The second principle of the Nguzo Saba is Kujichagalia (pronounced koo-jee-chah-GOO-lee-ah) Self-Determination -To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
What's in a name? Ask the powers that be at Huntsville City Schools. In their haste to kill democracy and fairness the Huntsville City School Board of Education, under the ruthless command of Superintendent Casey WARdynski declared
"From now on, this land will be ruled by the Tigers. We are, after all, the strongest, fastest and wisest of all animals. Therefore, we are the only fit rulers." they claimed.Despite petitions, marches, and protest the Huntsville City School BOE decided they are the rulers and the people be damned. If the BOE spent half as much time trying to scheme their way out from under the federal desegregation order and furthering their political careers ensuring that ALL children had equal access to a quality public school, Huntsville would be One City One Vision and companies would be begging to locate here.
A little mouse spoke up from the crowd, " But we have a council where we make our decisions together, we don't need or want any ruler." One of the tigers let out a roar so loud and fierce that the poor mouse started running and didn't stop until he was in the land of the humans. To this day, he lives in the houses of humans.
Slapping a new name on the outside of the school building won't change what's happening on the inside of the building. The taxpayers have the right to self determination, instead they are being punished for it.
A proverb often quoted during Kwanzaa reads: “I am because we are; because we are, I am.” Harambee! (Let’s pull together!)
No comments:
Post a Comment