December 26, 2016

Kwanzaa: Umoja ('Unity')


Habari Gani? UMOJA
Day 1.  December 26.

To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

You live long enough and you begin to realize that you cannot have an impact on your community, nation and race until you first have an impact on your family. It is through the good you do with your parents, siblings, spouse, children, nieces, nephews and cousins that you leave your mark on the world. The pebble that you drop in the lake called family will begin to flow out in concentric circles that will grow larger and larger over time.

Make yourself and your family stronger ... you make our community and our nation stronger. Am I doing enough to make ourselves stronger mentally, physically, financially and spiritually?

The past is gone. Our ability to changes things for the better begins today. What can I do to make myself better mentally? physically? financially? spiritually? These are questions that I will ask myself today as I meditate on the meaning of 'umoja' in my life. I will find ways each day to improve myself and my family ... even my blogging family ... so that we might be stronger as a community and as a nation. Each one, reach one.

Harambee!

Care to share your thoughts on the concept of Umoja, the first principle shared in the Nguzo Saba?

8 comments:

The Fête Society said...

happy kwanzaa

Unknown said...

Fete Society - Asante sana! Do you do anything about Kwanzaa over these next 7 days?

Social Expressions in Black said...

It takes an electronic village...

A wonderful way of celebrating Kwanzaa is by sending a CowrieCard [http://CowrieCards.com]. This is an online greeting cards and invitations site for Black folk. The selections are wonderfully executed and really reflect our tastes and sensibilities as a people.

Unknown said...

Finding Black Love - I visited your Cowrie Cards website. I like the idea behind it very much ... especially the Obama cards. Do you have any sort of 'affiliate program' for us entrepeneurs out here?

Carolyn Moon said...

Beautiful family Bro. Villager. You are right--unity begins at home and spreads to the community-nation-world. It's also promoted by black folks who educate and spread the word.

"Habari gani?"

Unknown said...

All - Did you see the press release issued by the White House re: Kwanzaa? President Obama wrote, "Michelle and I send our warmest wishes to all those celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season. Today marks the beginning of the week-long celebration honoring African American heritage and culture through the seven principles of Kwanzaa -- unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

We celebrate Kwanzaa at a time when many African Americans and all Americans reflect on our many blessings and memories over the past year and our aspirations for the year to come. And even as there is much to be thankful for, we know that there are still too many Americans going through enormous challenges and trying to make ends meet. But we also know that in the spirit of unity, or Umoja, we can overcome those challenges together.

As families across America and around the world light the red, black, and green candles of the Kinara this week, our family sends our well wishes and blessings for a happy and healthy new year.
"

Carolyn Moon said...

A wonderful message by the first family.

Unknown said...

All - How cool would it be if we could operate in a spirit of 'umoja' every day of the year?