HAPPY KWANZAA

A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture

Ujima/Collective Work and Responsibility: “Commitment, duty, and obligation to work together with others to solve our family and community problems together and engage in collective projects that will advance the well-being of the family, neighborhood, and the common good.”

Ujima Theme: “Be Watchful over Each Other”

Today is the third day of Kwanzaa. Family (and friends) come together to celebrate the Ujima principle. To be sure, this principle cultivates the greatest sense and practice of empathy. Being empathic is not just an emotional feeling, but a critical component of our humanity. The African maxim give voice to this notion: “A human needs help.” The “imperative here is to act because our families and people deserve t be helped. This notion  is “born of an acute sense of the essential dependency of the human condition.” The African proverb underscores the concept and value of interdependency reasoning: “A human being is not a palm tree as to be self-sufficient.” Humans, therefore, at all times directly or indirectly, need the help of others. The story of Akeelah and the Bee is portrait of the effectiveness of the Ujima principle.

The Story Akeelah and the Bee

The book and movie, Akeelah and the Bee,  is a potent example of the Ujima principle. It tell a beautiful story of 11 year old Akeelah Anderson who lives in South Los Angeles.  Akeelah is a gifted student who must overcome personal challenges and those within her community in order to make her way to the National Spelling Bee. Akeelah soon discovers the Spelling Bee circuit is a highly competitive.  The Spelling Bee isn’t a game – it’s a challenging contest requiring students to know Latin and Greek. Students have to know the origin of words and their definitions.  Many of the entrants have returned year after year in search of the elusive Spelling Bee Championship. In addition, many of the students are coached privately by parents, participate in spelling groups, move in the same social circles (such as birthday parties) and have strong financial/emotional support systems.

After seeing Akeelah discouraged by the competitiveness at the national level, Akeelah’s mother helps Akeelah with her spelling and points out Akeelah has “50,000 coaches in the neighborhood if she would just look around.” Akeelah discovers her mother’s statement about 50,000 coaches in the neighborhood is true.  The entire neighborhood lends support.  The men at the local gathering place begin to watch Akeelah on TV and cheer Akeelah on!  Even the local drug lord insist Akeelah’s brother help her win the Bee. Akeelah goes on to win the National Spelling Bee Contest.

Ingathering Activity: Today we come together as family to talk about the principle Ujima and how we have observed this principle in practice throughout the year. As with the previous principles, the family engages in an enjoyable conversation around the practice of this principle, beginning in the family and spreading outward. This principle, like Umoja and Ujamaa is a multiplier. That is to say, it exponentially impacts the other principles.

Remembrance Activity: Like the previous days, families may in various ways raise the names of love ones who have passed on.  In speaking their names and talking about their deeds, service, and accomplishment, we evoke their spiritual presence and ensure that they will live on forever.

Libation: Optional

Candle Lighting Activity: On the third day of Kwanzaa the family lights the green candle. This candle is symbolic of hope and future. The placement and order of the Kwanzaa candles teach and reinforce valuable lessons for the family. The lesson here is that we light the green candle to reinforce the value and priority we place our future.

Assessment and Commitment: Family members take inventory and discuss what efforts they have made toward keeping Ujima commitment and recommit themselves to the practice of this principle in 2013.

Kwanzaa Journal (Optional): Record you Ujima commitment in your journal

Karamu (Feast) and Celebration: Enjoy yourself and the delicious food; this is time for celebrate the joy of living, love among family and friends and the achievement of which have been attained throughout the year.

Note: Gifts may be given on any of the seven days of Kwanzaa.

HAPPY KWANZAA

A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture

The Kujichagulia Principle:: “Commitment, duty, and responsibility to speak and act in the interest of African Americans and the human good.”

Kujichagulia Theme: Dignity and Respect

Today is the second day of Kwanzaa. Family (and friends) come together to celebrate the Self-Determination principle. At the core of the self-determination principle is history and culture, i.e., African American’s contribution and special place in the world, which is indelibly linked to their collective dignity and respect.  This principle makes clear that African Americans have a duty and responsibility to know and their history and culture. The Harlem Renaissance is a powerful illustration of the Kujichagulia Principle.

