Instructor: Mba Mbulu Course Outline
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Title of Course: Black Government 101 Class # 2: [Audio Version]
Below are the Preamble, Article 1 and Article 2 of the Code of Umoja (the Black constitution), and some Explanatory Notes. These are included to let you know how seriously Black People have been thinking and acting along Black nationalist lines. Pay close attention to them, and make notes if you think certain changes would improve the document.
CODE OF UMOJA (The Black Constitution)
(Note: The latest amendments to the Code of Umoja appear in RED type.)
Preamble: To provide a basis for oneness for Afrikan People in America, to succeed in Our struggle for independence in the western hemisphere, to pursue relentlessly the liberation of Afrikan People throughout the world, and to contribute to the World revolution, We the people of the Republic of New Afrika hereby declare the Code of Umoja as the constitution of Our nation.
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Section 1: Citizenship by Birth
Each Afrikan person born in America is a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika.
Section 2: Citizenship by Parentage
Any child born to a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika is a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika.
Section 3: Citizenship by Naturalization
Any person not otherwise a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika may become a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika by completing the procedures for naturalization as provided by the Peoples' Center Council.
Amendment: 03/28/97-- Any person of Afrikan descent is entitled to acquire citizenship in the Republic of New Afrika by a simple declaration of Republic of New Afrika citizenship, made before an official of the Government on a form prescribed by the President and executed, with signature, by the person declaring Republic of New Afrika citizenship.
Section 4: Pre-Ratification Citizenship Retained
Each person who is a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika at the time of the passage of this Code of Umoja is hereafter a citizen of the Republic of New Afrika.
Section 5: Right to Choice of Citizenship
Notwithstanding Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 1, the right to any person to expressly deny or renounce his citizenship shall not be denied.
Section 6: Citizenship of Other Afrikans
Persons of Afrikan descent, wherever their original place of birth or domicile in the world, have a right to New Afrikan citizenship, as provided by the People's Center Council.
Section 7: Conscious Citizenship
All citizens of the Republic of New Afrika who are aware of their citizenship are conscious New Afrikan citizens. As a result of an over 300 year-old policy of force and fraud used by the United States government and the governments of various American states against the New Afrikan nation, many citizens of the Republic of New Afrika are not aware of their human right to New Afrikan citizenship and, indeed, are not aware of the existence of the New Afrikan nation in North America. The growth of the conscious New Afrikan citizenship is related to the success of the liberation struggle. The objective measurement of that growth shall be in consideration in the development and implementation of Provisional Government policy, programs and structure as determined by the People's Center Council.
Article II: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PEOPLE AND OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT
Section 1A: Rights and Responsibilities of the People
Being solely dedicated to the well-being of its citizens through the promotion of collective work and responsibility and production to meet the individual needs, the Republic of New Afrika shall guarantee so long as the resources of the nation shall allow all the rights of the people enumerated in the Declaration of Independence and the Code of Umoja. These rights shall include, but are not limited to, the right to sufficient food, shelter, clothing, medical care, education, and protection to sustain and promote their physical, mental, and spiritual health and well-being.
Section 1B: Furthermore, it shall be the policy of New Afrika to promote the understanding that the complete dedication of all citizens in keeping with the New Afrikan Creed is required to successfully liberate and build Our new nation and to properly nourish Our government to fulfill its responsibilities to the people.
Section 2: Rights and Responsibilities of the Officials
All government officials of the Republic of New Afrika shall enjoy the full rights of all citizens of the Republic of New Afrika and shall bear the responsibilities for administering fair, just and impartial government in accordance with the provisions of this Code of Umoja.
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The order of the priorities laid forth in the Preamble to the Code of Umoja is quite instructive. The number one objective is to provide a basis for oneness for Afrikan People in America. In order to accomplish this, We must concentrate on (1) succeeding in Our struggle for independence in the western hemisphere, (2) pursuing relentlessly the liberation of Afrikan People throughout the world, and (3) contributing to the world revolution. It is important that We recognize the wisdom of prioritizing them as such. We have to be practical. We can not help others until We get into a position to do so. Therefore, even though the world revolution (working for the benefit of all humanity) is Our highest objective, it can not be Our most immediate objective. And, even though We recognize that progress in Africa is as important as progress in North America, Black People in North America can not assume that We are better able to conduct the African Revolution than Our brothers and sisters on the continent. Certainly, at this point We can best promote the African Revolution and the world revolution by taking care of business in North America; that is, by establishing a Black Nation, a bastion of Black power, right here in North America.
What is the basis of a nation? Its people. That is why the Code of Umoja addresses the issue of citizenship in the very first article. Notice Section 5 of Article 1. There is no attempt to force anyone to become a citizen of Our Nation. Citizenship is too precious to play cheap. In the Black Nation, citizenship is a very valuable possession.
Section 1A of Article 2 guarantees the rights of the people. In the United States constitution, the rights guaranteed to the people were an afterthought; a Bill of Rights was reluctantly added only after it became clear that the constitution would not be approved unless it was included. This difference in how the Black constitution treats the people's rights seems small, but it is in fact huge. The rights of the people in the Black constitution are much more formidable than in the United States constitution because the Code of Umoja is a people-oriented document. Its tendency is to lean toward the people, to work to the benefit of the people. The Bill of Rights in the US constitution is critically weakened because it is found in a document that does not have people-centric tendencies. The US constitution is a business-oriented document. Its tendency is to work to the advantage of business interests, and any time business interests conflict with people interests, the US constitution will lend its weight to the concerns of business and throw its weight against the concerns of the people.
Also note that Article 2 deals with the rights and responsibilities of the people and officials. Everyone has a responsibility to the health of the Black nation. In light of Our experiences in the United States, the Code of Umoja should also include a section on the duty of business persons and businesses to act in a manner that is not detrimental to the people of Our Black nation or the Nation itself.
Please review the articles and sections above. It would be to your advantage to be familiar with them.