“You assimilate the culture of the oppressor, coming at situations with little more than a colonized mind-set. Going into new spaces, replicating the brokenness of the past.”

“That’s rich considering that you propagate a worldview that still sees in terms of weusi and mzungu. Or how Muungano itself defines its members by Ugenini, Asili, and Maroon. Our own central hypocrisy when it comes to freeing ourselves from colonialist mind-sets.”

“We suppose your way is better.”

“It’s simpler and it’s honest. There are those who are of Muungano, and the rest are obroni. You’re either family or an outsider. And I defend us against all outsiders. Even those who look like us,” Maulana said. “Even—no, especially—O.E.”

“We shouldn’t be a threat to them.”

“Of course we are. We stand in opposition to their entire way of life. We created new ways of being and moving. Of valuing and celebrating one another. Allowing our systems—political and economic—to grow out of our humanity. Seeking only the best for one another and our community. That’s why we’re a threat. And will always be seen as one. Where we go, no matter what we call ourselves, they try to exploit us; probably even enslave us if they could again. The worst mistake we could make would be to believe that a mutual dependence is possible.”

“Reconciliation starts with—”

“Save your breath. I have no interest. I have no sympathy, no compassion, no interest in those who refused to confess to have had any part in committing any crime—much less the Maafa—against us. But confession depends on recognition, and they never saw us as people to begin with. We could have no social contract with those who never saw us as fully human. Coming out of the Uponyaji, when we began to see ourselves, define ourselves, that was when we became truly free. We reclaimed our dignity, took pride with no need of the validation of anyone’s gaze except our own. Not begging for rights from someone else.”

“To create something new on our terms,” we said.

“We worked too hard to uproot every oppressive economic system and dismantle any unjust political structure. The First Lunar Ukombozi War was the necessary shock for our oppressors to release us and allow us the space and time to construct our society. Our dream. And I will defend that dream with my last breath, strength, and blood. I would absolutely take up arms to defend what we have created.”

“We all would defend the dream by any means necessary.”

“Do you know what your failing is?” Maulana asked.

“Please … do tell.”

“You never see the threats around you or to those closest to you until it’s too late.”

He meant Anyah.

“Say that shit again.” We stepped to him. “You want to play like that, then you picked the right one. We got time today.”