While it’s not spoken of much these days, it’s important to remember that the creation of a national holiday for Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. was fiercely opposed by those who self-identify as “conservatives” and many others, including then-president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. If we want the children to value the King Holiday;...
People in Baltimore are organizing to stop foreclosures and evictions! More than symbolic gestures (which certainly has its place); I am more excited to see the development of this kind of direct organizing and activism in Baltimore. There is real potential here to raise the profile of the predatory practices of banks in Baltimore...
Habari Gani? Ujamma – Cooperative Economics To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. It was a little more than three years ago when I giving particular attention to the development of the early Christian church as described in the book of Acts. Scripture says...
Habari Gani? Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together. While preparing to write today’s reflection on Ujima, my eyes zoned in on the word “problems” in the description of this sacred value. I began...
Habari Gani? Kujichagulia! which means Self Determination – To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. Self-Determination is such a beautiful principle which speaks to the freedom that all individuals and people-groups should be able to rightly exercise. Though not always using the term, I have been writing about “kujichagulia”...
So off the top let me say that yes – I am a follower of Christ and yes – I celebrate Kwanzaa. Some may see these affirmations as incompatible and polar opposites, however, there is no incongruity with me. I am thankful for Kwanzaa and truly appreciate the fact that the day after I...
I was already a bit on the fence about my primary bank which was Wachovia. Though I had been with the bank for some years, I began to give Wachovia the side eye when I learned about 8 years ago that it had history wrapped up in the enslavement and sale of my Ancestors....
Jim Wallis writes a thought-provoking article about the “end” of the Iraq War entitled, It’s Finally Over – and it was Wrong.” It made me think about the first time I was arrested for direct action and civil disobedience in protest of the military invasion and occupation of Iraq four years ago. The action...
If all goes as planned. Today – October, 4, 2011 – will be a day that is remembered and perhaps even recorded in the “People’s History of Baltimore City.” For the past couple of years a committed group of activists have been challenging Maryland state plans to build a multi-million dollar youth jail in...
Kwanzaa Reflection 2011: Today’s Principle is Nia – Purpose
Habari Gani? Nia which means purpose. To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. And in that spirit of Nia; I’d like to share this important article written by Dr. Adam Clark. CHRISTIANITY AND KWANZAA By Dr. Adam Clark (originally...
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