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Unlocking the Power of Honor: A Guiding Light for Our Tribe's Future

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  Unlocking the Power of Honor: A Guiding Light for Our Tribe's Future In a world where words often lose their meaning amidst the noise, "Honor" stands tall, embodying a profound truth that resonates deeply within the soul of our community. As we navigate the complexities of modern existence, it's essential to return to the roots that define us, leveraging the timeless principles of Honor, Loyalty, and Sacrifice to forge a path forward. This exploration isn't just about understanding a concept; it's about redefining our collective destiny through the lens of integrity and truth. As a community committed to empowerment and personal growth, we dive deep into the essence of Honor—dissecting its impact on our lives and our interactions with each other. This isn't just an article; it's a manifesto for those ready to embody the true meaning of Honor in their lives, propelling our tribe towards unprecedented heights of unity and strength. The Core of Honor: H

The 5 Most Powerful Resources You Will Ever Have

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  Unifying Your Resources Great week of Ujamaa on this great day of Umoja: Man I am excited to jump into this week but I have a challenge that I personally have to overcome. For those that know me personally I have been struggling with a tobacco habit for years. Last week I fell off the wagon, and have been puffing like a dragon. Now I will have to reconquer this issue again. I will use the next 7 day cycle to begin the process of eliminating this habit. This is what the #NguzoSabaChallenge is for, it gives us a process that we can continuously work on ourselves and our goals. So I have a challenge in front of me, especially since my 21 day personal #NguzoSabaChallenge fast will begin on May 23, 2021. Now that is enough about me now let's get to today's rant. Well, we are in the week of Ujamaa, and now is the time where we get to where the rubber hits the road. For those that are not familiar with Gye-Nyame's system we work with the Nguzo Saba to change our lives, from what

Respect Reciprocity

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  Great Ujamaa in this week of Ujima: These are two beautiful principles especially when they come together like today. we are forced to look at them and then take a hard look at ourselves, and think about whether we are exercising them. Ujima (which is the week that we are in) speaks to us about collective work and responsibility, but also in our system it represents the powerful and necessary principle of respect. Without respect nothing moves. Respect is like oil; it allows different parts to run smoothly together, and it reduces friction. Today's Principle is Ujamaa which talks to us about cooperation and resources, but it also represents the principle of gratitude, and reciprocity in our tribe. When we take the time and put these two principles together we get an unbeatable combination. A combination sorely needed in our communities. "Ujima reminds us of collective work and responsibility; but also respect, without it nothing moves." Today, I want to take a look at t

Defining Your Ownership

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Before I go down the road of the title I want to reflect on what we discussed yesterday and bring it in line with today's idea. We focused on defining responsibilty. We stated that "taking responsibilty gives you power", but now brother ha2tim wants to to take it one step farther. When we take responsibility it puts us in the seat toward ownership, or it should. Ownership of a thing gives you control. There are many things in life that we cannot control; but, there is something that all men have some level of control over, and that is their own physical body - your mind and spirit too. See, I can't make the sun shine, but I can put on my shades. I can't make it rain, but I can get an umbrella or simply stay indoors. "Taking responsibility gives you power" When you think about your life, your career and all the things that are apart of your world, who owns them? Who do you give ownership to? If you think about your job, who owns it? Is it your company, o

Pushing Our Resources Toward Umoja

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Revolutions are not simply about tearing down the old and building up a new. They are about creating an environment to sustain change in a manner that has never been done before. In order for us to do that we must have an understanding of our resources and how to invest them into the things that will make change possible. In order for us to be successful in our revolution, we have to understand how we can create communities that support the development of future leaders. I know it sounds like a stretch but as you continue to read you will begin to see that it is necessary if we want change. The reason why this is so important is because our children are our future and if we do not teach them properly then we will get the same results over and over again. This is why Umoja & Ujamaa have been connected from the beginning of time - they are symbiotic with each other. If you want the freedom of Umoja then you have to have Ujamaa or else it will wither away like a flower without water.

Reciprocity requires Imani (sample)

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Reciprocity is the act of returning something to someone who has given you something. In Gye Nyame culture, reciprocity is an integral part of daily life. To  understand why, one must first understand that the Ujamaa concept does not exist in isolation; it is at the very heart of our belief system and culture. Ujamaa requires reciprocity from everyone throughout the community which includes both giving and receiving within it. No other element or quality can be found in our system without it being regarded as lacking in some way if there was no reciprocity involved with it. The individual members of our community are taught that when they receive something, they must return the favor so that they are experiencing a balance of giving and receiving throughout their lives. This balance then allows us to experience an overall sense of harmony throughout our group which is necessary for us to function together in peace and tranquility since our group members recognize that they will be depe

