Today is the final day of Kwanzaa and my FAVORITE principle, Imani (Faith)!! Through Imani, we “believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.“
As a spiritual person, this principle hits really close to home for me as I am always trying to maintain my faith!! While it may not be easy, faith – especially during difficult and trying times – brings us closer to making our dreams a reality.
When I look back at this week of celebration, I realize none of the other 6 principles would be able to come to fruition without that mustard seed of faith!! Just think about it in order to have cooperative economics, we must have faith in the businesses that we support. To have purpose, we must have faith that we are here for a reason. It is essential that we have faith in ourselves, our leaders, teachers, parents, and in the victory of our struggle. As a free, proud, and productive people, we can do ALL things with just a little bit of faith.
“Faith is put forth as the last principle as unity is put forth as the first principle for a definite reason. It is to indicate that without unity, we cannot begin our most important work, but without faith we cannot sustain it. Unity brings us together and harnesses our strength, but faith in each other and the Good, the Right, the Beautiful inspires and sustains the coming together and the commitment to take the work to its end.“
Allow yourself to let go of any worry and trust in your Black excellence!! Never lose faith in yourself and our community. Be proud of who you are and the community you live in!!
“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.” ~Gail Devers
Until next year, while Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26th-January 1st know that you can practice any and all of these principles year around! Remember Kwanzaa is a celebration of culture, community, and family!
Habari Gani Good People?! What’s the good news? Kuumba!!
Today we light the sixth candle and celebrate my second favorite principle Kuumba (Creativity), “to do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.”
The principle has both a social and spiritual dimension and is deeply rooted in African societies social and sacred teachings.
Having creativity requires a few things – motivation and inspiration! What I can definitely say with pride is my people practically ooze creativity, just look at social media, in the classrooms, on television… every day all day!! The creative minds of Black folks have birthed ground-breaking inventions, culture-shaping entertainment and fashion, and new ways of healing and uplifting the community.
I will say this Black folks have no shortage of creativity!! Everything from TikTok, to dance routines, to food recipes, to acting, to new games, fashion, shaping entertainment, and so much more!!
In the spirit of Kuumba, check out some of these Black Creatives stories:
Think about this for a moment…What creative skills do you have that can help build your community? Maybe it’s something you do with your hands, maybe it’s writing a proposal, managing the books as an accountant, or leading a team.
As a reminder, on this day it is customary to host a large feast called Karamu, which can be held at home, a community center, or a church. The menu usually features foods and ingredients native to the African continent such as yams, okra, tamarind, peanuts, collard greens, and hibiscus.
Habari Gani!! We have come to that time of year again, a time to celebrate an annual tradition of family, community, and culture!! So you ask what time it is…It’s Kwanzaa Time !!
Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture. Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana/Black Studies it’s a 7-day cultural festival beginning on December 26th and ends January 1st. Kwanzaa comes from the phrase matunda ya kwanza, which means “first fruits” in Swahili, an Eastern African language spoken in countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Karenga wanted a way to bring African Americans together to remember Black culture.
While Kwanzaa is primarily an African American holiday, it has also come to be celebrated outside the United States, especially in the Caribbean and other countries where there are large numbers of African descendants. It should also be noted that Kwanzaa is not a political or religious holiday, and is not considered to be a substitute for Christmas.
During this holiday celebration, families and communities “organize activities around the Nguzo Saba” (The Seven Principles):
In addition to the seven principles there are a total of nine symbols (in Swahili and English) that make up Kwanzaa:
Mazao (The Crops): These are symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor.
Mkeka (The Mat): This is symbolic of our tradition and history and therefore, the foundation on which we build.
Kinara (The Candle Holder): This is symbolic of our roots, our parent people — continental Africans.
Muhindi (The Corn): This is symbolic of our children and our future which they embody.
Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup):This is symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity which makes all else possible.
Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles): These are symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the matrix and minimum set of values which African people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and according to their own needs.
Zawadi (The Gifts): These are symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by the children.
Bendera (The Flag): The colors of the Kwanzaa flag are colors of the Organization Us, black, red and green – black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future that comes from their struggle. The Bendera is based on the national flag given to us by the Hon. Marcus Garvey, with slight adjustments in order and interpretation of the colors made in the 1960s along with many African countries.
Nguzo Saba Poster: The Nguzo Saba poster or some form of the written Nguzo Saba should always be a part of the Kwanzaa set. For it is these Seven Principles which give Kwanzaa its core and seven days of cultural focus.
