By Zahir Oladunni Mobolaji Toure
Starting in the U.S. California Prison system, Black August is an annual observance to commemorate Black Political Prisoners and African resistance efforts globally. There is a specific focus on condemning the mistreatment of Black prisoners, raising awareness around what and who Political Prisoners are, their current conditions, and the historical development of the Black Prisoner struggle in general. In addition, we take this time to reflect on lessons to be learned from African resistance, both past and present, while committing ourselves to either joining or lending support to current resistance efforts.
On a personal level, Black August rejuvenates our devotion to revolutionary change. It calls for us to look within and use our internal power to commit to study, fast, train, and fight with more enthusiasm, zeal, and intensity than any other time of the year. Transcending past mere observance, Black August pushes us to share the pain experienced by political prisoners, allowing us to understand the level of struggle needed, teaching us self-control, and increasing our awareness and spiritual commitment toward struggle. The Mageuzi recognizes how this month can lead to transformational changes within the person. For this reason, we recommend a way to practice the holiday in accordance with the Mageuzi 6 Afrikan Virtues.
For those unaware, the Mageuzi is a philosophy that teaches about self-transformation. As in, we introduce the individual to how to intentionally start a process of self-transformation or be more aware of the process if they are currently going through one. We teach that self-starting transformation is contingent upon the individual's ability to utilize their Free Will, Self-Ownership, Willpower or Will to Power, Nationhood, Teachability, and Self-Actualization. In addition, we provide the 6 Afrikan Virtues as an ethical guideline to help us on our journey of transformation while also using it to maintain new versions of ourselves afterward.
The 6 Afrikan Virtues, Reverence, Self-Control, Mindfulness, Courage, Dedication to Work, and Communalism, help guide us toward the common good and develop our humanity through transformation. According to the wisdom of our Ancestors, transformation is "the forming and reforming of a person's moral core is fundamental in the emergence of a genuine humanity and essential for harmonious living with all that is" (Mosha, 2008, p.9). Thus, the Mageuzi philosophy emphasizes self-transformation as we see it as our most powerful and empowering weapon to use as African people. Transformation utilizes our self-agency, enabling us to look within and to our people to solve our problems. As such, emphasizing transformation within the month of Black August prioritizes the decolonizing of ourselves from the American, Eurocentric, materialistic-Capitalist values and worldview to that of an African revolutionary one, actualizing the potential of one's divine-African self in the process.
The following list does not utilize all of the 6 Afrikan Virtues but only a few that are most relevant to the principles of Black August. That said, the reader can apply any virtues as they see fit. Also, at the end of each principle, there are recommendations as to how one can practice each virtue. However, be mindful of yourself. Try to push past your former boundaries but do not engage in activities that could hurt yourself or others.
To Fast, is to Utilize the Virtue of Self-Control.
Fasting develops our spiritual strength, which includes resisting temptations and developing our self-mastery. In sustaining from food or drink, we experience a form of suffering that allows us to be more mindful of the hardships of revolutionary struggle. However, for the Mageuzi, fasting is used to rid ourselves of things that no longer serve us. For example, bad habits or negative self-beliefs that keep us from becoming better versions of ourselves. In other words, fasting or practicing self-restraint and sacrifice is necessary in the transformation process.
In African spiritual traditions, sacrifice is based on the concept of reciprocity, where offerings are made to the Ancestors and Deities to have them assist us in our lives. Similarly, fasting for Black August in the Mageuzi way is a form of self-sacrifice made to the revolution to help oneself in creating more substantial and longer-lasting change. For instance, one could sacrifice bad food, smoking, social media, etc., or they could sacrifice lousy character traits, such as laziness, procrastination, disrespect, etc., that have not served you in the best manner. All of which can lead to personal transformation.
In the Mageuzi interpretation, fasting is considered the moral practice of self-giving, to which people dedicate more of themselves through self-control, a combination of self-discipline and willpower, to whatever they want to achieve. Thus, giving us the internal power needed to sacrifice whatever we choose to and make it through the entire month. A recommendation for this month is to fast from anything you perceive to be a negative influence on your life and set a goal for yourself to continue your transformational journey past the 30-day mark. For example, you may want to sacrifice junk food for the month or fast from laziness and take yourself to the gym, go on a walk, read or finish a book you have put off. Make a goal and commit to finishing it.
To Study, is to utilize the Virtue of Reverence.
Reverence is the honor or respect felt and shown to the divine, a person, place, time, or thing (Mosha, 2008, p.89). In African traditions, a deep reverence is shown for ancestors, especially those who significantly impacted society. Ancestors are our blood relatives and essential members of our shared community. This concept of revering ancestors is central to the African worldview, as it is believed that ancestors are a link to the divine and still influence the affairs of the living.
In the Mageuzi, the concept of ancestors is extended to blood relatives and those of us who share the same occupation. Our ancestors engaged in revolutionary struggle and participated in various nation-building efforts in this context. Accordingly, we engage in ancestor veneration by reading their biographies, autobiographies, and numerous works, offering our time and our thoughts, reflecting on their words, and picking up on the wisdom they passed down. By no means is this a substitute for actual blood sacrifice to true blood-related Ancestors, but it is only an added practice for those who wish to do so, especially for Black August.
The Honorable Marcus Garvey was a staunch advocate of reading and this type of learning. Garvey believed that one can only make the best out of life by knowing and understanding; to do this is to fall back on the intelligence of others who came before you (p.185). As such, he instructed us never to stop learning and "Never go to bed without doing some reading" (p.186). For this Black August, apply the ancestorial wisdom of Marcus Garvey and read something you have not read before, read something you have been meaning to read but have never gotten to it, finish reading what you already are into, or give yourself to a reading challenge.