Ujamaa---Unleashing The Full Potential Of Our Kuumba

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Have you ever felt an overwhelming desire to do good for your people and community, but felt like you didn't have the resources or know-how to make a difference? If so, you're not alone. We've been conditioned to believe that our impact is limited to the amount of money we spend or the number of hours we volunteer. But what if there was a way to reach more people and make a bigger impact without spending a dime? Ujamaa is about learning how to share resources and cooperate so that we can build up our communities and move to the next phase of nation building. But it appears that many of us overlook the goldmine that is sitting right under our own feet. We think that our wealth sits outside of us in houses, cars, clothes, shoes or other material possessions, when in fact the only thing we truly possess are the five parts of our being. We are in the world today struggling to survive when we have not yet unleashed the full potential of our Kuumba. We have unleashed it for other

You Don't Owe Anyone $#!+ For Free. (sample)

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  You Don't Owe Anyone $#!+ For Free. This might sound harsh, but it's not—it's inspiring. It's liberating. It means that you don't have to do things just because they want you to. You don't have to conform. You don't have to give in or give up your dreams and goals. Everyone is trying to get you to give up something of value to them, whether it's your time, your money, or even just your attention. But you don't owe anyone any of that. You can choose to do what you want, when you want, and how you want. You can choose to be selfish and self-centered if you want. It's all a matter of choice. The world is made of people who choose to make choices that benefit themselves in both a good as well as a bad way. And because everyone has a different set of values and things they're looking for in this world, the best way for us to create wealth is to make sure we have something valuable to offer and then make sure others have access to it. That requir

Sowing and Reaping (7 Ways to unleash the power of reciprocity) sample

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"How can we overcome failure if not through action?" Today we are called to look at the power within the cycle of reciprocity. The power to overcome failure, the power to lead yourself and those around you, and the power to build strong communities that break the shackles of poverty. The cycle of reciprocity is built on a fundamental truth: Sow what you want to reap. What this means is if you want to reap something in your life, you must sow it first. As Marcus Garvey would say: "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." So first we must understand where we come from and what our history has been in order to change our future. It is our goal today to learn more about the roots of reciprocity so that we can continue to sow seeds of success for ourselves and others. In order for us to create a healthy environment for our children, there must be an understanding that we have all sown some good and some bad i

Using Ujamaa To Overcome Fear (sample)

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I think we could all agree, at the least abstractly, that we want to live in a world without fear. Let's break it down and go on a run-through of some ideas, principles and practices which are fundamental to overcoming fear. Then maybe you'll see why you should take a closer look at the principle of Ujamaa, and how it's intersection with other principles helps us overcome fear and build friendship through the proper use of reciprocity and gratitude. The first idea I'd like to bring up is Ma'at, which is roughly equivalent to the western idea of justice - but with an important distinction. Ma'at wasn't about punishment or vengeance; it was about restoration, harmony and balance. One way to think about it is this: when someone violates a boundary, they have knocked the system out of balance, and Ma'at is there to restore that balance by restoring that boundary. If someone steals your bike, Ma'at seeks not to punish them as much as it seeks to return yo

Why should you build a tribe instead of a job?

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 A tribe is a group of people who have similar beliefs and similar interests. These groups of people are often led by someone and the leader's job is to help the group reach their goals. Now, before you start thinking this sounds a lot like a job, let me tell you that it isn't. A tribe is not something that you can lose one day because your boss decided they wanted to replace you. A tribe is something that you build and nurture with time so that it never dies out even if you are no longer there to lead them. It's something that grows organically with time and eventually becomes self-sustaining without any leadership whatsoever. And why would you want to build a tribe instead of working for yourself or at a job? The answer is simple: security. I'm sure many of you have experienced what it feels like to get laid off from your job or how it feels when a company decides to close down. When this happens, your whole life comes crashing down around you because suddenly all tho

Taking Ourselves Seriously

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 Great Ujamaa: In this episode we explore the difference between being serious and taking ourselves seriously. Taking our history seriously, really looking at it, and understanding how we got to where we are today is essential. Taking our principles seriously is also essential. Being serious about them, however, will not get us anywhere. What will? Taking ourselves personally seriously, being accountable and responsible for everything that we do and say, realizing that what truly matters is how we live. If we live with integrity – if we are kind and compassionate towards others – the rest will follow. We can change the world by changing ourselves first. And when I say "we", I mean "you", because you are in charge of your own life. Responsibility and accountability are the keys to making things happen in our own lives. How much do you take yourself personally seriously? How much do you really want to make a change in your life? Do you have enough responsibility and a

Myth About Emotions & It's Effects On Ujamaa (Sample)

