[Jacuma]

A Great and Mighty Struggle
By Brother Salim Kujitawala
With the recent comments made by Morgan Freeman, it is very
important that organizers, organizations, educators and supporters of
the Black Liberation struggle, not only use African Heritage Month to
reach Black people, but every chance available. Black People must
continuously counter, the Counter Intelligence Program.
Morgan Freeman is correct African heritage should not be regulated to
one month and it isn¡¦t. Black People were not given the shortest
month of the year to celebrate their legacy. Dr. Carter G. Woodson
choose a time for Black people to honor, acknowledge, learn and be
proud of their beautiful legacy and culture. That time was Negro History
Week, which later became Black History Month and is now commonly
referred to as African Heritage Month. There are also many other
months and days in which Black people have to celebrate their African
culture.
May is African Liberation Month. On May 2nd was the kidnapping &
capture of Assata Shakur, Sundiata Acoli & assassination of Zayd
Shakur. During this month there is the birthday (May 19th) of the
shinning Black Prince, El Hajj Malik El Shabazz (Malcolm X). On May
25th 1963 the O.A.U., Organization for African Unity (now known as the
African Union) was formed. This day is honored and commemorated
every year as African Liberation Day on the last Saturday of the month
of May.
August is acknowledged as Black August. During this month the
legacy of resistance to white supremacy and slavery is honored. On
August 2, 1850 the Underground Railroad was started. August 8th,
1978 the house of the organization MOVE was bombed by the city of
Philadelphia. On August 17th the birthday of the Honorable Marcus
Garvey is celebrated. The ¡§Nat Turner Rebellion¡¨ began on August
21st 1831. August 30th, 1800 marks the anniversary of the rebellion
lead by Gabriel Prosser.
There is also the week of Kwanzaa, December 26th ¡V January 1st. At
this time, African people world wide practice, celebrate and incorporate
the Nguzo Saba (seven principles) into their daily lives. Those
principles are: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima
(collective work & responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia
(purpose), Kuumba (creativity) & Imani (faith). In addition to the above
mentioned days and months, there is also Martin Luther King Day
which is January 15th, Juneteenth which is celebrated on June 19th
and many more which neither time nor space will allow. These days are
all days set aside by Black People for Black People, just as African
Heritage Month was.
Black Peoples¡¦ holy days do not have to be acknowledged or
supported by mainstream America in order for them to have
significance. This is why a ¡§Black History Month¡¨ had to be created
in the first place. White America did not (and still does not) want to
recognize the contributions of African People. White America
celebrates its history and culture throughout the entire year; this is why
there is no ¡§white history month¡¨. St. Patrick¡¦s Day, Valentines Day,
Columbus Day and Presidents ¡¦ Day are all aspects of European
culture.
Mainstream America cannot define for African People when or how
African People will celebrate their heritage. African People have a great
and mighty legacy that is honored and celebrated throughout the year.
These moments must be used to mobilize and organize Black People
toward self-determination, self-respect, self-defense and FULL AND
COMPLETE REPARATIONS. One cannot expect white America to
recognize, support or endorse our culture. As the great poet Gil Scott
Heron stated, ¡§The revolution will not be televised.¡¨
Brother Salim Kujitawala
C/O Akoben Enterprises
P.O. Box 860133
Wahiawa HI 96786
Email: gyenyame@ thetalkingdrum.com
Phone & Fax: 808 621 0707