January 05th, 2024

Living Kwanzaa Every Day
Tina L Carter
Faith Formation and Evangelization Team Member
 
When Maulana Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966, the civil rights movement was in full swing, but change was still slow. The radical voices of Dr. King and peaceful protests were replaced with the calls for Black Power and empowerment. Dr. Karenga looked to the motherland of Africa for guidance and settled upon seven principles needed to uplift our souls and communities. Using Swahili, one of the more common languages in Africa, Kwanzaa which is taken from matunda ya Kwanza or first fruits, this 7-day celebration of African American Heritage and culture occurs during the in-between time from Christmas to New Year to reaffirm and recommit to family and community. Each day of Kwanzaa has a principle related to it. 
 
Each of these principles can be found in communities throughout the African continent. These principles are:

• Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
• Kujichagulia (Self-determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
• Ujima (Collective work and responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and solve them together. 
• Ujamaa (Cooperative economics): To build and maintain our stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
• Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness. 
• Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
• Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

In addition to the principles, some symbols also reflect these communitarian values. The Kinara holds seven candles, three red, one black, and three green. The colors of the candles represent the black skin of Africans and African Americans, the red blood that was shed for liberation, and the rich green earth of the motherland in Africa. In addition, there is Mahindi (corn) to represent children in the community and the Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup) is used to pour libations for our ancestors.
 
As we continue in this new year, use the principles of Kwanzaa to guide you toward a joyous and prosperous new year!

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