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  The subject of Emotions and the effect it has on our lives, is the most frequently discussed topic. This talk will focus on the "Myth" of emotions and how it is being used against us as a tool to control our actions. This talk will explore the basics of how emotions are used as a tool against us and why they are so important in your life and business. Your life is ruled by two seemingly opposing forces? One is a force of forward (progress) moving energy and the other, a force of slowing us down, resisting change, making us carry unnecessary dead weight. They are in constant conflict, each trying to gain dominion over our lives but here's the problem... Both are trying to draft you. The question then becomes, Which will it be? If you think you can base your actions on wisdom and make progress while resisting your emotions... think again. Your emotions are not separate from you, how you feel has an enormous impact on what you do and how you live your life. Listen in and g

Ujamaa 21121-5

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Ujamaa 2421-5

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The Power Of Bitter

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Peace FAM: The bitter parts of life help build us up, and prepare our body and mind for the goodness that eventually will come. We have been trained to avoid the bitter. We are told not to complain, and to grin and bare it, we must monitor what we say and how we say it to make sure we don't spit out bitter words. We are surrounded by food that are packed with sugar and if we go to any grocery store we will be hard pressed to find something bitter. We have advanced humanity to a point where we can possible go a life time and never experience bitter word, or bitter food. We have reached the pinnacle of civilization, for now we can shelter the members from all the bitter that life has to offer. This process is complete but we have lost a lot in this trade, and many may want to go back and make some adjustments in our lives. Bitter helps us grow, and it strengthens us. It helps get our creativity unstuck, just like physical bitters jump starts our immune system, and stimulate digest

Daily Toast- Ujamaa 525171 "The Spook Who Sat By The Door"

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Peace FAM: I apologize for being behind. Today I didn't have to go to work, and I laid down and been chillin all of this Nia day. On Ujamaa I was moved to do an Old School movie review on a film that I believe does not get the credit it deserve. The Spook is not only a classic but a one of a kind tale that should be firmly posted in every revolutionaries heart. This is movie that introduce us to the idea of struggle, and the possibility of victory if we stick to our principles and training. When I first heard about this movie from my elders I went on the hunt for it, and it took years for me to find it. When I finally got my hands on it, I could not believe what I was seeing. The link to the movie is on the YouTube video, and I look forward to having a discussion about the film after you have taken the the time to see it. Let's Build!!!!

Daily Toast- Ujamaa 54171 "Unproductive Behaviors"

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Peace FAM: SelfMastery is about constantly looking at ourselves, and evaluating what we need , and what we need to change. This is a constant struggle, and it can be painful, but as our ancestor Amos Wilson taught us "It is a child that fears pain". So today I decided to look at the idea of unproductive behaviors. Do you have any?

Daily Toast- Ujamaa 413171 (5-6-7 a new way of seeing the world)

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Peace FAM: It is time for us to begin looking at the world with new eyes. Understanding GNJ's 567 system and applying it to your life will change the world for you. We are suffering because we have been miseducated about ourselves. We are taught about all the limits, and thrust into a world not of our or our ancestors making. As African people we have existed on the periphery of this world long enough, and it is time for us to grab the cover of our culture. Culture is the soul of a people, and a people without soul are zombies. Walking the earth soulless doing the bidding of their masters. The recent addition of zombies eating brains, and as brainless consumers is recent to the zombie lore. The original concept of a zombie was someone that was put up under a curse and was forced to serve. Although the brainless consumer was a great addition. We are caught in the zombie zone, serving others with no benefit to ourselves, but it is now time for us to change this paradigm. Today is t

Daily Toast- Ujamaa 46171 (Misplaced Emotinal Energy)

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Peace FAM: Pardon the lateness, but the files with the effects are bigger than I imagined and this one took 2 hours to upload, so that throws off my time table and I have to wait for a break to post. Break time and today is moving in slow motion for me. I am struggling on the warrior diet, because my body is telling me that it wants to eat, but it is more of a want than a need. Yesterday I ate my meal, and could not finish it. This was shocking because I thought I was hungry then as well. Taming the body is a Herculean task but I am up for it. I know you are reading this wondering what does the warrior diet have to do with today's topic. I am discovering that I am eating to feel emotional lacks in my life. Eating gives me a sense of comfort. Like many of you who will take the Challenge , you will begin to discover new things about yourself, and you will begin to recognize where you are wasting alot of energy. Our emotions are the driving force in our lives, and if we don't l

Daily Toast- 316171 Ujamaa (Stop Hindering)

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Peace FAM The proverb of the week is "Let shame come over those who hinder the rising of the dead", are you a hinderer. Are you stopping the raising of the dead in your life, by not sharing the resources that you have.  Let's discuss and Let's Build!!!