Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves stand up. The second day of Kwanzaa asks us to look inward to define yourself and not give in to how others might try to define you. The seven principle of Kwanzaa were initially created during the sixties when Black Americans were still trying to throw off the shackles of Jim Crowism. This was the era that saw the rise of the Black Panthers, the Nation of Islam, the Urban League and the demand by Black Americans for equal rights etc. Notice I said the rise, even with a Black President in office we are still seeking equal rights.
Black Americans still did not have the right to vote. The right to stay where they wanted or to even use a public rest room. So one has to look at the time frame for the origination of Kwanzaa, a non religious holiday. Kwanzaa is to celebrate the cultural of Black Americans going back to our origins in American. Yes, we as Black Americans have our own distinct culture separate from Africa. That's why there was the explosion of the Urban Studies curriculum during the seventies and eighties. Urban Studies is the study of US. Just ask Shirley Sherrod who was summarily fired from her Dept USDA job because a racist blogger falsely accused her of racism. http://ow.ly/8b0O8
This principle alone may account for why Kwanzaa is now celebrated worldwide. This is the official Kwanzaa website so you can make you own family tradition to celebrate http://ow.ly/8b10e
I hope these short posts will at least peak your curiosity about Kwanzaa so that your family and community can share this cultural holiday.
As we lumber into the new year you have a clean slate to write on. You have the power to determine what will be written. Either you take charge and write on the slate or someone else will. Its your call.
As always you can click above to make a purchase to keep this site going.
No comments:
Post a Comment