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.