Kwanzaa in the 21st Century: Nia

Author's note: Anyone  who knows me knows that I am notorious for for mixing up the fifth and sixth days of Kwanzaa.  Nia is usually celebrated on the fifth day while Kuumba is celebrated on the sixth.  For the purpose of this series, Nia will be celebrated today.  Thanks! ~SKG

Nia, meaning purpose, is celebrated on the sixth day of Kwanzaa. It means to make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our community, in order to restore our people to our traditional greatness. (Source: The Official Kwanzaa Website)  Any African American that moves forward the causes of our people as a whole practices Nia.  We learn, build and contribute with purpose.  This is why we have been able to achieve, and continue to achieve, greatness.  Will we reach the greatness of our African ancestors?  That remains to be seen.  However, if we are steadfast in our commitment to reaching that goal, then we are off to a pretty good start.


Nia has to be the most American principle among the Nguzo Saba.  If our nation's founding fathers did not exercise Nia, then where would we be?  Can you imagine how different the world would be without the United States of America?  What if General George Washington just threw up his hands and said, "We give up, Your Majesty!"  and ran back to the United Kingdom and left the colonies as they were.  Would we still be under British rule?  Would we still have to give honor to Queen and country...that isn't ours?  Would your ancestors have made to the new world?  If we did not have Nia in our plan, how would America look?


Your task for today:  As the new year dawns, take a moment to set goals, not make resolutions.  Make it your purpose to make 2013 better than 2012.  Start small!  Every goal is special, no matter what size!

Kwanzaa in the 21st Century: Kuumba

Today marks the fifth day of Kwanzaa, Kuumba, meaning creativity.  It is defined as always doing as much as we can in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. (Source: The Official Kwanzaa Website) I can't think of a more creative people than African Americans.  For centuries, people of African decent were ridiculed and condemned for expressing creativity.  How we wear our hair, how we speak, how we dress, our traditions.  All have been reviled and rejected...until the 20th century.  Our influences are felt in music, art, business and in popular culture.  It's now cool to embrace the things we were once hated for...how we wear our hair, how we speak, how we dress and our traditions.

The single most modern day example of Kuumba is the internet.  The digital age has taken creativity to the next level and beyond.  It has enabled each of us who are able and are comfortable with it, to create within our own little slice of the web.  Graphic art, music, journalism or blogging (like myself) has multiplied a gazillion-fold, giving each of us a voice that we may not other wise have.

I dedicate this post to the most creative person I know, my mother Roseann.  She can take the most rudimentary of objects and create a work of art.  She can take a group of friends and create the Classy Chassis of the Red Hat Society.  She can take bits and pieces of different items and create my beautiful wedding dress.  Roseann can take a hodgepodge of resources and talents and create a stellar event. Roseann is an absolute genius with a needle and thread, a diva of style and the best artist I know.  (A side note: A lot of that Kuumba skipped me and landed right on my only daughter! I guess it skips a generation.  Don't worry, I cultivated my own Kuumba over the years...LOL!)

Her creative love was able to take a big ole' mess like me from the 1990's and create the woman of God I am today in the 21st century.  In the name of Jesus, I thank you Momma.

Your task for today:  Create something!  Create a song. Create a poem.  Start that novel.  Get jiggy  with that term paper next semester.  Create a solution for a problem.  Create a way out of no way.  Make it happen!

Kwanzaa in the 21st Century: Ujama

The fourth day of Kwanzaa observes Ujama, cooperative economics, defined as building and maintaining our own stores, shops, and other businesses, and to profit from them together.(Source: The Official Kwanzaa Website)  African Americans have been practicing Ujama since our arrival in this country.  Despite our limited resources, African Americans have invested in our communities, thus making our nation stronger.  Frederick Douglass wrote, "We must become valuable to society in other departments of industry than those servile ones from which we are rapidly being excluded. We must show that we can do as well as be; to this end we must learn trades."(Source: The Root).  To that end, African Americans have found their place not only as business owners, but as major developers of their respective communities and the country as a whole.

Not sure of you practice Ujama?  Think of the words "Made in America".  If you regularly purchase goods that are American made, then you practice Ujama!  Buying books at a family owned bookstore, supporting a locally owned franchise or investing in an American built car are also prime examples of Ujama.  President Obama succeeded in Ujama by investing in the American auto industry, creating new opportunities in growth and competition in the market,  enabling our auto makers to compete on a global level once again. 

If you would like to support your locally owned businesses, start with your own neighborhood.   You'll be surprised at all the wonderful things businesses in your community are able to offer you.  

