The Kwanzaa Effect (Ujima)

“… For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more” Luke 12:48b

The third principle of Kwanzaa is Ujima. It is defined contextually as collective work and responsibility. In short, “to build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together” (officialkwanzaawebsite.org/ujima.html).

The Superhero Icon from the Milestone Dakotaverse is an interesting hero. He was a character created by Dwayne McDuffie and M.D. Bright. Icon as a comic book began back in 1993 and the original run was 42 issues. The character itself was based upon the origins of Superman who crash landed into a field in Smallville, Kansas where as Icon crash landed on a plantation in 1839 which is significant being that chattel slavery was the way of life in the south. As a result, the alien encounters a Black woman who is a slave. The newly crash landed alien is on a primitive planet and knows that his current form would not be acceptable. So he chooses to change into a Black child and grows up in slavery. He sees liberation and prosperity to the point where he disguises himself as his own descendent. He was named Augustus Freeman and has lived for centuries and now goes by the name Augustus Freeman IV. He is a man of wealth and is politically conservative. Yet, he encounters a young woman named Raquel who with a group of friends attempt to burglarize Augustus’ mansion. This unfortunate set of events however, puts him on a path of being a hero and a symbol for change. Augustus was a man of means whereas Raquel was misguided youth. Yet regardless of Raquel’s set of circumstances, it has not stopped her from wanting to do better and be better. Augustus mentors her but in reality it is Raquel who is challenging and leading Augustus to become Icon. Augustus initially tried to scold Raquel and her friends for breaking into his home. He explains the importance of hard work and ethics. However, Raquel sees this “alien” as someone who should be doing something about the ills in the world. It is a match made in heaven as they say. Icon and Rocket would go on and have great adventures during Milestone’s legendary run in the early to mid 90s. These same characters have been rebooted in the new version of Milestone 2.0 as Icon and Rocket.

So my friend, what does Icon and Rocket have to do with collective work and responsibility? Honestly, a whole lot. A 200 year old man and a teenager taking on the bad guys and the system is how freedom is born. You work with those who will work with you. It is our job to build together, fight together, and take ownership of our collective family’s issues. I told a brother once after assembling a cadre of collectors together for a goal that now that he had brought them together; it was his job to be a steward. If you put something into motion and give it precise direction, it still needs guidance to get from point a to point b. Much is given, so much will be required. A lot people cannot take the weight of the pressure of leadership and power. Many of us look around for “others” to take charge. They look around for “others” to do what they are supposed to do. If you notice the trash on the ground, the revelation of that isn’t the plain and obvious. The revelation is in you doing something about it besides commenting on it. Rocket challenged a man who was physically stronger than her to be more than a comfortable citizen hiding in a mansion under a surname. While we know that Augustus Freeman’s resources and strength made him in essence Black Superman; It was the lowly and “lost” Raquel who gave him purpose. We all can be as strong as Icon but unless we are willing to focus that strength in purpose and helping my brother or my sister. I will exist and judge people like Augustus Freeman. Ironically, not knowing my calling and using my gifts to help my people makes me as lost as Raquel was when she first encountered Augustus. So, my brother and my sister, what will you do with your power? God questioned Cain about the whereabouts of his brother Abel. This of course was after the fact that Cain killed his brother. God asked him where is your brother? Cain replied that he did not know and questioned God. “Am I, my brother’s keeper? Man has been ducking that responsibility since the first murder. If it is to be, it is up to me. [Cue up Willie Hutch’s Brothers Gonna Work it Out] We are our brother’s keeper, otherwise, freedom will always be a thought and never a reality.