NAME: AMISHA RAMPERSADH
STUDENT NO: 69951748
ASSIGNMENT 05: I AM AN AFRICAN.
Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political activist, proudly proclaimed that "The skin that clothed my
body is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of my strength, boldness, and
greatness for I am an African!". These words have shaped my mindset to the extent that my
opinion on being an African means being an individual involved in making a difference, and simply
embracing my diversity, in a sense that promotes understanding and emphasizes the obstacles
that our continent, Africa, encounters. With evidence that humans originated in Africa all the way
through to our diversified past, resulting in numerous cultures being established from our soil, one
concept seizes my attention: the spirit of Ubuntu, which is the ideology that Africans live by and
practice as though it were second nature. Ubuntu is not just an African philosophy but a spirituality
and the morality of African traditional life. Hence, in my opinion, you cannot be an African if you do
not practice Ubuntu and the principles behind it, as the value of Ubuntu applies to every African.
Eventually, Ubuntu constitutes to helping one another as well as practising communal living in
African harmony in the interests of building and preserving the community with justice and mutual
compassion.
I am sure that most Africans have practised Ubuntu. Throughout my life, I have encountered
Ubuntu in a variety of surprising ways. I remember the first time I had to report to my place of
employment. I worked as a waitress at Harry's Delights. I did however have difficulties balancing
the trays since I was nervous, but that improved when my helpful colleagues demonstrated easier
ways in carrying the trays because they were more experienced. They were always willing to
assist me in any way they possibly could. I also recall visiting my local library and collapsing whilst
walking up the staircase, which resulted in a deep abrasion on my leg. A complete stranger came
to the rescue and she was so generous as offering to treat my wounded leg. These actions of
generosity extended by others, also known as Ubuntu, have made me believe that a small act of
compassion can go a long way.
Since I have finished school a year ago, I made it my duty to give back to my community. I started
by giving senior citizens who are unable to leave their homes, due to health or physical limitations
or having no relatives, my time and energy by getting them to their doctors’ appointments,
assisting them with their shopping, or simply sitting with them and providing companionship and
attention. I alternate every weekend between the retirement homes to help the elderly as well as
assisting and providing resources at soup kitchens for the less privileged and visiting vulnerable
people who might just need someone to talk to. I believe that success is measured on how many
people I have helped in my life.
I personally think there are a few ways in which Ubuntu stops being Ubuntu including, when
people start doing favours for others and expect something in return, when they publicize their
generous acts on social media as a way to gain fame, when they use Ubuntu as an opportunity to
help themselves instead of others. When you do someone a favour about of generosity, you
simply do so from your heart and alert the universe that by the selfless acts of giving, you truly
care about others with pure intentions and want to share what you have without expecting
anything in return. I strongly believe that Ubuntu can be practiced anywhere and not just in your
community. An example is if you are visiting a friend from another province and come across a
stranger who is going in the same direction, give them a lift. You can live by the values of Ubuntu
by practising them in your life and using them on a daily basis regardless of where you are.
Always be generous and compassionate as you never know how much your support means to
someone. Jane O'Meara Sanders said: “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you”.
The essence of Ubuntu has been mostly practiced by African people for decades as it is where
Ubuntu was developed. Africa is the birthplace of Ubuntu. With that being said, Ubuntu is not just
an African philosophy, it is a spiritual understanding which can be practiced by anyone! There
should always be a sense of compassion and respect for all life on earth as well as acknowledging
and taking good care of our wildlife and nature. Different races, cultures, and backgrounds do not
STUDENT NO: 69951748
ASSIGNMENT 05: I AM AN AFRICAN.
Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political activist, proudly proclaimed that "The skin that clothed my
body is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of my strength, boldness, and
greatness for I am an African!". These words have shaped my mindset to the extent that my
opinion on being an African means being an individual involved in making a difference, and simply
embracing my diversity, in a sense that promotes understanding and emphasizes the obstacles
that our continent, Africa, encounters. With evidence that humans originated in Africa all the way
through to our diversified past, resulting in numerous cultures being established from our soil, one
concept seizes my attention: the spirit of Ubuntu, which is the ideology that Africans live by and
practice as though it were second nature. Ubuntu is not just an African philosophy but a spirituality
and the morality of African traditional life. Hence, in my opinion, you cannot be an African if you do
not practice Ubuntu and the principles behind it, as the value of Ubuntu applies to every African.
Eventually, Ubuntu constitutes to helping one another as well as practising communal living in
African harmony in the interests of building and preserving the community with justice and mutual
compassion.
I am sure that most Africans have practised Ubuntu. Throughout my life, I have encountered
Ubuntu in a variety of surprising ways. I remember the first time I had to report to my place of
employment. I worked as a waitress at Harry's Delights. I did however have difficulties balancing
the trays since I was nervous, but that improved when my helpful colleagues demonstrated easier
ways in carrying the trays because they were more experienced. They were always willing to
assist me in any way they possibly could. I also recall visiting my local library and collapsing whilst
walking up the staircase, which resulted in a deep abrasion on my leg. A complete stranger came
to the rescue and she was so generous as offering to treat my wounded leg. These actions of
generosity extended by others, also known as Ubuntu, have made me believe that a small act of
compassion can go a long way.
Since I have finished school a year ago, I made it my duty to give back to my community. I started
by giving senior citizens who are unable to leave their homes, due to health or physical limitations
or having no relatives, my time and energy by getting them to their doctors’ appointments,
assisting them with their shopping, or simply sitting with them and providing companionship and
attention. I alternate every weekend between the retirement homes to help the elderly as well as
assisting and providing resources at soup kitchens for the less privileged and visiting vulnerable
people who might just need someone to talk to. I believe that success is measured on how many
people I have helped in my life.
I personally think there are a few ways in which Ubuntu stops being Ubuntu including, when
people start doing favours for others and expect something in return, when they publicize their
generous acts on social media as a way to gain fame, when they use Ubuntu as an opportunity to
help themselves instead of others. When you do someone a favour about of generosity, you
simply do so from your heart and alert the universe that by the selfless acts of giving, you truly
care about others with pure intentions and want to share what you have without expecting
anything in return. I strongly believe that Ubuntu can be practiced anywhere and not just in your
community. An example is if you are visiting a friend from another province and come across a
stranger who is going in the same direction, give them a lift. You can live by the values of Ubuntu
by practising them in your life and using them on a daily basis regardless of where you are.
Always be generous and compassionate as you never know how much your support means to
someone. Jane O'Meara Sanders said: “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you”.
The essence of Ubuntu has been mostly practiced by African people for decades as it is where
Ubuntu was developed. Africa is the birthplace of Ubuntu. With that being said, Ubuntu is not just
an African philosophy, it is a spiritual understanding which can be practiced by anyone! There
should always be a sense of compassion and respect for all life on earth as well as acknowledging
and taking good care of our wildlife and nature. Different races, cultures, and backgrounds do not
