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

Got your Mojo workin’. Feelin’ like you got it goin’ on. Look around, everyone’s got their Mojo workin’ and the community is suffering. Come on put some U in your Mojo and let’s really get down.

Peace Out.

Self determination. To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

Self determination, are you determined to get that seat on the train, cut off drivers when trying to go through the yellow light, or maybe you want coffee NOW! Well then you are celebrating the principal Kujichagulia.

I think we suffer under the misconception that we are not honoring this 20th century holiday. I began to look at it a little differently. The next time someone orders before me, from behind me in line, I will turn around, glare and say “Kujichagulia!” instead of some other adjective. I will remember they are just celebrating Kwanzaa.

Be Determined.

Collective work and responsibility. To build and maintain our community together, to make our sisters’ and brothers’ problems our problems and to solve them together.

Now I know that last part “make our sisters’ and brothers’ problems our problems” is kind of hard to swallow, but stop and think don’t we do this already. Maybe you have leech, oops, I mean friend or relative that call us with their daily drama. You never ever turn them away. Even if they are grown with a family and living at home off of their 76 year old mother’s pension. She has arthritis so bad it’s in her eyebrows and earlobes. You still take on this poor old sad sack, doing all you can to get them off your back, I mean back on track. Sing your praises and shout it, Ujima!

You have done good work.

Cooperative economics. To build our own businesses, control the economics of our own communities and share in all our communities work and wealth.

Building our own businesses is hard work, and by applying many of the other Kwanzaa principals can help you to become successful.

But wait, hasn’t someone delved too deep into your personal life and you had to tell them “You need to mind your own business”. That’s right Ujamaa, you were teaching them an important Kwanzaa principal. Have you sat in the pew of your beautiful new church, amongst parishioners who donate nothing to the building fund. Don’t be dismayed they are benefitting from the wealth and hard work of the community. Make sure the whole church knows who they are. They may need a spanking, I mean Thanking.

Let the church say Amen.

Purpose. To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Restore our people back to their traditional greatness. Hmm, is that anything like an Oprah makeover? I know some people need an Extreme Makeover. Yes, some people can use a little Nia in their life. Like the woman I saw in her electric blue, one shoulder, spandex jumpsuit. She was shaped like a bag of potatoes. Now before anyone gets their nose out of joint, I applaud her spunk, what I had a hard time with was it was 10am and she was drunk. At this moment hooded ninja like gang should have grabbed her from the street and filled her with coffee and some knowledge. And since Nia, is about purpose what was the purpose of a Jheri Curl. Will somebody please, for God’s sake, stop the insanity?

Now go out and make the world a better place.

Creativity. To do as much as we can, in whatever way we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial that it was when we inherited it.

Creativity, ahh yes, I like this principal a lot. Was Christmas all it could be? You did get everything you wanted, or did you? Here’s a creative way to turn those disappointments around. Just inform your family and friends that Kwanzaa has officially become commercialized and that the week should be filled with material gifts like, Harry Winston baubles, Waterford Crystal, and even Kristal to fill the crystal. By doing this you are not only supporting a luxury industry that can only exist if we yearn for it, but you are creating wealth for many communities (maybe not your own).

Now that’s creative.

Faith. To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and in the righteousness of our and victory of our struggle.

Faith, this is the belief in things not seen. This principal does works. When our foundation is shaken and we are discouraged, faith is there to lift us up. Faith can turn our own personal defeats into triumphs. It can inspire our communities to flourish. This one principle impacts us so dynamically it can change the world.

Be faithful and watch great things happen.