The Nguzo Saba (Seven principles) are: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility), Ujamaa
(Co-operative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).

Bennie Meeks
“My favorite is to strive for and maintain unity (Umoja) in the family, community, nation and our race. Out of all these principles, and there are many beautiful principles, this is the one that sticks with me the most. Unity, family, community, nation and race – this is most important to me.”

Emmanuel Kneeland, 17
“My favorite is (Kujichagulia-self-determination) because I like to motivate on my own, and I like to speak for myself. I am learning how important it is to think for yourself and to not be afraid of challenges. I often welcome challenges because it gives me the opportunity to see if I can succeed on my own. (Kneeland attends Austin Community Academy High School)

Juline McClinton
“I selected creativity (Kuumba) because I feel in our community we need to be more creative. We need to instill in our young people to be more respectful and try to keep our community looking decent for the young people and the older people.”

Geraldine Green
“My favorite is self-determination (Kujichagulia) because I believe in speaking up for myself and the rights of others. I like creating things. I created a recipe for butter milk pie. I created a new stitch for a hat I made, and I love crocheting and making things for other people. Working with my mother on the Green Team shows how important self-determination can be and how we all can get things done on our own. (Green is the daughter of Green Team President Mary Peery)

Jackie Martin
“Umoja (unity) because I believe in unity for the family and unity for our race. Definitely for our race, because we all have to stick together to get things accomplished. And by us being black, sometimes a lot of us don’t stick together and that is why some things don’t get accomplished, but we need to start sticking together in unity.”

Ellen Newcomer
“My favorite is Imani (faith). The reason I’m picking Imani is because of the Green Team. Through the Green Team, I’ve learned to believe in faith and to have faith – to believe in people and their inherit goodness.”