Each symbol “represents values and concepts reflective of African culture and contributive to community building and reinforcement.”
During this Kwanzaa celebration, I look forward to sharing a little knowledge on each principle and what you can do to take part in this welcoming tradition!! Make sure you stay tuned!!
Today’s principle is UMOJA which means UNITY!! What are you doing today to strive and maintain unity in our families, communities, nations, and the world!! #UMOJA#Celebration#Affirmation
How you can embody UMOJA today is by being kind to your sisters and brothers in order to help keep your family and community strong and happy?!
For more information check out the following links:
Season’s Greetings!! We are officially in the Christmas Holiday Season!! A wonderful time of the year to sing Christmas carols, light a candle for Hanukkah, bake some gingerbread cookies, check out the neighborhood Christmas decorations, or even travel with family and friends! While you are doing these fun things make sure you add a couple of literary treats in the mix too!!
Check out these December Book Recommendations below:
The Color of Family ~Jerry McGill
Joy and Pain: A Story of Black Life and Liberation in Five Albums ~ Damien Sojoyner
A Quick Ting on Crime ~Franklyn Adoo
The Changeling ~Victor Lavalle
The New Brownies Book: A Love Letter to Black Families ~Karida L. Brown
The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation ~Raquel Willis
Like Thunder ~ Nnedi Okorafor
The Spite House ~ Johnny Compton
As an extra bonus, here’s a Holiday Book List to get you further in the spirit!!
It’s that time of year again…Award Season is upon us!! With the releasing of the Golden Globe nominations on yesterday many of us could not wait to see who was in the running. Considering the lack of content (due to the writers and actors strikes) I was very curious as to who would get a chance at winning the golden statue. This was especially the case regarding Black excellence !!
So let me take a moment to highlight Black Excellence with the 2023-24 Golden Globe nominees, check them out below:
Best Actress in a musical or comedy (Film)
Fantasia Barrino, Celie in The Color Purple
Best Supporting Actress (Film)
Danielle Brooks, Sofia in The Color Purple
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (Television)
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Best Actor in a Drama (Film)
Colman Domingo, Bayard Rustin in Rustin
Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy
Jeffrey Wright, Thelonious “Monk” Ellison in American Fiction
Best Actor (Limited Series, Anthology, or TV Movie)
David Oyelowo, Bass Reeves in Lawmen: Bass Reeves
Best Original Song
Lenny Kravitz, “Road to Freedom”
Best Musical or Comedy Series(Television)
Abbott Elementary
Best Animated Film and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement in Motion Pictures
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Best Stand-Up Comedian On Television
Trevor Noah: “Trevor Noah: Where Was I”
Chris Rock: “Selective Outrage”
Wanda Sykes: “Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer”
The Golden Globes Ceremony will air live on CBS on January 7th, 2024, 8-11 pm/ET (You can also stream on Paramount+ and the CBS app).
Wow!! What can I say about today!! Today’s journey was all about spices, the creation of Stone Town, and the history of Zanizbar from the perspective of enslavement. It was a full day, so much so that I was literally worn out at the end of the day!
So let’s begin at the Spice Farm…
A handmade bracelet made of banana and coconut leaves
Words do no justice, the pictures above speak a thousand words!!
I was in second heaven while walking through this farm. Sooooo much goodness in its natural element! I think I take for granted what one can do with spices, there is a wealth of ways to make use of these herbs, roots, and spice. They hold sooooo much value everything from ice cream, masala, medication, a baby wash to ward off spirits from when babies are first born, and in some cases pillow stuffing (Karpak very similar to cotton) and furniture.
More specifically, I would learn that cardamom can be used to help babies go to sleep or as they say “lazy their baby’ and be a mouthwash, or that a small amount of nutmeg can be used as a spice but a large amount is used as a drug, or even that before Black pepper takes on a black color it goes through three other color phases (green, red, white), and lastly the Anatodye is a flower that can be used for henna and to make lipstick. Simply amazing!!!
Following the Spice Farm we would would drive through Zanzibar City or central city to get to Stone Town. Stone Town is considered the old part and oldest city of Zanzibar. It would get its name based on the majority of the buildings in the city being made from limestone and dead coral.
Approximately 36 km from mainland Tanzania, Stone Town was known as the capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate and was a flourishing city that was the center of the spice trade and the slave trade in the 19th century. While not many residents live in Stone Town it still maintains its importance to Zanzibar, particularly for tourism. There is much movement taking place in the city, whether it is music and arts or bustling businesses and markets (see below).