Your task for today (weather permitting):  Instead of driving out to your regular mega store, take a moment to visit that little shop your drive past everyday.  Introduce yourself and make a purchase if you are able.

Kwanzaa in the 21st Century: Ujima

The third day of Kwanzaa observes Ujima.  Ujima, collective work and responsibility, means to build and maintain our community together, and make our sisters’ and brothers’ problems our problems, and to solve them together. (Source: The Official Kwanzaa Website)  African traditions dictate that we are to not only take care of our own houses, but to also provide for others.  Think of the phrase "It take a village to raise a child."

If you are an active part of your neighborhood, then you practice Ujima.  Our family is fortunate to be part of an area that is very diverse and family oriented.  Before our area school closed, it was the hub of the east side.  When ever a family needed something, someone always came forward to take action.  Whether it was food, clothing, help with bills or a place to go until Mom got home from work, Bingham Bulldogs always looked out for each other. 

One of the best and most recent examples of Ujima occurred after super storm Sandy.  Generosity poured in from all over the world  to provide clothing, household goods and funds for those families who were affected. Americans, in turn, are quick to come to the assistance of foreign countries in need, whether its AIDS awareness in Africa, disaster relief in Haiti, and rescue efforts in Asia and beyond.  The country still continues to rally around Newtown, CT and the families that were devastated by the violence that took place at Sandy Nook Elementary.  We all continue to feel their loss.

This is the only world God gave us.  It is our sacred duty to take of it and each other.

Your task for today: Do one or more things to take care of your community.  Shovel the snow of an elderly neighbor, invite your kids' friends over to bake cookies, volunteer to feed the hungry, etc...no matter how big or small, leave your community better than how you found it.

Kwanzaa in the 21st Century: Kujichagulia

The second day of Kwanzaa observes Kujichagulia (Koo-je-cha-gulia), which means Self-Determination.  Kujichagulia means to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created, and spoken for by others. (Source: The Official Kwanzaa Website) This has been a common theme among people of color in America.  In the past, African Americans have been defined as a fraction of a White man, savages, coons, criminals, thugs, slackers and the like.  For far too long, we've had to endure the labels and stereotypes that have tarnished our image to other ethnic groups in this country.  The truth of the matter?  African Americans are increasingly defined as educators, healers, business owners, artists, intellectuals, activists, and leaders.  By and large, we have finally begun to define ourselves as Americans.

Who or what defines you?  On more than one occasion, I've allowed myself to be defined by what I did for a living or who I hung out with.  It wasn't until recently, that I was able to establish my own identity outside being a wife, mother and a servant to my community.  After a long, difficult journey, I can now say that I'm a woman who loves writing, reading, and creating.  I'm a die-hard native Detroiter and Michiganian who makes no apologies for it.  I'm a Christian who believes in the right for all to worship without judgement.  I'm a lifelong baseball fan.  I'm a praise dancer.  I'm still discovering what it means to be me.

I define myself as Sasha.  That's good enough.

Your task for today:  Take a moment to remember what makes you unique and nurture it.  Define yourself.

Kwanzaa in the 21st Century: Umoja

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States (and, more recently, Canada) but also celebrated in the Western African Diaspora. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba): Unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. It was created by Maulana Karenga, and was first celebrated in 1966–67.  Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba—the seven principles of African Heritage), which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy," consisting of what Karenga called "the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world."(Source: wikipedia.org)

For more information about Kwanzaa, please visit the Official Kwanzaa Website.

Many still question the relevance of Kwanzaa, even within the African American community.  While Kwanzaa celebrations are being attended by a more diverse audience, it has often been criticized as useless, unnecessary and even racist.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  If one were to take a moment to learn about each of the seven principles, each embodies an aspect of our nation's strengths that make it great.

The first day of Kwanzaa is Umoja, which means "unity" in Swahili.  According to the Official Kwanzaa Website, Umoja means "to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race."  Where our country is concerned, unity is seen everyday.  Whether we unite after a national tragedy or a national victory, one thing is certain: We are all proud Americans who project unity to the rest of the world.  Of course, we have our differences, a byproduct of democracy.  However, at the end of the day, we are united by a set of inalienable rights that make America the great nation it is. In a time, were radical political change is happening in nations abroad, one thing is certain: We are the perfectors of unity and democracy.  That is something we can all be proud of.

Your task for today: Do one (or more) thing(s) that will further the cause of unity in your home, place of work, your place of worship, within your community or to further unity in America.