The Harlem Renaissance Creating National Culture

We create and recreate ourselves as a people through our national or classic culture. This is the way the world knows and respects us as a people, who have and are contributing to the vast reservoir of human knowledge. The Harlem Renaissance illustrates the principle and practice of self-determination. Nathan Irvin Huggins writes the Harlem Renaissance movement was the birth of African Americans as a people.

It is a rare and intriguing moment when a people decide that they are the instruments of history-making and race-building. It is common enough to think of oneself as part of some larger meaning in the sweep of history, a part of some grand design. But to presume to be an actor and creator in the special occurrence of a people’s birth (or rebirth) requires a singular self-consciousness. In the opening decades of the twentieth century, down into the first years of he Great Depression, black intellectuals in Harlem had just such a self-concept.

Thus, today we want to reaffirm and celebrate our collective identity as a free, proud, productive people by emulating the artist and leaders of this defining movement, a cultural movement which gave America its popular and classic music and enriched and expanded the cultural production in America.

Ingathering Activity: Today we come together as family (and friends) to talk about the principle Kujichagulia and how we have observed this principle in practice throughout the year. As with the principle Umoja, the practice of Kujichagulia begins in the home-how much African (American) art, music, literature do have in our homes, and how often do we talk about black history. For as the Father of Black History, Carter G Woodson taught us, “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” Woodson goes on to say, “The mere imparting of information is not education. Above all things, the effort must result in making a man think and do for himself.”

Remembrance Activity: Like Umoja Day, families may in various ways raise the names of love ones who have passed on.  In speaking their names and talking about their deeds, service, and accomplishment, we evoke their spiritual presence and ensure that they will live on forever.

Libation: Optional

Candle Lighting Activity: On the second day of Kwanzaa the family lights the red candle. This candle is symbolic of struggle- continuous effort and work. The placement and order of the Kwanzaa candles teach and reinforce valuable lessons for the family. The lesson here is that we light the red candle to reinforce the value and priority we place struggle as the method for creating progress.

Assessment and Commitment: Family members take inventory and discuss what efforts they have made toward keeping their Kujichagulia commitment and recommit themselves to the practice of this principle in 2013.

Kwanzaa Journal (Optional): Record you Kujichagulia commitment in your journal

Karamu (Feast) and Celebration: Enjoy yourself and the delicious food; this is time for celebrate the joy of living, love among family and friends and the achievement of which have been attained throughout the year.

Note: Gifts may be given on any of the seven days of Kwanzaa.

HAPPY KWANZAA

A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture

The Principle Umoja: “Commitment, duty, and obligation to make every effort to promote and   practice harmony and togetherness in the family, community, nation and race, minimizing behaviors and actions which bring about and foster conflict and dissension.”

Unity Theme: Togetherness & Harmony

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa. Millions will come together in the context of family and community to celebrate the start of the Kwanzaa holiday. For family and friends, today more than any other day is the time to engage in conversation and activities which reinforce and strengthen the bonds of affection. The practice of unity begins in the family and spreads in concentric circles to friends/peers, community, and the nation. The African proverb says, “The success or ruin of a people begins in the family.” Hence, the family, during the day engages in an activity which reinforces family togetherness (e. g., family walk, watching a movie together, your choice).

Meditation on Unity

The word is that the women and the men

will love again, families will reappear

and children playing and growing

will be commonplace & contiguous.

-Haki Madbututi

Ingathering Activity: During the morning, afternoon, or evening, family (and friends) gathers around the “Kwanzaa Set” to light the black candle, share memories, talk about the love and affection between family members, share highlights of family events, activities or significant dates, i.e., birthdays or graduation), drink from the Unity Cup (not mandatory), tell or read stories, folktales, or proverbs,  discuss and evaluate commitments and practices around the Umoja principle, and make Umoja commitments for 2013.

Remembrance Activity: One of the activities in conjunction or separate from the ingathering activity is the remembrance of family members, friends, and significance others who have passed on and transition from this life. During the first day of Kwanzaa, we raise the names of our love ones who are no longer with us, but whose love and spirit we carry forth in our own lives.