Furthermore, take a DNA test to see who your Ancestors are and where they come from. Double down on this by getting ancestral divination from any priest. However, we recommend our priest Vodu priest from Togo. While DNA can tell you your blood-related, divination can say to you who you are a reincarnation of, family deities, spiritual stories of your Ancestors, and much more. Use this time in Black August to connect with all your Ancestors, those of your same occupation and bloodline, to begin your self-transformation journey.
To Train, is to utilize the virtue of Dedication to Work.
Dedication is putting in overtime, going past the average requirement to meet a goal, putting in your max effort, and committing yourself to the end to create the best version of yourself. Dedication allows us to refine our skills when faced with new challenges and helps us maintain commitment during hard times. Accordingly, training enables us to maintain dedication and is essential for every revolutionary.
If dedication is about sticking to our commitments, then political prisoners exemplify the Dedication to Work virtue. For example, prisoners such as Mumia Abu-Jamal, Kojo Bomani Sababu, Abdul Olugbala Shakur, and many others have maintained their dedication to their revolutionary ideologies by speaking truth to power despite being behind enemy lines. In addition, other political prisoners such as Ojore N. Lutalo and Kevin Rashid Johnson kept their creative spirits stimulated by engaging in creative artwork, while others such as Kuwasi Balagoon keep their bodies physically fit by engaging in various workouts and fitness routines which can be seen here. Lastly, even political prisoners such as Jalil Muntaqim, who has been released, continue to fight for liberation within his group and offer guidance to younger organizers.
The lessons we learned from these political prisoners is that we have no excuse not to follow through on our commitments and to stay dedicated to ourselves and the liberation struggle despite setbacks, which is the essential meaning of Black August. It is a month towards recommitment, refining, and transforming ourselves to meet new levels of struggle.
For this reason, we recommend that you show your dedication to work by refining your skills. For example, you could start going to the range and practicing your shot, bringing comrades with you, or even creating a workout group dedicated to implementing community workouts to keep yourself and the people physically fit. Furthermore, you could practice writing, artwork, music, or any activity that can work to help keep your commitments for Black August.
To Fight, is to Utilize the Virtue of Courage.
In understanding the effects prison can have on the human spirit, Mumia Abu-Jamal is quoted as saying, "Prison is a second-by-second assault on the soul, a day-to-day degradation of the self, an oppressive steel and brick umbrella that transforms seconds into hours and hours into days" (Goodreads). The reality of doing time in prison for our work and beliefs sends a paralyzing fear into the hearts and minds of many of us. Accordingly, many people choose not to get involved in any form of struggle as they do not want to go through the trouble of repression.
This fear is not subjected to political action against the powers that be. Many individuals within these "revolutionary" organizations are afraid to speak out against corrupt leadership and/or to have a different opinion. Members of many groups are scared to speak their minds, choose to stay quiet and go along with obviously wrong information, behaviors, and ideas because they fear being kicked out of the community, becoming ostracized, or, even worst, being physically assaulted. This unwillingness to speak truth to power, not just to the capitalist, but your truth that may not be in alignment with others on the side of the revolution, is conduct unbecoming of a revolutionary and is a deathblow to the liberation formations.
This is a death blow to liberation organizations because not having the freedom to speak reflects authoritarianism and the incapability to accept differences. In many ways, it exposes many formations as being no different than the enemy they claim to be against. Unfortunately, the centralization of power in the hands of the few can creep into any facet of society, organization, and ideology if there are no internal checks and balances to prevent it from establishing itself. One of those mechanisms to keep power in check is always speaking your mind, although people may never appreciate you for doing so. Speaking your mind allows various opinions to be heard, prevents stagnation, stops monolithic thinking, and blocks some elite few from controlling groups, the people's thoughts, minds, and behavior.
To speak truth to power despite being liked or supported is to practice the virtue of Courage. Courage means to live by the liberation ethics of Malcolm X, which is to bear witness to the truth, live in the truth of the recovered and reconstructed self (transformation), and struggle to achieve a context of freedom, justice, and equality (Karenga, 2009). For Black August, practice the virtue of Courage by writing an article for publication, forming or joining a study group to discuss important topics, holding or joining a community discussion, or going to your local town hall/city council meeting and letting your voice be heard.
In conclusion, let Black August and the 6 Afrikan Virtues guide you to your transformation. Change never happens within our comfort zones. Therefore, we must get ourselves past our comfort level for self-transformation. Let Black August be a springboard for that journey and continue to struggle for the Ancestors, your people, your community, and yourself.
Mosha, Sambuti (2000) The Heartbeat of Indigenous Africa Routledge Routledge Publishing
Garvey, Marcus (1987) Marcus Garvey Life and Lessons: A Centennial Companion to the Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers University of California Press
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/57926.Mumia_Abu_Jamal#:~:text=Prison%20is%20a%20second%2Dby,hours%20and%20hours%20into%20days.
Karenga, Maulana (2009) Remembering Maloclm: Becoming and Being Ourselves Los Angeles Sentinel https://www.us-organization.org/position/documents/RememberingMalcolm.pdf
Zahir Oladunni Mobolaji Toure is a renowned existentialist and Afrikan philosopher who is attributed with the creation of the Mageuzi Philosophy and the 6 Afrikan Virtues. He is widely respected as an independent thinker and philosopher, celebrated for his impactful contributions to revolutionary theory and Afrikan Philosophy.