“Return to the way, the way of reciprocity. How easy, how just the way. Yet how easily, how utterly you have forgotten it.” – Ayi Kwei Armah
Bartering and trading is the oldest form of commerce and exchange known to man, and is in fact the basis of any economic system. Community currency is one means of designing an internal, community controlled system of exchange. Community currencies, or local currencies, are not a new concept, but the utilization of them is experiencing a major resurgence throughout the world. Such internal currency systems provide a tool for addressing issues such as unemployment, community breakdown and economic disenfranchisement. Several systems have been established around the country that are providing practical success for the communities involved. The key element to success is the ability to link unused or underused human resources to otherwise unmet needs. For the African American community, in this time of increasing economic instability, our survival and continuance may depend on our being able to develop means and methods to utilize such a system within our local communities.
UMOJA MONEY AND GAWAKAZI: BEYOND BUY BLACK is an overview of how a system of community currency might work for us, and suggestions for getting started.
“It is for the spring to give. It is for springwater to flow. But if the spring would continue to give, and the springwater continue flowing, the desert is no direction. Receiving, giving, giving, receiving, all that lives is twin. Whatever cannot give, whatever is ignorant of receiving, knowing only taking, that thing is past its own mere death. There is no beauty but in relationships. Nothing cut off by itself is beautiful. All beauty is in the creative purpose of our relationships.” – Ayi Kwei Armah.
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Transformative Concepts Consulting Group 