Ujima: Collective Work and Responsibility (December 28, 2008 by Barb Michael)
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable to my African-American brothers and sisters…
Regardless of the African village location, all first-fruits festivals held at this time of the year had and have five things in common: gathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment, and celebration.
Through research and thoughtful creativity, the seven-day African-American cultural harvest celebration of Kwanzaa was created in the 1960’s by community leader and educator, Dr. Maulana Karenga. The seven days of Kwanzaa from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 have special meanings from the Kiswahili language and the following extended interpretations:
Umoja means unity ~ to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia refers to self-determination - defining, naming, creating, and speaking (as opposed to being defined by, named by, created for, or spoken for by others).
Ujima is celebrated on Dec. 28th, this third day of Kwanzaa, and in Kiswahili refers to collective work and responsibility ~ to build and maintain the African-American community and solve problems together.
Ujamaa means cooperative economics with the hope of building and maintaining African-American shops, stores, and other businesses to profit from them together.
Nia on the fifth day has a focus on purpose, including the restoration of greatness through collective vocation and developing communities.
Kuumbaa means creativity (out of which Kwanzaa was born) ~ however, creativity in many ways - in particular, to leave communities more beautiful and beneficial than they were previously.
Imani is the last day of Kwanzaa and falls on January 1, New Year’s Day of the Gregorian calendar. Imani means faith ~ to believe in the African-American people and the righteousness and victory of the struggle.
And so, in the spirit of bringing multicultural traditions to this table of Marquette Unitarian Universalists and friends ~ whether it be for celebrating as African-Americans, or honoring and learning as those from a different heritage ~ we look respectfully at what Ujima can mean on this third day of Kwanzaa. I speak not “for” anyone but wish to share my reflections on how, on this special day of Ujima, our UU principles can connect with “collective work and responsibility.”
During the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Whether or not you believe that injustices affect you, - perhaps it matters more that we believe that it is oh-so-important to choose to be kind and gentle to the earth and its inhabitants and stand up responsibly for that which is fair. It’s not always easy to do this alone - so we talk today about collective work and responsibility.
In The Complete Kwanzaa: Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest, Dorothy Riley says, “Ujima is a return to traditional values of kindness, generosity, patience, tolerance, cooperation, and compassion. It is a sense of truth and justice, right and wrong, and doing things for and taking care of others, through services that build and maintain a community.”
What better place to bring up this topic of working together to solve problems than among a group of people who gathers often for various kinds of collective work and responsibility so that this congregation can be centered, be a beacon of hope and healing, and flourish, not only for the joy and sustenance of those of us who are members and friends of the congregation, but for those in the community who see us as an assurance that we are “on board” as a local faith community - and thriving. I am reminded of a comment from a Marquette minister who once said to me that every time he drove west through Marquette Township on U.S. 41 and glanced down Brickyard Rd. (where our former little, blue Meeting House was), he so appreciated knowing that our UU congregation was there. Small though it was, we were making - and can still make, an impact on issues which need resolving.
I would like to have us look at Ujima, collective work and responsibility, in the light of our seven UU Principles, which can be found on the back of your order of service or in the front of the hymnal you are using.
First, we are committed to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. My first thought of how collective work and responsibility exemplified this principle was Amnesty International. I’d like to share a recently posted letter from Sami Al-Haaj, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee:
I was detained for more than six years by the U.S. Government, primarily in the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. In late 2001, I was a journalist with the news agency, Al-Jazeera, assigned to cover the war in Afghanistan. While on assignment, I was detained at the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, then transferred to U.S. custody. I found that I had entered into a nightmare that would claim six years of my life and place great hardship on my family.
Fortunately, Amnesty International and other organizations called attention to my case and campaigned on my behalf. In December last year, my case was featured in Amnesty’s “Global Write-a-thon.” Not many months later in May of 2008, I was released without charges.
I received more than 20,000 letters from members and supporters of Amnesty International – from all over the world. These letters encouraged me during my very difficult time. They made me feel as though I was not alone and should not give up. Some people sent me songs, others poetry. I felt as though people had not forgotten me.
I began to notice that the administration of Guantanamo Bay began treating me better. The guards said they could see I was someone who mattered. [someone of dignity and worth] This made them respect me more.
The letters led me to think about human rights: Why would all these people write to me, a stranger, and want to help and encourage me? Why would these people who are from a different country, religion, race - want to work on my behalf, wish good things for me and ask for my release?
This made me decide to work for human rights upon my release. Prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders risk their own freedom to fight for the rights of all. They deserve our support. Your actions can make a difference.
Amnesty calls for justice…and along with other UU congregations we affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. Within that context, the Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations has collectively stood up for the full rights of people who are bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender and has encouraged congregations to go through the UUA’s “Welcoming Congregation” programs (I and II).
