Nguzo Saba's 7 principles and Tyler Perry

You can see the importance of the seven Nguzo Saba principles throughout African American History. The principles of unity are seen in 1809 when New York finally recognizes marriage within the African American community. In 1906 unity and other principals, such as collective work and responsibility, and purpose, can be observed when the first black fraternity was created at Cornell University.  Collective work and responsibility as well as self-determination are two principals that are present when in 2001 republican president George W. Bush nominated the first African American

Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. These and other Nguzo Saba principals can be seen today in the Black Lives Matter movement as well as in social service interventions with African American families and youth.

Aminifu R. Harvey and Robert B. Hill explain that a strength-based approach using the Afrocentric principals can increase the self-esteem and drug risk knowledge in African American youth and families.  In Harvey and Hill’s interventions they focused on the seven principals. Unity, faith, purpose can be found in the family enhancement and empowerment component of their intervention that consisted of enhancement and em-powerment sessions for parents and guardians.

There are many that argue Tyler Perry’s movies paint a positive and progressive picture of middle class African Americans and that the seven principals can be seen in his movies. One example is the large number of Perry’s characters that have successful careers, exemplifying the cooperative economics. However, others argue that Perry’s characters are materialistic and status obsessed, and do not follow other principals like unity and faith.