How would you define Umoja?
Umoja is the Swahili word for unity. It is also a rallying cry for people of the African diaspora to celebrate our unique geographical locations and to connect through common ancestral origins. Because of its importance in community, family, and liberation movements, the annual celebration of Kwanzaa begins with Umoja.
During this tumultuous time in history, the principle of Umoja is vital to the movement. Across racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identities, divisions persist. With the pending implementation of the conservative agenda's Project 2025, segregated interests plague progress.
We must unite regardless of religious beliefs, political perspectives, and centering ideologies.
Human rights violations will expand and target trans people and immigrants under Trump's authoritarian regime. Consider his campaign ads and listen to the anti-trans and immigration rhetoric spilling from the orange lips of America's next president as evidence. We can picture the blueprint to "Make America Great Again."
The vision does not include people from diverse communities.
News outlets indicate that Latine/x citizens voted for Trump in response to his immigration policies. Some accepted the bogus claims that every person crossing US borders comes with the intention to steal jobs, commit crimes, and eat pets. They didn't consider the many upstanding individuals with interests in legal routes to citizenship for access to better opportunities. Not to mention, some immigrants are vegetarian, and others consume a balanced diet comparable to FDA guidelines.
Despite the commonalities between Americans and citizens of lower and middle-income countries, Trump's proposed wall has already formed a psychological barrier to unity.
Project 2025 begins with anti-trans language. The authors write, "Children suffer the toxic normalization of transgenderism with drag queens and pornography invading their schools." Such language conflates progressive schools with promoting trans identity and pornography.
This conservative stretch has implications for policies and laws that discriminate against people of non-conforming gender and sexual identities. It breeds sanctioned violence directed at vulnerable populations. Among some members of the LGBTQIA+ community, the pending changes foster thoughts of death by suicide.
Reports indicate an increase in life-threatening crises from transgender Americans post the November election.
When we don't value unity and refuse to accept humanity's diversity, the consequences are dire. While our challenges may differ, we must identify similar strands of oppressive forces. If we don't raise our collective voices, inequities will be amplified in the silence.
Consider this blog post a call. I dialed your number to remind you of the urgent need to take action. How?
My suggestion is similar to my pre-election stance. It's business as usual. We must do whatever we can with the tools and positions we occupy.
I'm not asking you to be reckless with your contributions to the movement. Be strategic, collaborate, think, and move with intention.
We need students, teachers, administrators, social media posts, blogs, articles, books, curriculum, and policies to improve the quality of life for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, transgender, and immigrants.
Umoja must serve as our creed and response to oppression.
Our work is challenging, and we face ample opposition from multiple angles. However, we must maintain our efforts to obtain freedom.
Do you need more motivation? Watch this month's vlog episode below for encouragement to unlock your life's positive possibilities.
In solidarity,
V
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