A number of years ago I was introduced to the Human Rights Campaign, an organization of 725,000 supporters, which envisions an America where people who identify as transgender, gay, bisexual, or lesbian are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work, and in the community. I first knew of HRC, because my younger daughter, Susannah, had an internship there in 2001, while finishing her undergrad in sociology at American University in Washington, DC. You may know HRC from their gold on blue equal sign. While visiting my daughter in DC two years ago, we went to a restaurant following a service at All Souls Unitarian. The restaurant was right across the street from the new HRC building…they’ve come a long way from their offices in another building, but they and we still have work to do in promoting justice, equity and compassion for those of us who consider ourselves gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
Two weeks ago while visiting my daughters, Lindsay and Susannah, (who are currently working in the DC area), I took a side trip to visit old friends in Virginia. One stop was something I had wanted to do for many years – and that was to go to the little community known as Innisfree. Innisfree is a residential village with 550 acres of rolling countryside nestled up against Pasture Fence Mountain and the Shenandoah National Park. Some 60+ co-workers, volunteers and staff, about 40 of whom have mental challenges, live and work together to create this beloved little community. Appropriate expectations are set in the woodshop, the kitchen, the weaving shop, the bakery, the gardens and the barn, but all co-workers seem to be cared for in a tender way.
Innisfree was founded in 1971 and created by concerned parents. Their sons and daughters and others to follow, now co-workers at Innisfree, range in age from 22 to 73. This group enjoys leisure time with music, pottery, games, horseback riding, swimming, camping, trips to the library - and as I was leaving, they were preparing for a holiday party. Equity and compassion for all at this diverse community, includes volunteers from all over the world.
Our third principle reflects our efforts at acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth. We need look no further than our own congregation for encouragement to spiritual growth. If you have never been involved in one of our workshops, most recently led by Nancy Irish, retreats, or the careful planning of one of our services, watch the newsletter for information related to one of these avenues to spiritual growth. Check out our little library or share a book on meditation, love, peace, and various spiritual paths. Nurture your spirit to help heal the world. You may want to put it on your list of New Year’s resolutions (if you do that kind of thing at this time of year), to attend and be enveloped in opportunities of acceptance and spiritual growth at a UU Central Midwest District meeting in April or a UUA General Assembly (in Salt Lake City this June or in Minneapolis in June of 2010), or find the Dalai Lama as Michelle and Gabe did one year, or attend more of our adult forums, some of which focus on this principle, and others centered on…
a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. As I was developing this talk, I thought about how the magazine, The Nation, easily represents an aspect of this principle for me. Jim Hightower, national radio commentator, public speaker (including speaking at GA one year), and author of the book, Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow, wrote recently in support of becoming a “Nation Associate:”
We can wring our hands over the corporate stranglehold on our country, or we can join hands to battle the bastards. I prefer the latter, which is why I’ve become a loyal “Nation Associate.” Together we can make a difference. Join us!
Of course, it’s quite helpful, as well as responsible, to gather facts from many sources to discover the truth about an issue - or your personal truth.
The next principle definitely reflects an important way to freely problem solve: the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and society at large. If we can’t reach consensus, the democratic process seems to be the most fair at this point. For those of us who are happy about the national election outcome, we must remember that many in our country voted for McKinney, Nader, or McCain. We are privileged to live in a country where the results are accepted without bloodshed…but not so lucky that votes are not always tabulated in a perfect manner. Our Unitarian and Universalist faith communities have worked for justice for hundreds of years, from voting to advocate for free speech and the free practice of religion as far back as the 1500’s. This congregation drafted and voted on a paper against sulfide mining a number of years ago, and there are many who continue to write letters, attend forums or lead the way in this effort, doing much research and traveling to Lansing - like one of “our own,” who serves as the attorney for the National Wildlife Federation on this issue. Collective work and responsibility may pull this off! Our efforts are to do all of this intelligently, articulately, and in a non-violent manner.
The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all is affirmed and promoted by Unitarian Universalists. Working for civil rights and combating oppression are essential parts of our spiritual journey. Unitarians and Universalists helped to abolish slavery and support women’s rights. However, it wasn’t every Unitarian or every Universalist. Are there ways in which we can be involved in those same issues today or other current issues? Of course. How do you feel about the UU study action issue on Peace? Will you be among the UU’s in today’s world who promotes peace, liberty, and justice for all? How do organizations like the United Nations or the Southern Poverty Law Center help the world or our country become more peaceful with liberty and justice for all?
Finally, our 7th principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. As UU’s, we continue to work for justice today in ways that resonate with the protection of our environment and our responsibility within it, keeping aware of climate change. From our local EarthKeepers to many national and worldwide organizations, we can work collectively to make our footprints more gentle as we make our way through our lives on this beautiful home we call earth.
In addition to the groups or organizations I’ve mentioned, we have a special group right here which would welcome your participation. The Social Action bunch here at MUUC invites you all to participate in our Social Action Committee meetings (the third Sunday of the month following the service) or Social Action activities held throughout the year - to work together responsibly on one of a variety of issues. As anthropologist, Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
In a few moments, if you choose, you’ll have a chance to speak about a group of people you know ~ small or large ~ what they accomplished, and why you believe it was successful. In respect for the principles of Kwanzaa, I am grateful for the emphasis today on collective work and responsibility, which is Ujima, remembering, no matter what our ethnic background, to responsibly support the African-American community and, honoring self-determination, solve problems together. Let us take a few minutes to contemplate and reflect silently.
[Silence for about two minutes]
If you would like to share a brief account of what a group accomplished and why you think they did, now is your time to speak.
[Sharing for about five minutes, depending on the “clock”]
Thank you - each of you – now let us sing about building up a land where we bind up the broken, united together - by the divine within each of us - that which motivates us to create or support positive changes for justice and peace.