Today marks the third day of Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration honoring universal African-American heritage and culture. Each day a different principal is observed. Yesterday was the observance of Kujichagulia, to have Self-Determination. Today the principal of Ujima, which is Swahili for Collective Work and Responsibility, is observed. To learn more about this day, check out the video below.
There are ways you can implement collective work and responsibility in your life. One example is to volunteer at your local non-profit organization. If you’re looking for some ideas, check out the list of organizations we helped out for our thirty days of giving back. It doesn’t have to be an organization, it can be within the family by picking up and doing the tasks for our elders that are out of the scope of tasks. You can also teach your children to help your elders too, by helping them with yard work, errands, or shovel their snow for the coming season.
If you have a Kinara at home, which is a set of candles to commemorate the holiday, you will light the middle, black candle, the red candle that sits next to the black candle on the left, and the green candle that sits next to the black candle on the right.
Also when you are with your family tonight, say “Habari Gani?!” (what’s up?). Then their response should be, “Ujima habari gani” (collective work and responsibility is what’s up). From all of us at 1230 the buzz, we wish you a Happy Kwanzaa!
