December 27: Kujichagulia — Self-Determination
- Ruby N Lewis
- Dec 27, 2025
- 3 min read
December 27: Kujichagulia — Self-Determination
To define yourself. To name yourself. To speak for yourself.
That is Kujichagulia.
Self-determination is not just about confidence—it is about freedom. It is the refusal to let systems, stereotypes, trauma, or history decide who you are allowed to be. For Black people, self-determination has always been an act of resistance. From the moment our names were taken, our languages silenced, and our identities rewritten by others, reclaiming the right to define ourselves became revolutionary.
Kujichagulia reminds us that we are not what the world says we are.
We are who we say we are.
It is the courage to speak your truth even when your voice shakes.
It is the strength to choose your own path when society tries to assign you one.
It is the power to create something new when the old systems were never built for you to thrive.
Self-determination means rejecting labels meant to shrink us and replacing them with identities rooted in purpose, culture, and self-worth. It means deciding that our stories deserve to be told by us, not about us. It means understanding that our voices matter—even when they make people uncomfortable.
Kujichagulia teaches us that liberation begins internally. When you define yourself, no one else gets to erase you.
How Please Don’t Die Black Men (PDDBM Lives Kujichagulia
At Please Don’t Die Black Men (PDDBM), self-determination is not a concept we talk about once a year—it is the foundation of everything we do.
PDDBM exists to give Black youth the tools, space, and support to define themselves on their own terms. In a world that often tells Black children who they are before they ever get the chance to discover it, we intentionally do the opposite.
Our afterschool programs in fashion design, filmmaking, journalism, and creative entrepreneurship allow students to tell their own stories, create their own narratives, and express their identities without being boxed in by stereotypes or expectations. Students don’t just learn skills—they learn that their voice has value.
When a student designs clothing inspired by their culture…
When they write an article about their lived experience…
When they produce a short film that reflects their reality…
They are practicing Kujichagulia.
PDDBM teaches young people that they do not need permission to be brilliant. They do not need approval to be creative. They do not need validation to matter. We empower them to name themselves, speak for themselves, and build futures that reflect who they truly are.
Self-determination also means ownership. Our students don’t just participate—they own their work. They keep copies of what they create. They see themselves as creators, leaders, and change-makers, not just consumers of someone else’s vision.
Through PDDBM, Black youth learn that their identity is not something to hide, soften, or dilute. It is something to honor, protect, and proudly stand in.
A Closing Reflection
Kujichagulia asks us a powerful question:
Who are you—when you decide for yourself?
At PDDBM, we believe that when Black youth are given the freedom to define themselves, they don’t just survive—they lead, innovate, and transform the world around them.
Self-determination is not optional.
It is necessary.
It is sacred.
And it is ours.
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