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Hello Subscriber! Happy Kwanzaa from The Blackyard CollectiveUMOJA (unity) KUJICHAGULIA (self-determination) UJIMA (collective work and responsibility) UJAMAA (cooperative economics) NIA (purpose) KUUMBA (creativity) IMANI (faith) The second principle of Kwanzaa is KUJICHAGULIA, which means self-determination — the opportunity and desire to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. The history of being Black in America and in the world is indeed defined by self-determination, or the lack thereof. As a Black queer person in recovery, kujichagulia has been the key to my sobriety. Before I could truly overcome my bondage to drugs and alcohol, I had to first accept and embrace both my queerness and my blackness. The inverse is true as well. Before I could truly accept my queerness and my blackness, I had to overcome my bondage to addiction and alcoholism. After years of needing substances to provide the courage for me to be myself, sobriety has afforded me the opportunity to own my identities and to define for myself who I want to be in the world. Self-determination is vital for the Black queer and trans community as we are forced to listen to lies about women’s bodies, transgender identity, and a revisionist history of colonization, occupation, and human bondage. In a time when one’s own truth seems to be up for debate, I need to remember that I alone get to define who I am and what’s best for me. While self-determination is unique and personal for each one of us, it cannot happen in isolation. The gift of The Blackyard Collective has been the opportunity to build community with so many beautiful Black queer and trans people who are individually and collectively becoming who we truly are. We cannot do this alone. Kujichagulia is looking in a mirror as we experience our Black queer selves reflected in the faces, the movements, the desires, and stories of one another. On this second day of Kwanzaa, may each one of us find our own kujichagulia as we build a unique and beautiful Black queer community together. “If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.”―Audre LordeHappy Kwanzaa! Love,
Michael
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