Arutisuse ( pronounced
Ah-rut-tee-SUS-see) is a holiday that celebrates the Foundational Black American culture of freedom fighting and resistance.
Arutisuse means Arise In the traditional Foundational Black American TUT language.
During the antebellum slavery
period in
America, many Foundational Black Americans would cleverly plot and execute their escape from bondage around the Christmas season.
These enslaved
freedom warriors understood that
slave owners would be more preoccupied with holiday festivities during this
time of year.
Also, enslaved Foundational Black Americans were allowed more access to visit family and friends on other plantations during this season as well.
The rebel warriors used these relaxed policies as an opportunity to rise to freedom.
Another celebration that was prevalent among enslaved people in the Americas was a parade called Junkanoo.
Foundational Black Americans engaged in these activities around Christmas
time, where they would parade around to different plantations playing multiple instruments, while dressed in outrageous costumes. They would often dress in costumes that mocked the white
slave owners.
Arutisuse or Arise Day is a celebration every year on December 24th. On this day, Foundational Black Americans should gift another person a book that
will lift the consciousness of that person. This
will pay homage to the Foundational Black American ancestors who risked their lives learning how to read and teaching others how to read.
Understanding this history
will help us step into each new year with a sense of empowerment and we
will make that empowerment part of our tradition and culture.
