The African Pledge

Written by Kadist Selassie - Inspired by the words, work and life of Marcus Garvey

We are an African People.

We will remember the humanity, glory and suffering of our ancestors.

We will honor the struggles of our elders.

We will strive to bring new values and new life to our people.

We will have peace and harmony among us.

We will be loving, sharing and creative.

We will work, study and listen so we may learn, learn so we may teach.

We will cultivate self reliance.

We will struggle to resurrect and unify our homeland.

We will raise many children for our nation.

We will have discipline, patience, devotion, and courage.

We will live as models to provide new directions for our people.

We will be free and self-determining.

We are an African people, and  WeWillWin!


 

Performance

 

Author

Keddist Selassie is a Rastafarian Elder from Oakland California who wrote the African Pledge. Inspired by the life and teachings of Marcus Garvey and the UNIA, as well as other revolutionary African pledges, this piece was written to be in the mouths of Black children, and to affirm African identity into the future. Ygb has used this as a central piece of our work since 2010.

 

HISTORY

In these videos Malcolm X defines what it means to be an African person, reminding us that all Black people are descendants of African people.

 
 

This dance piece is a tribute to the words and legacy of Marcus Garvey in celebration of Juneteenth.