Teaching Resource
Chart of Nguzo Saba Principles/Definitions with Unit Usage Ideas
|
Nguzo Saba Principle |
Definition |
Suggested usage in Author Study focused on Author’s Craft |
|
Nia, Purpose |
To make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.* |
Students can explore Nia through exploration of the purpose for why author uses certain characterization methods. |
|
Ujima, Collective Work and Responsibility |
To build and maintain our community together and to make our Brother’s and Sister’s problems, our problems and to solve them together.* |
Students review how the author describes the problems the characters face, and how the community is maintained throughout the text—and question why the author chose to write in a certain way |
|
Ujamaa, Cooperative Economics |
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them.* |
Evaluate the author’s intent behind how characters in the inner city respond to the notion of cooperative economics. Particularly in Money Hungry and Begging for Change in which the main character is an entrepreneur. |
|
Umoja, Unitiy |
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.* |
Identify the author’s usage of language and characterization that describes unity. |
|
Kujichaguila, Self Determination |
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.* |
This is a major principle that can be used in all three novels, particularly in The Skin I’m In—students can look at the author’s methods in describing the characters and the point of view. |
|
Kuumba, Creativity |
To do always as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful than when we inherited it.* |
Students can review the novels and compare and contrast the author’s creativity and style for writing as a whole. |
|
Imani, Faith |
To believe with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.* |
Students can review how the author chose to reveal the dynamics of family and beliefs and how the characters grapple with the complexities of life as an adolescent in the inner city. |
*Definitions Cited From: “The Founder's Message 2000." The Official Kwanzaa Web Site Accessed July 13, 2016. http://officialkwanzaawebsite.org/NguzoSaba.shtml.
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