The markets are open every day typically from 6 am to 7 pm. Just seeing all of the fresh seafood, spices, fruits, vegetables….oh my!! The markets were always busy, especially considering that when people came they were typically buying for the day. This makes sense especially if you are not able to preserve or have regular refrigeration.
Part of our time in Stone Town included touring the East African Slave Trade Exhibit, which was another eye-opening experience. While I knew that slavery took place all over the world, I was not as informed about the Arab and Persian involvement particularly in Zanzibar. Stone Town in particular would house one of the largest slave market ports.
It still amazes me how much is being uncovered globally as it relates to slavery. Every country has their own story…
A memorial for the enslaved and the Cathedral Church of Christ that would replace a former slave market.
I will say this while many folks want to write out or even white out slavery learning about the operations of enslavement outside of the US is mind blowing. People are still in denial or minimize this multi-year global atrocity. While slavery was abolished in Zanzibar beginning in the late 1890s, freedom was still a complicated process for those who had been enslaved. There were many obstacles faced, including the fact that most likely you were separated from your family and children, any land that may have been acquired was forfeited, and there was also the risk of being declared a vagrant, imprisoned, or sent to hard manual labor. In addition, to this it was also highly unlikely that the enslaved on the plantations were illiterate, which meant many probably did not even realize they were even free.
So much stolen and never recovered fully…..
Taking a shift left….
Before COVID-19 there were over 500,000 tourists who visited Stone Town, since COVID-19 that number has increased to 700,000. Much like many places, tourism is the backbone of the Stone Town, and Zanzibar in general, economy. Some other interesting things to note is the main tourists who come to Zanzibar include French, German, British and Asian residents with very few African American. But according to our guide KP this is slowly increasing.
In finishing out our excursion for the day one thing that I also noticed not just on the Tanzania mainland but definitely in Zanzibar was the doors. These were not just any type of door, but intricately detailed, made of strong wood, and could identify wealth. The larger and more detailed the door, the richer and more significant the person. While many of the details on some of the doors serve as decoration, during the British and Arab invasions they served as weapons to keep the elephants from storming down the doors. Also, not only were their decorations, but the carvings in particular at the top were etched with various symbols that served as a way to ward off bad spirits.
Just admiring the details shows how much work goes into each door. The pride in the craftsmanship is very much evident!!
I have never seen doors like this before, and boy do I wish I could transport some back to the US. Talk about one of a kind!!
And just a little humor to close out the day’s excursion, the bootleg man still exists lol even in Africa…
The DVD Bootleg man still remains…
All in all, let me just say again how amazing this experience has been for me these past 8 days. So much has transpired beyond what I could even imagine. I cannot stress it enough the importance of traveling outside of your neighborhood, city, and state. There is truly a wealth of knowledge waiting for you to discover!
Tomorrow I will close out with some final reflections as I prepare to come back stateside!! As always I look forward to sharing!
Today was all about getting in some downtime from the past few days. Nothing like taking in the waves and enjoying the beach!
Got a chance to watch the waves come in and even did a horseback ride on the beach. This was actually quite a fun experience especially once they got into the water. Who would have thought horses enjoyed walking in the water!
All in all, today was a good day. A much needed one full of continued relaxation!! With all that said…See you tomorrow!
The great thing about #BlackJoy is that it can be expressed in a wide variety of ways!! Depending on who you are, what you do, and how you feel, Black Joy has a way of changing the game!
This is particularly the case when it comes to movies. With the new releases of Halle Bailey in The Little Mermaid and the animated Blockbuster Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse starring Miles Morales, it’s a great time to be Black in the Movies!!
Today’s Black Joy Moment is a snapshot compilation of movies that over time have embodied Black joy!!
Happy Holidays Friends and Family!! Can you believe we are already in the last month of the year!! Well for this month’s recommendations I definitely incorporated some holiday cheer! As always I try to mix it up for you!!
And remember make sure you pre-order, add to your cart, support your local bookstores and remember sharing is caring!! Who says less is more, at least in this case :-)!! So without further ado check out this month’s recommendation below!!
I Got the Christmas Spirit ~Connie Schofield-Morrison
The People Remember ~Ibi Zoboi
The Nutcracker in Harlem ~T.E. McMorrow
Butter Honey Pig Bread ~Frances Ekwuyasi
Moon Witch, Spider King ~Marlon James
Wahala ~Nikki May
And remember you can always go back and check out the previous month’s recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!!
Also make sure to tune in for my “Top 21 Books of 2021”, coming very soon!!
Black Future Feminist 