Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School Pledge
Elementary Scholars Recite:
We are the scholars of Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School
We are the sons and daughters of Greatness
We are the descendents of those who loved Scholarship, Justice, the Arts, and the Earth.
We take pride in our diversity and find joy in our unity.
We respect our ancestors, our elders, ourselves, each other and our environment.
We honor the principle of Sankofa and reclaim our roots
To build a brighter tomorrow.
High School Servant Leaders Recite:
We are the servant leaders and intellectual warriors of Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter School.
We shall always remember the sacrifices of our ancestors--
Those who were taken from their land
And those whose land was taken from them.
Because we stand on the shoulders of a mighty people
We shall build mighty shoulders on which others can stand.
We pledge to develop good habits of the mind, body, and spirit
We pledge to continue the legacy of the freedom fighters before us.
We understand that we exist because others have made it possible for us
and because others have made it possible for us, we will make it possible for others.
ALL recite in unison:
Every day in every way..
We shall learn so that we can teach and we shall teach so that we can change the world
We are Sankofa Freedom Academy
Working to restore excellence in scholarship, culture, and community
One Heart, One Love, One Earth, One People
HARAMBEE
Lunch time Affirmation:ANKH WS SNB
In 1975 Dr. Jacob Hudson Carruthers, otherwise known as Baba Jedi Shemsu Jehewty went to Senegal to meet with the great Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop who inspired him to not only continue studying Nile Valley civilization as the cornerstone of African-Centered education, but to study the literature of KMT and to master the process of translating the ancient language known as Mdw Ntr (hieroglyphs). Through his research and activity from the Kemetic Institute, which he founded, Dr. Carruthers would impact African-Centered education in Chicago and across the country. One of those contributions is the Ankh Ws Snb, now slightly modified by our school. There are common themes found in the literature of KMT. Ankh, ws, and snb or life, power, and health are very common among those themes. Dr. Carruthers developed the Ankh Ws Snb from those themes. Sankofa Charter has used the Ankh Ws Snb as a thematic frame for each of our trimesters. The first trimester is Ankh Ws (Life and Power), Wajah Snb (Prosperity and Health), and Djed (Strength and Stability).
Ankh Ws Snb May you have all Life
May you have all Power
Wah Jah Djed May you have all Health
Khet Nbt May you have all Propserity
May you have all Stability
Wab Nfrt And all things
Mi Kheper-Ra Djet Pure and Good
Shem-Hotep Like the Rising Sun Forever
May you Walk in Peace
Our Afternoon Affirmation is done in Honor of Our Great and Loving Ancestor Baba Darryl Kofi Kennon who always taught us to do our “good, better, best”. Baba Kofi dreamed Sankofa dreams and transitioned from this world on January 25, 2009.
Minute by Minute, hour by hour
If we keep our history, we’ll keep our power
Minute by minute, hour by hour
If we keep our faith, we’ll keep our power
Minute by minute, hour by hour
If truth is light than knowledge is power
If it is to be than its up to we
I feel good about myself
I feel good about my brothers and sisters around me
I feel goodness all around me
And it will follow me for the rest of my life
Cause I walk with good
And I talk with good
And I am good
And that feels real good
Good, better best
Never let it rest
Until your good is your better
And your better is your best
Africana people We once knew we were great
We shall know that we are great again
Lose not faith
Lose not courage
Uplift our community
Harambee…….