Libation Statement (Optional)

The libation statement as well as the pouring of libation is optional. Both the statement and the pouring of libation are done to honor our ancestors on the continent of Africa, and our historical and family ancestors in the United States. It is a way to consecrate the dead and to raise their spiritual souls. It too is a means of remembering those who have passed: grandmothers and grandfathers, mother and fathers, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, husband and wives, siblings, and, friends.

Libation Statement: We call upon our ancestors far and near, Fathers of our fathers, Mothers of our mothers, to bear witness to what we have done, and by their example, to continue to inspire us to make progress, and achieve morally and socially at our highest potential. We pour this libation to bring into our midst their venerable spirit, radiating their great wisdom, courage, dedication, and unyielding commitment to live ethical and productive lives. It is in honor of them that we pour this libation. We pour for Jesse and Martha Williams, Althea Benjamin and Major Anderson, Malcolm X and Ella Baker, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fannie Lou Hamer, and countless others who have sacrificed and made possible for us to live with greater freedom and dignity, opportunity and imagination.

Candle Lighting Activity: On the first day of Kwanzaa the family lights the black candle. This candle is symbolic of the black people. The placement and order of the Kwanzaa candles teach and reinforce valuable lessons for the family. The lesson here is that we light the black candle first to reinforce the value and priority we place on our lives, beginning with our family members and expanding outward. This is also an excellent time to make your 2013 commitments and record them in your Kwanzaa journal.

Karamu (Feast) and Celebration: Enjoy yourself and the delicious food; this is time for celebrate the joy of living, love among family and friends and the achievement of which have been attained throughout the year.

Note: Gifts may be given on any of the seven days of Kwanzaa.

Statement by President Obama and Michelle Obama on Kwanzaa

Michelle and I send warm wishes to all those celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season.

This is a joyous time of year when African Americans and all Americans come together to celebrate our blessings and the richness of our cultural traditions. This is also a time of reflection and renewal as we come to the end of one year and the beginning of another.

The Kwanzaa message tells us that we should recall the lessons of the past even as we seize the promise of tomorrow.

The seven principles of Kwanzaa – Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith – express the values that have inspired us as individuals and families; communities and country.

These same principles have sustained us as a nation during our darkest hours and provided hope for better days to come. Michelle and I know the challenges facing many African American families and families in all communities at this time, but we also know the spirit of perseverance and hope that is ever present in the community.

It is in this spirit that our family extends our prayers and best wishes during this season and for the New Year to come.

One of the many appeals of Kwanzaa is its spiritual aspect. Inasmuch as Kwanzaa is a non religious, cultural holiday, it nevertheless has a strong spiritual aspect which is embraced by both the secular and faith-based communities. Indeed, the hyper commercialization the holiday season, especially as it relates to Christmas, has created a yearning for an experience beyond the material which addresses the inner life and the deepest values and meaning of the human experience.

The Kwanzaa holiday anchored in the ethical values and concepts of the African experience both in the United States and on the continent of Africa have deep spiritual implications and elements. These elements, concepts, and practices speak to the inner core of our being and give us an elevated sense of our existence.

Spiritual Elements of Kwanzaa

One of the visible and pronounce spiritual aspect of Kwanzaa is the “ingathering” activity. During Kwanzaa family (extended family or friends) gather to reinforce the bonds of affection, to celebrate the common good, remember those who have transition from earth, affirm the 7 Principles, and celebrate the joy of living give thanks for what has been achieved (the harvest) during the year.

The bonds of affection are the emotional ties which affirm our humanity, and reinforce and deepen our identity as husband and wife; mother and father; and brother and sister, not consumer, student, or employee. These emotional ties allow us to experience the love and oneness of family.

Celebration of the Common Good unites us as one in rejoicing the all of the goods- love, beauty, nature, community, common ends, the 7 Principles- which make up the “Common Good.” The “Common Good” elevated us from the mundane of everyday life, from the routines at work, and from the daily challenges and uncertainty we encounter.

