We’re Dreaming of a #Blackxmas
It’s imperative that the black community value and patronize its own enterprises. We must remember the Kwanzaan tenet of Ujamaa, or cooperative economics. As described by President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Ujamaa is “based on the assumption of human equality, on the belief that it is wrong for one [person] to dominate or exploit another, and on the knowledge that every individual hopes to live in a society as a free [person] able to lead a decent life, in conditions of peace with his [her] neighbor.”
The late Ermias Asghedom aka Nipsey Hussle engaged in this practice. An untrained eye may look at his entrepreneurship and acquisitions as self-serving endeavors, but his neighborhood knew better. He provided pride and purpose to an area beset by economic and state violence. Nipsey hired people others might consider down and out, he invested in the “hood,” a place people of similar means are expected to flee.
Nipsey’s legacy lives on in our shared efforts at economic uplift. We cannot rise collectively without centering our goods and services in our own lives.
Please patronize the black owned businesses:
Africa Town Coalition (Self Determination for Black Los Angeles) www.blaction.com/self-governance/Africa-town-coalition/
African American Cultural Center (Black cultural work and forums) www.africanamericanculturalcenter-la.org
American Youth Soccer League – South Los Angeles (Black soccer league) www.ayso1031.org
A New Way of Life (Reentry support services for formerly incarcerated women) http://www.anewwayoflife.org/
Black Alliance for Just Immigration (Black immigration justice) www.baji.org
Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles (working to end state-sanctioned violence) www.crowdrise.com/blmla
Black Women for Wellness (Black women’s health) www.bwwla.org
Black Worker Center (good jobs for Black people) www.lablackworkercenter.org
Crenshaw Subway Coalition (transportation and housing justice in Black communities) www.crenshawsubway.org
Fernando Pullum Center (free performing arts classes for children) www.pullumcenter.org
Initiate Justice (organizing incarcerated folks and their loved ones) https://www.initiatejustice.org
Jenesse Center (domestic violence intervention, housing and services) http://www.jenesse.org
Los Angeles Community Action Network – LACAN (homeless organizing) www.cangress.org
Media Done Responsibly (media education and push for positive media images) www.mediadoneresponsibly.org
Reform LA Jails (jail and prison reform) www.reformlajails.com
The Reverence Project (trauma healing) https://www.gofundme/f/the-reverence-project-50-for-50
Social Justice Learning Institute (Black male youth leadership and education) www.sjii.org
Southern Christian Leadership Conference – Southern California (advocacy and service rooted in progressive Christianity as practiced by Dr. King) https://sclc-sc.org
St. Elmo Village (residential Black artist community; free arts workshops and events) www.stelmovillage.org
Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (Black political power) www.scopela.org
GET INVOLVED WITH #BLACKXMAS
