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It is April and our school family is celebrating the Virtue of Justice and the principle of UMOJA. What is Justice? Why is it so important? And why did our ancestors make it one of the seven virtues of Ma'at? Think of a world without justice. Can you imagine such a world? When we think of Justice, we think of it as social, economic, and political "rightness" that must exist in all we do. In other words, we must be FAIR in all we do. Hence, our ancestors' admonition to DO justice.

ASU's reason for not awarding an honorary degree (not that an ASU honorary degree matters that much as compared to Harvard's) to the president is not just childish but also very disturbing. It reminds us of "if you are black stay back." The same statement Rev. Lowery, on Inauguration Day, hoped would be behind us. Perhaps Rev. Lowery was too optimistic. For a state university to refuse to honor the President who has accomplished so much in his short life is remarkable. The President's achievements so far are short of incredible. For ASU to say he has not accomplished enough, invokes the spirit of Dred Scott revisited. No matter how much President Obama has accomplished "there will be no accomplishments that any white institution will respect."

"We believe in justice and we will always be fair in what we do." That is what we are teaching our children at Woodlawn. Can the two universities truly say they subscribe to that teaching? What lessons are these universities sending to our young children of color? That no matter how accomplished they become, they will not be respected by white universities? Our children CAN see and THINK too. Is there a subtle message here? Can any of the two universities truly say they are being FAIR to the President?

President Obama has done everything required of him by society. He IS the President of the United States! Is that not enough accomplishment for ASU to respect? Notre Dame? Why are you moving the goal posts? We hope you are not trying to "resend" the Dred Scott message. If that is the case, we want to assure you that we have heard you loud and clear. We may not understand your rationale, but we have heard you. And we will NEVER forget.

Hotep!

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