Kujichagulia (koo-gee-cha-goo-lee-ah) is Kwanzaa’s second esteemed principle: Self-determination.

Kujichagulia demands the best things that are wrapped up in our soul to come out and to soar beneath the wings of God. It is a reflection of God itself. It moves in a wave of relentless tenacity and of the sharpest grace.

The "self" attached to determination regards something that stems from within – that can only belong to one person. We were designed to break the mold of what is orthodox and to breath like our lungs are the pathways of fire.

Kujichagulia lived in my ancestors' marrow. Let’s say we were as determined as some of my ancestors who wanted to be engulfed in a world of learning, but banned by law because their skin was sculpted with brown by most unregrettable hands.

Let’s say we were as self-determined as my ancestors – who were willing to turn into screaming defenders of their own proud and honorable blood by an unforgiving cat-o-nine tail whip than for their soul and loved ones to be scarred by the sight of vain obedience to a "master."

We would then know what it is like to live instead of living under life.

Coree O. DeShields is a member of the NAACP Robertsine Duncan Youth Council.