Beautiful Black Stars of Our Black Consciousness Sky 02/21 by Harambee Connection | Blog Talk Radio

Beautiful Black Stars of Our Black Consciousness Sky 02/21 by Harambee Connection Blog Talk Radio

YEMOJA



Stinson Beach, California
Taken February 6, 2011
by Chinue X

Yemoja, mother of the fishes,

Mother of the waters on the earth.

Nurture me, my mother

Protect and guide me.

Like the waves of the ocean,

wash away the trials that I bear.

Grant me children.

Grant me peace.

Let not the witches devour me.

Let not evil people destroy me.

Yemoja, mother of all,

Nurture me my mother.
This prayer to Yemoja is published in

"The Handbook of Yoruba Religious Concept,"

Authored by Bab Ifa Karade.

ON THIS DAY OF NIA (PURPOSE) - BEFORE WE CAN

BECOME ONE IN AFRICAN SOLIDARITY, WE MUST 

REMOVE THE SHACKLES THAT BIND OUR AFRICAN 

MINDS, HEARTS, AND SPIRITS!
 

"AFRICANS, FREE THYSELF IN ORDER, TO KNOW 

THYSELF, IN ORDER TO HELP THYSELF"!

                                                                     
Chinue X - 1/27/2012

AFRICAN-CENTERED BOOK LIST

AFRICAN CHILDREN READING LIST 

• Verna Aardema, Koi & The Kola Nuts
• Veronica Ellis, Afro-Bets First Book About Africa
• Michael Faul, The Story of Africa and Her Flags to Color
• Muriel Feelings, Jambo Means Hello and Moja Means One
• Virginia Hamilton, The People Could Fly
• Arthur Lewin, Africa is Not a Country, It's a Continent
• Sundaria Morninghouse, Harbari Gani? What's the News?
• Sherley Anne Williams, Working Cotton
• Jane Yolen, Encounter

 

AFRICAN YOUTH READING LIST

• Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart
• S.E.Anderson, The Black Holocaust for Beginners
• Na'im Akbar, Chains and Images of Psychological Slavery and [color=red]VISIONS[/red] for BLACK MEN
• Akil, From Niggas to Gods, Part One
• Chike Akua, A Treasure Within
• Molefi Kete Asante, Classical Africa
• Ayi Kwei Armah, Two Thousand Seasons
• Mwalimu Baruti, The Sex Imperative
• Anthony Browder, From the Browder Files
• Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower
• James Cameron, A Time of Terror
• John Henrik Clarke, Africans at the Crossroads
• Gaidi Faraj, Ourstory: Afrikans from Antiquity to the 21st Century
• Sam Greenlee,The Spook Who Sat by the Door
• Asa G. Hilliard, Larry Williams and Nia Damali (eds), The Teachings of Ptahhote
• Jacqueline Johnson, Stokely Carmichael
• Indus Khamit-Kush, What They Never Told You in History Class
• Zak A. Kondo, The Black Student's Guide to Positive Education and His-storical Lies and Myths that Miseducate Black People
• Joseph Marshall, Street Soldier
• Patricia & Frederick McKissach, Rebels Against Slavery
• Erriel D. Roberson, The Maafa & Beyond
• J.A.Rogers, Great Men of Color, Vols. I & II
• Sister Souljah, The Coldest Winter Ever
• Carter G. Woodson, The Miseducation of the Negro
• Amos N. Wilson, The Falsification of Afrikan Consciousness
• Bobby E. Wright, The Psychopathic Racial Personality
• Malcolm X, The Autobiography of Malcolm X

WHAT WOULD DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SAY TODAY?

Today, January 1, is a Day of Self Reflection According to Kawaida Theory

Kwanzaa is based upon the premise of KAWAIDA:


"that social revolutionary change for Black America can be achieved by the act of revealing and disclosing individuals to their cultural African heritage." Karenga


Each year, on January 1st, Dr. Karenga suggests that we ask ourselves the three (3) Kawaida questions, originally posed by Frantz Fanon, author of "Wretched of the Earth."




