The Unity of Kwanzaa can ONLY be achieved with the Spirit of Faith

In the Spirit of Imani or Faith, the 7th and final principle of Kwanzaa, I am sharing this definition and thoughts about this concept. 

I would only add that we started the Kwanzaa season with Umoja or Unity and end it with Imani or Faith. How appropriate because without faith there can be no unity.

Why do I say that? I notice far to many Blacks, especially the so called "conscious ones", are always focused on critical conspiracies or negative analytical thinking on every proactive step an organization or person makes on behalf of Black people. It's ridiculous.

Nothing anybody does is legitimate in their minds and most people who have a difference of opinion to them is a n*gga, coon, or negropian. Almost any move Blacks take socially whether in business, protest, boycotting, or activism for many of these arm chair social activist is met with skepticism. This over-arching skepticism erodes unity.

In order to have unity you have to have faith you can achieve success. Without faith in our collective cause of liberation, empowerment, and equality we will not be able to reach out against all odds to achieve it.

Celebrate Kwanzaa In View of Rebuilding Unity in Our Community

Photo Courtesy Bob Tynes (RIP)

Kwanzaa isn't a replacement for Christmas or any other Holiday. It focuses on 7 Principals. The 1st principle today is Umoja or Unity. The biggest hindrance to progress for our people isn't lack of uniformity many advocate, but is lack of unity of purpose on larger issues.

The reason our community suffers isn't primarily because of any various ill informed religious or ideological perspectives IMHO. The reason we struggle is because we don't look beyond our differences and unify with a Kwanzaa inspired concept of Umoja.

Tribalism or using our differences to turn each other against others in our community is how slavery, Jim Crow, and racism are maintained i.e. Willie Lynch theory.  The Black community has some very serious problems going into 2015 including:



1. the perennial problem of police brutality;

2. increasing militarization of the police forces in our community;

3. the growth of the prison industrial complex producing profits off of criminalizing Blacks and other Americans

4. intransigent racism in the media, popular culture, and society,

5. income disparity

6. Lack of more community economic development;

There are more Black men with
College Degrees than in Prison

For instance It was recently reported in new research that a Black man with a college degree is about as employable as a white high school graduate. The average Black household makes $20,000 less a year than white household.

Over a 40 year work career at a 6% compound interest if we invested in stocks, bonds, or a business that is 3.5 million dollars African Americans are losing per family.  Only about 32% of whites have college degrees.

Therefore, all the current income disparities aren't because of Blacks having less education.  This just isn't the case because 82.7% of Blacks have a high school diploma just like the majority of whites.

Therefore if we were to calculate that just 2 million out of the 9 million Black families were loosing this type of income due to unexplained social favoritism or racism, that would equate to over 7 Trillion dollars less income over a 40 year period! 

Can you imagine the amount of wealth Blacks could create with 7 trillion more dollars or more?  This is one of the reasons we have the incredible wealth difference between Blacks and whites in this country.

To overcome this tremendous income and wealth disparity we will have to 1st start by supporting each other in business.  If we could increase Black businesses to just 3% of total business receipts in the US we could employ all unemployed African Americans.

This would mean we would have to increase our patronage of Black businesses from the current 7% to about 25% of our spending patterns.  Moreover, this means we need more Black businesses to support in our essential spending like food, shelter/housing, and clothing.

In order to get more of these types of business we will need to come together in unity of purpose and start strong financing institutions for Black businesses like:

1. credit unions

2. micro-finance organizations

3. crowd funding platforms

4. angel investor groups

5. venture capital funds

6. shadow funding and...

7. take more of our businesses public in the stock markets.

It is easy to complain or chide others about our lack of economic opportunity.

But the question is do we have 1st the will and unity of purpose with a plan to get more economic empowerment in a global economy?  And more importantly do we have any other viable choice?

Being Black going forward will either "make us or break us. The Kwanzaa Concept of Ujoma or Unity is a step in the right direction to overcome our challenges. Unity or Umoja is hard to obtain but necessary to move forward in increasing strength.

©2014 Kamau’s Kwanzaa Qu!ps

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Kamau's Kwanzaa Qu!ps

Kwanzaa isn't a replacement for Christmas or any other Holiday. It focuses on 7 Principals. The 1st is Umoja or Unity. The biggest hinderance to progress for our people isn't lack of uniformity but lack of unity. ©Kamau’s Kwanzaa Qu!ps

The reason our community suffers isn't primarily because of any various ill informed religious or ideological perspectives IMHO. The reason we struggle is because we don't look beyond our differences and unify with a Kwanzaa inspired concept of Umoja. ©Kamau’s Kwanzaa Qu!ps

Tribalism or using our differences to turn each other against others in our community is how slavery, Jim Crow, and Racism are maintained i.e. Willie Lynch. The Kwanzaa Concept of Ujoma or Unity is a step in the right direction.©Kamau’s Kwanzaa Qu!ps

Unity or Umoja is hard to obtain but necessary to move forward in increasing strength. Kamau's Kwanzaa Qu!ps
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Kujichagulia is the Kwanzaa concept of self determination. This means we seek to "To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves." Source Kawaida ©Kamau's Kwanzaa Qu!ps

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The wealthiest Blacks from Fortune Magazine's richest people aren't Americans like Michael Jordan or Russell Simmons. The Richest Blacks in the world are in Africa. That's because they control their land and resources. They live more in the Spirit & reality of Kwanzaa's Kujichagulia or they have more self determination.©Kamau's Kwanzaa Qu!ps

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It is AMAZING what people can do when they live under the principals of self determination or Kujichagulia. Reportedly there are now 55 African Billionaires in the world. This is because they have more control of their resources in some countries. State side we need to channel our financial resources here also for more self determination. ©Kamau's Kwanzaa Qu!ps http://ow.ly/s5ioa

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In this self centered & selfish society today's Kwanzaa Principal is very salient for community progress: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together. (Source Kawaida) ©Kamau's Kwanzaa Qu!ps

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Until you find your purpose in life you'll never obtain greatness or reach your full potential. That's why today's Kwanzaa principle is so important Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. (Source Kawaida) ©Kamau's Kwanzaa Qu!ps