Dear Friends and Family,
It’s been a long time since I posted anything here.
I’ve been working behind the scenes on a number of projects.
I also feel it’s time to start sharing more of my work as the stars begin to align.
On this last day of 2022, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the Yr that it has been in the context of Kwanza.
Why? Because I owe it to myself, my family, and my community to ensure that I live a life of purpose and that I leave it all on the field (so to speak) as I approach my 49th birthday in 2023, it’s time to start looking forward again with purpose.
To me, that purpose is to leverage the platforms and networks I have built, inherited, and maintained— to further enrich and contribute to the development of the Black community. I invite you to reflect with me as I share my responses to the 7 principles of Kwanzaa as designed by cultured activist MaulanaKarenga in 1966. Feel free to drop me a line:
Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
I have spent the last 12 months focusing on facilitating family conversations with immediate and extended family.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
I have experienced tremendous growth in the past 12 months and have created this platform where I can speak
for myself.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our community’s problems our problems and solve them together.
One thing that is clear is that I cannot solve the issues of the Black community by myself but I can partner with
like-minded individuals, organizations, and individuals to build, maintain and grow our community.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Establish in 1994, the resurgence of Burke’s Bookstore is my latest trip down memory lane where I hope to
explore the full legacy that my parents created for me, my sister, and the broader community.
Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Through Burke’s Bookstore, I believe data is one path to success in that it enables me to help accelerate the
path to equity.
Kuumba (Creativity)
To do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
I miss C & C but the purpose of my work is to ensure that the world they inherit is better than the world they were
born into.
Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our hearts in our people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Cornerstone Baptist Church is the place where I feel free to be my authentic self without fear of repercussions for
my faith
Send strength and wisdom to you and your family for the new year.
Regards,
Jason Burke
