reflect on Ujima or collective work and responsibility. First we must take an inventory of ourselves to find that place of restoration and peace where we will be able to better determine our futures.

 When we come together to dismantle the oppressive divisions that has negatively impacted us.  While we recognize our specificity and uniqueness we must endeavor to work as one. All to often, Black and brown LGBTQ people have felt excluded from the the leadership power structures within our community. If restoration is take place we must change the power structures.

As we do that work we must work on ourselves. We all have issues but the question is are you known to other by your issues. Whatever issues, character flaws or troubles are getting in the way of our empowerment we must endeavor to do something about it. Ujima compels us.  We as a community needs the talents, expertises and genius that we each offer. Then the beginnings of restoration will be ushered into the realm of our lives.

Secondly, to usher in the era of Ujima  let us focus on that  which is most important and not the trivial that we pursued  before the pandemic. Our connections with each other are most important. It is not enough that we work by ourselves we must work with our allies to achieve our greater freedoms because if one of us are oppressed none of us are free. 

 Lastly,  the unseen arc of justice tell us the despite our naysayer and critic that this too will pass and that the best is yet to come. When we as a community exercise Ujima  there will be no President,  potentate, Politician, or any people  that will be able to stop us. If you do not believe me, listen the voices of the Selma Martyrs, Stonewall revolutionaries, Act up Agitators, Marriage Equality litigators and the Black Live Matter protesters. There is noting that we can do. We are the masters of our destiny.

While Kwanzaa was born out of the oppression of the African-American community Ujima is an opportunity for us to define our lives for us and that Justice will realm Supreme.