LIFE LESSONS OF HISTORY: OUR ANCESTORS AND ANCIENT EGYPT Los Angeles Sentinel, 02-28-08, p. A-7 DR. MAULANA KARENGA

At the center of our celebration of our men and women and our worthiness of the history is recognition of the fruitful re- promise of eternal life. sources it offers us in both learning and life We understood these core principles as and our conscious commitment to pay right- the practice of the Christianity of our people. ful hommage to our ancestors, those un- For we thought that, although they used the buckling bridges of righteous, resistant and same name, Whites did church, religion and resourceful men and women who carried us human relations differently for their own over troubled and treacherous waters and unchristian reasons of race and culture. But gave us the foundation and framework to go we never knew, as I would later learn and as forward and flourish. Here it is important to America’s pioneering Egyptologist would realize that our history and the awesome concede, that “It is now quite evident that legacy our ancestors left us do not begin in the ripe social and moral development of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia or even New mankind in the Nile Valley, which is three England, but in ancient Africa, home of the thousand years older than that of the He- elders of humanity and the fathers and brews, contributed essentially to the forma- mothers of human civilization. In this re- tion of the Hebrew literature we call the Old gard, Cheikh Anta Diop has taught us the Testament,” and of course, the New Testa- importance of recovering and reconstructing ment also. Indeed he said, “our moral heri- the legacy of ancient Egypt, Africa’s pre- tage, therefore, derives from a wider human mier classical civilization, in order to “rec- past enormously older than the Hebrews, oncile African and human history, create a and it has come through the Hebrews to us new body of human sciences and renew Af- rather than from them.” As his study reveals rican culture.” and Diop’s work reaffirms in scholarly de- Of all the contributions ancient Egypt tail, the central source from which this heri- has made to the disciplines of human tage evolves is the ancient African civiliza- knowledge, none is more important and en- tion of Kemet (Egypt). during than the moral and spiritual legacy it Thus, in spite of the unjust and relent- has left us and the world. It is of value to less religious demonization of ancient Egypt note, however, that I am ever mindful and and parallel willful and grossly uninformed profoundly appreciative of the moral and denials of its vital contribution to the intel- spiritual foundation our father and mother lectual and moral development of human- gave our brothers and sisters and me. It is kind, Kemet has provided the world with our parents, who first taught us the non- some of its most important moral and spiri- negotiable need and ethical obligation to tual concepts. And it is always good to re- speak truth, do justice, shun evil and share member and reflect on them and engage good, and be kind and considerate, espe- them in addressing our most important and cially to those less capable, less fortunate urgent issues. and less favored. Indeed, they taught us it Indeed, in these times and this society was how we treated each other and again where dogs have become children of choice especially “the least among us” that deter- and troubled and alienated youth slaughter mines our worthiness before God and among each other in streets, schools and on college campuses, and many parents play only the LIFE LESSONS OF HISTORY: 2 OUR ANCESTORS AND ANCIENT EGYPT Los Angeles Sentinel, 02-28-08, p. A-7 DR. MAULANA KARENGA

limited role of doting ATM’s, Kemet’s In a country where poverty is blamed teachings on our obligations to our children on the poor, and where hurricane victims of and future generations offer needed moral a devalued and inconvenient color are left to insight and instruction. The Husia, the sa- die or rescue themselves from flooded cred text of ancient Egypt, says that we houses, buildings, streets, rooftops, over- should cherish our children, but also chal- passes and overcrowded “holding pens” lenge them to do Maat (rightness, good) in called coliseums while those in charge go the world, that we should “teach them the off to dinner and ask not to be disturbed, the righteous ways of the ancestors” and “do for ancient African teaching that the moral them all that is good.” Moreover, it says measure of society is how we treat the most “Everyone teaches as s/he acts.” Therefore, vulnerable among us offers a much-needed “Set a good example; Uphold Maat and your alternative understanding and way of being children will thrive.” Indeed, “the result of human in the world. Indeed, the Husia doing good deeds is a fortune which chil- teaches that we are to give “food to the hun- dren will find afterwards.” gry, water to the thirsty, clothes to the naked In this context where official killing is and a boat to cross over to those who have passed off as capital punishment and still none.” We also are to be “an advocate for considered civilized, and a president prac- the wretched, a protector of the weak, a sup- tices and tries to legalize torture and wages porter of the poor and an ally of the op- war based on fantasies of chosen race and pressed.” religion and an imperialistic addiction to su- Finally, in a world where genocide in perpower thuggery and theft, Kemet’s teach- Darfur, the bludgeoning of Haiti, and the ing on the dignity of the human person, the brutal collective punishment and imprison- sanctity of life and the rightness and reward ment of the whole Palestinian people is met of peace are refreshing. It is ancient Egypt, with shameful and self-indicting silence, the in the Husia, who first taught that humans Husia teaches us that we must “stand up in are bearers of divinity and dignity, that the midst of silence,” injustice and oppres- “humans are the images of God” and that sion in the world, and “bear witness to truth they have an inherent worthiness which is and set the scales of justice in their proper transcendent, equal and inalienable. And place (especially) among those who have no concerning taking life or experimenting on voice.” Moreover, we are to “seek after that humans, “It is not permitted to do such which is good for the future,” striving con- things to the noble flock (images) of God.” stantly to repair and remake the world (se- Furthermore, the Husia says “Do not terror- rudj ta), ever mindful in all we do that “eve- ize people” or plunder. Rather, “speak truth, ryday is a donation to eternity and even one do justice” and “plan to live in peace and hour is a contribution to the future.” what is to be given (or shared) will come of itself.”

Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor of Black Studies, California State University-Long Beach, Chair of The Organiza- tion Us, Creator of Kwanzaa, and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, [www.Us- Organization.org and www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org].