Common Unity |
Kwanzaa Display
BACKGROUND
After centuries of enslavement, Jim Crow segregation, Racial discrimination and marginalization, people of African descent, specifically African Americans have become fractured human beings in constant search of acceptance, love and healing. The Great scholar W.E.B. Dubois clearly outlined this schism in his treaty, "The Souls of Black Folk." He discussed the "Negro having two personalities and two strivings, one a Negro the other an American. He could never reconcile the two strivings. He wondered would he ever be accepted. Thus, African people in America are on a constant quest for acceptance and validation. This quest is sought from some outside entity. However, it can be gained when we return to the source. (Sankofa- go back and fetch it)
The Willie Lynch letter poses this clearly,"The mind can correct itself if it can touch some substantial historical base..." It is not necessary to debate whether the Willie Lynch letter is real. Self-hatred is very valid and therefore makes it true. Thus to eliminate self-hatred and to return African people to whole complete beings then, they must forge an identity that validates itself and proclaims their value and worth without apology fear or shame in their blackness, their history or culture. In other words, to rebuild the community It will take Common Unity.
THE TWELVE-STEP REHABILITAION PROGRAM
To that end a 12-Step Rehabilitation Program has been established. Each Step is a principle, concept, and area of life that seeks to give people of African ancestry their own distinct and unique identity and sense of self worth. With these twelve steps mastered and incorporated, people of African descent can just be. Self-worth and acceptance will first be realized intrinsically and reinforced from within.
This can be seen with the cultural holiday of Kwanzaa. This holiday which centers around family, community and culture is rooted in a reesablishment of a value system that promotes upliftment and empowerment through cooperation, family and community. It further promotes an identiy that is distinctly African in orientation. Simply put, to accept and celebrate Kwanzaa is to accept and celebrate yourself.
After centuries of enslavement, Jim Crow segregation, Racial discrimination and marginalization, people of African descent, specifically African Americans have become fractured human beings in constant search of acceptance, love and healing. The Great scholar W.E.B. Dubois clearly outlined this schism in his treaty, "The Souls of Black Folk." He discussed the "Negro having two personalities and two strivings, one a Negro the other an American. He could never reconcile the two strivings. He wondered would he ever be accepted. Thus, African people in America are on a constant quest for acceptance and validation. This quest is sought from some outside entity. However, it can be gained when we return to the source. (Sankofa- go back and fetch it)
The Willie Lynch letter poses this clearly,"The mind can correct itself if it can touch some substantial historical base..." It is not necessary to debate whether the Willie Lynch letter is real. Self-hatred is very valid and therefore makes it true. Thus to eliminate self-hatred and to return African people to whole complete beings then, they must forge an identity that validates itself and proclaims their value and worth without apology fear or shame in their blackness, their history or culture. In other words, to rebuild the community It will take Common Unity.
THE TWELVE-STEP REHABILITAION PROGRAM
To that end a 12-Step Rehabilitation Program has been established. Each Step is a principle, concept, and area of life that seeks to give people of African ancestry their own distinct and unique identity and sense of self worth. With these twelve steps mastered and incorporated, people of African descent can just be. Self-worth and acceptance will first be realized intrinsically and reinforced from within.
This can be seen with the cultural holiday of Kwanzaa. This holiday which centers around family, community and culture is rooted in a reesablishment of a value system that promotes upliftment and empowerment through cooperation, family and community. It further promotes an identiy that is distinctly African in orientation. Simply put, to accept and celebrate Kwanzaa is to accept and celebrate yourself.
12_step_rehabilitation_program.wps | |
File Size: | 75 kb |
File Type: | wps |