Did Baldwin get it right? In James Baldwin’s book, The Fire Next Time, he writes, “Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have.” Baldwin suggests our fears of death shape our drives, decisions, and divisions.
On July 4th, I ran the 10K Run for Hunger charity race. The event began at 8:00 AM, hours after a flash flood devastated multiple communities. Unaware of the catastrophe that had occurred last Friday, I warmed up with capoeira movements in my garage and jogged to the starting line.
Fireworks, barbecues, and parades filled my childhood’s Independence Days. I looked forward to the holiday and its promises of time with family and friends. As I grew older and developed a deeper understanding of the meaning behind July 4th, something within me changed.
Awareness is the foundation for transformation.
Umoja actively serves and promotes student success for all students through a curriculum and pedagogy responsive to the legacy of the African and African American Diasporas.