Kwanzaa is also a time of remembrance. It’s a time for remembering those- family and historical whose dedication, sacrifice, and achievement have made it possible for to live with greater freedom and enhanced lives. We remember our parents and grandparents, and other family members as well as friends. In fact, we pour libation (optional) to honor their memory and call forth their names that their love, work and service may not be forgotten. The ancient African sacred text advises: “To do that of value is eternity, a person call for by his/her work and service is not forgotten, rather he/she is remembered because of his/her work and service.”

Kwanzaa is also a time to give thanks and celebrate the joy of living. The day-to day drill of work and school often dulls our senses to the wonders of life and the small blessing that make living oh so beautiful. At Kwanzaa we take time to reflect our “good fortunes” and give thanks and wish for continuing “blessing without numbers and all good things without end.”

Further, the Kwanzaa holiday is a celebration of the 7 Principles: Unity/Umoja, Self-Determination/Kujichagulia, Collective Work and Responsibility/Ujima, Cooperative Economic/Ujamaa, Purpose/Nia, Creativity/Kuumba, Faith/Imani. These life affirming values are themselves a path to spirituality. They lead to the practice of moral life, promoting the well-being of family, community, and others. For example, the unity principle promotes the fellowship and harmony, bonding family, friends and community, which provide a shared understanding and identity.

The collective work and responsibility principle engenders and cultivate human empathy, a cardinal virtue for building character and a central part of our humanity. The cooperative economic principle create and fosters the value for sharing, another cardinal virtue. This value has a multiplier effect in that it increases and strengths family and community unity and makes it more probable that members of these units will be collectively responsible for the well-being of each other.

The purpose principle connects us to a larger purpose, outside of our own individual lives, yielding a more comprehensive and expansive self. And, of course, the principle faith reveals a meaning to life beyond the physical world. Howard Thurman, best expressed the spiritual aspect of faith writing:

Faith is the substance and spirit which makes “tired hearts refreshed and dead hopes stir with the nearness of life; faith is the “promise of tomorrow at the close of everyday, the triumph of life in the defiance of death, and the assurance that love is sturdier than hate, right is more confident than wrong, that good is more permanent than evil.

In sum, celebrate Kwanzaa, celebrate and embrace its awesome spirituality.

HAPPY KWANZAA

Preparing in advance for Kwanzaa will certainly maximize your experience in celebrating the Kwanzaa holiday. Thus, the following prompts will help you to gain the greatest value from the Kwanzaa celebration, which begins December 26^th and ends January 1.

First, obtain or retrieve your “Kwanzaa Set.” The Kwanzaa Set is central and essential to celebrating the Kwanzaa holiday. Ensure that you have new candles, corn ears, heritage symbol and books as well as the other Kwanzaa symbols. Review or start a Kwanzaa journal.

Second, review the Swahili and English names of the symbols as well as the 7 Principles. Doing this as a family or with friends can be an enriching and instructive experience, especially for children and youth. In particular review the meaning and significance of the color of the Kwanzaa candles.

Third, begin to review your 2011 Kwanzaa commitments and make modifications if warranted. Focus on what you have achieved. Partially meeting your commitments merits recognition.

Fourth, start the process of thinking about 2012 Kwanzaa commitments. Keep in mind that Kwanzaa commitments are formed around the 7 Principles. Focus on commitments which have a relational character to your family and community.

Fifth, plan your activities for the 7 days. The first day is usually a more involved activity in that it marks the start of the Kwanzaa holiday. (but not mandatory or required).  Further, plan your meals (Karmu- Feast), keeping in mind that there are no required foods. You may, for example, order out or eat out. Some of the activities may include: sharing your thoughts on memorable family events in the past or of family members; game night with family and friends.

Six, if you have children and want to give them gifts, think of what merit and remember, whatever gifts you give, a book and heritage symbol must be given (this is mandatory). See the Kwanzaa DVD for a more detail description and a step-by-step guide to how to celebrate Kwanzaa.

Seven, have fun,  enjoy, and celebrate.

HAPPY KWANZAA