KAWAIDA QUESTIONS:


1. WHO AM I?
"To answer the question of "Who am I?" correctly, then, is to know and live one's history and to practice one's culture."


2. AM I REALLY ALL I SAY I AM?
"To answer the question of "Am I really all I say I am?" is to have and employ a cultural criteria of authenticity, i.e., criteria of what is real and unreal, what is appearance and essence, what is culturally-rooted and foreign."


3. AM I ALL I OUGHT TO BE?
"And to answer the question of "Am I all I ought to be?" is to self-consciously possess and use ethical and cultural standards which measure men, women and children in terms of the quality of their thought and practice in the context of who they are and must become - in both an African and human sense."


http://www.endarkenment.com/kwanzaa/nguzosaba/sikuyataamuli.htm

THE MEANING OF KWANZAA

KWANZAA YENU IWE NA HERI!

 http://afgen.com/kwanzaa2.html

Kwanzaa is a spiritual, festive and joyous celebration of the oneness and goodness of life, which claims no ties with any religion. It has definite principles, practices and symbols which are geared to the social and spiritual needs of African-Americans. The reinforcing gestures are designed to strengthen our collective self-concept as a people, honor our past, critically evaluate our present and commit ourselves to a fuller, more productive future.


Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits of the harvest" in the African language Kiswahili, has gained tremendous acceptance. Since its founding in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa has come to be observed by more than 28 million people worldwide. Celebrated from December 26th to January 1st, it is based on Nguzo Saba (seven guiding principles), one for each day of the observance: 


Ritual Objects & Symbols
Mkeka -- straw table mat, on which all other objects are placed
Mazao -- crops, symbols of the fruits of collective labor
Muhindi -- one ear of corn for each child, symbolizing fertility
Kikombe cha umoja -- the unity cup, used to perform the libation ritual
Zawadi -- gifts, traditional items that encourage success
Kinara -- candleholder, a symbol of ancestry
Mishumaa saba -- seven candles, one for each of the seven Kwanzaa principles.


Each night, the family gathers to light the candles of the kinara, adding one candle for each day of the holiday. A traditional feast is held on the night of December 31.  Gifts are usually opened on the last day of Kwanzaa, January 1.  Gifts are considered part of the "kuumba," or creativity, principle and are encouraged. Traditional presents are books and heritage symbols. The Traditional Greeting is "Habari gani?", to which one replies with the Kwanzaa principle of the day.

DAY #1: MONDAY, 12/26

HABARI GANI? UMOJA 
(OO-MO-JAH) UNITY 
Stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community, which is reflected in the African saying, "I am We," or "I am because We are.

DAY #2: TUESDAY 12/27

HABARI GANI? KUJICHAGULIA 
(KOO-GEE-CHA-GOO-LEE-YAH) SELF-DETERMINATION 
Requires that we define our common interests and make decisions that are in the best interest of our family and community.  

DAY #3: WEDNESDAY, 12/28

HABARI GANI? UJIMA 
(OO-GEE-MAH) COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY 
Reminds us of our obligation to the past, present and future, and that we have a role to play in the community, society, and world. 

DAY #4: THURSDAY, 12/29

HABARI GANI? UJAMAA 
(OO-JAH-MAH) COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS 
Emphasizes our collective economic strength and encourages us to meet common needs through mutual support.

DAY #5: FRIDAY, 12/30/2011

HABARI GANI? NIA 
(NEE-YAH) PURPOSE 
Encourages us to look within ourselves and to set personal goals that are beneficial to the community. 

DAY #6: SATURDAY, 12/31

HABARI GANI? KUUMBA 
(KOO-OOM-BAH) CREATVITY  
Makes use of our creative energies to build and maintain a strong and vibrant community. 

DAY #7: SUNDAY, 01/01

HABARI GANI? IMANI 
(EE-MAH-NEE) FAITH
Focuses on honoring the best of our traditions, draws upon the best in ourselves, and helps us strive for a higher level of life for humankind, by affirming our self-worth and confidence in our ability to succeed and triumph in righteous struggle.

HARAMBEE! HARAMBEE! HARAMBEE! HARAMBEE! HARAMBEE! HARAMBEE! HARAMBEE!