Shared destiny
Our collective identity carries a responsibility to build toward a future we can share.
Black Storytellers Alliance / Nguzo Saba
Day Three • Third Principle
COLLECTIVE WORK & RESPONSIBILITYUJIMA
To build and maintain our community together, to make the problems of our community all of our problem in the community, with the goal that we each do our part to solve the problem together.
SHARED EFFORTOBLIGATIONCOOPERATIONRESPONSIBILITY
Ujima / 01
The principle
Our problems. Our responsibility. Our work.
Ujima is a commitment to active and informed togetherness on matters of common interest.
Ujima is the recognition and respect that without collective work and struggle, progress is impossible and liberation unrealistic.
Ujima supports the fundamental assumption that “African” is not just an identity, but rather a destiny, duty, and responsibility. Our collective identity in the long run is our collective future.
Core thought
It is our obligation as self-conscious and committed beings to shape our future with our own minds, bodies, and spirits so that we can share hardships and benefits together.
Failures and victories
Practicing Ujima means accepting collective responsibility for failures, setbacks, victories, and achievements.
Measure and repair
We must be vigorous in self-criticism and self-correction, measuring against the cultural and historical identity that we carry.
Ujima / 02
The deeper practice
Cooperation is not optional.
Ujima highlights cooperation based on the assumption that what one does to benefit others also benefits him or her.
Benefit one another
What one does to benefit others also benefits the individual.
Create and define ourselves
Personal and collective work is the fundamental activity by which we create, define, and develop ourselves.
Make culture. Make history.
Through work we confirm ourselves as individuals and as a people — the act of creating culture and making history.
Ujima / 03
Cultural foundation
Responsibility across every circle.
Practicing Ujima means accepting that we are collectively responsible for our failures, setbacks, victories, and achievements globally, nationally, familially, organizationally, and in the other communities we build.
Our wider people
Collective responsibility extends beyond the immediate circle.
Our common problems
The problems of the community become the responsibility of the community.
Our daily practice
Collective work is practiced in the places where we live, serve, and build.
Ujima / 04
Living the principle
Do your part. Build together.
Ujima asks each person to participate in the work of solving shared problems and developing the community.
Treat community problems as shared problems rather than someone else’s burden.
Bring your skills, time, labor, and attention into cooperative action.
Practice honest self-criticism and self-correction so collective work can improve.