Putting Kwanzaa Principles Into Practice

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by Shanita Bigelow and Lesley R. ChinnEver and ever, we survive and adopt, adopt and survive in a style that is uniquely BlackYet, somehow within such survival, many Blacks continue to struggle for recognition, selfhood, and cultural meaning and continuation. This struggle, in all its complexity, may not be amply articulated by the Black elite, but it can be observed daily in the lives of Black people, Haki R. Madhubuti wrote in Kwanzaa: A Progressive and Uplifting African American Holiday.

Kwanzaa, created in 1966, at a time of great struggles and great movements, by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of Africana Studies at California State University Long Beach and internationally known activist and scholar, is celebrated from December 26 to January 1. These seven days, each day devoted to one of the seven principles, the roots of Kwanzaa, beginning with Umoja or unity, are a celebration of the moments, the reflection of the past year, of the personal and shared histories-- in the Black community. It is a time for togetherness and communication, for thought and for action. With that in mind, the Citizen set out to find real examples, in action in the community, that exemplify Kwanzaa and the seven principles it represents.Umoja (Unity)-To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, race.The Roseland Safety Networks Coalition

Uniting for peacethats one way to describe The Roseland Safety Networks Coalition, an organization comprised of six groups on a mission to build safer communities. Ensuring peace by uniting with other organizations, the group hosts forums to address gun violence, gangs, drugs and teen pregnancy. Through the coalition, youth have a safe haven and a venue where they can channel energy into something positive.

This is accomplished through activities like a weekend jam session that helps keep young people off of the streets.

Structured events serve as a platform for young people to take a pledge to stop the violence in their communities, says Rogers Jones, project coordinator of the Roseland Safety Networks Coalition.

We know that crime happens, but the programs that we deal with are about intervention and prevention. We want to try to tackle the problem and we want to let people know that there is a better way to [solve problems], he says.

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created for and spoken for by others.Self-Expression at Street-Level

Technology affords such a luxury of expression. It seems like anyone can post their thoughts, their feelings, themselves to a world they hope will listen. That luxury comes at a price for those without the proper equipment or access, for those often unable to represent themselves. But Street-Level Youth Media has provided a space for urban youth to explore new media as a route to self-expression for about 15 years. The opportunity affords urban youth a chance to define who they are.

After a fire destroyed their previous center, Neutral Ground, Street-Level continues to provide a space for Chicagos youth as they await their new location, exemplifying their commitment, their ability to grow and to rebuild.

Recently, 15 high school students finished the Digital Fusion Workshop, where they collaborated to produce a CD, expressing themselves through graphic design, video production, music and production design. The students involved in the various programs and workshops Street-Level offers, mostly high school students, work in video production, audio/music production or in production design. Its a chance to build critical thinking skillswhere [they] develop stories, ideas and images, and where they can express themselves through their own perspective, Manwah Lee, executive director of Street-Level stated. It also gives them a chance, to explore the idea of success, he said. Whether working independently or collaboratively, whether in school or at Street-Level, these kids are mastering their voices and visions while connecting with each other, with their communities and with their histories.

Ujima (Creative Work & Responsibility) - To build and maintainour community together and make our sisters and brothers problems our problems and solve them together.Youth Peace Center

While HIV and AIDS continue to plague the Black community, groups like the Youth Peace Center are tackling the issue and working on the grass root level often attracting young people by using music and entertainment to get their attention. Recently the center, along with a coalition of other organizations, hosted an HIV/AIDS awareness summit where more than 200 youth participated.

Teens were entertained by the sounds of The Holy Ghostz Boyz with special guest Kandi Burruss, an R&B singer from The Real Housewives. But during the event, teens were also tested for the deadly virus which disproportionately affects African-Americans at a higher rate than others. In the Black community, the rate of HIV/AIDS infection is five times higher than that for Caucasians, the Centers for Disease Control reports while African-American adolescents ages 13 to 19 accounted for 1,919 AIDS cases (55 percent females), and 3,517 HIV infections (62 percent females). Additionally, AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death among Blacks ages 25 to 44 years old- a group likely to have contracted HIV as adolescents, according to the CDC.

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) - To build and maintain our own stores and other businesses and to profit from them together.The Chatham Business Association

The Chatham Business Association, an organization comprised of 235 businesses in Chicago serves businesses on 71st to 95th Streets (on its north and south boundaries) and on the east and west, from State to Stony Island Avenue. The association exemplifies the meaning of cooperative economics and works every day to achieve it.

Under Melinda Kelly, the CBAs Executive Director, the CBAs mission is to provide effective social, political, and economic growth opportunities for small businesses. Further, it seeks to create opportunities, inroads and programs that benefit Chatham and surrounding communities. Acting as a small business resource center, the CBA offers an array of customized services and programs for small business owners. Through economic development, strategic planning, technical training, business trend workshops, access to capital assistance, effective collaborative marketing programs and government certification, the CBA helps entrepreneurs maintain their stores and businesses. Additionally, the organization works collectively with businesses to increase profitability and plans to host its first ever street fair in 2010. According to Kelly, the CBA is working on an economic development plan that will among other goals, attract businesses to the community in the hopes of creating and retaining more jobs, a goal of which when accomplished, helps the entire community.

Nia (Purpose)-To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.The Quentis Bernard Garth Foundation

The Quentis Bernard Garth Foundation is a non-profit scholarship foundation whose purpose is to assist inner-city youth with an opportunity to attend college. The program was created in 1995 in memory of the late Quentis Bernard Garth, son of QBG Chairman and Founder William Garth. Garth is also CEO of the Citizen Newspaper Group Inc. To date, the foundation has provided numerous scholarship opportunities to youth seeking a degree in higher learning. QBGs philanthropic efforts are also routinely felt in the community when it teams up with local businesses and other groups with a special purpose to promote charitable giving. Recently, it embarked on its annual coat drive where individuals, families and veterans from Featherfist received 200 coats distributed at Chatham Food Markets for homeless individuals, families and veterans. Recognizing that many families are facing tough times, Janice Garth, QBG board member and project coordinator, spoke of lending a helping hand to the needy. Charitable giving is part of an important purpose in the community.

Whether its giving back through scholarships or through a food or coat drive, giving back helps build stronger and more viable communitie\s, she said.

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 Black Ensemble Theater: Vital and Growing

This year, 2009, marks the Black Ensemble Theaters (BET) 33rd anniversary. With thirty-three years under its belt, the goal is to eradicate racism and its damaging effects upon our society through the utilization of theater arts. Its a mission that will outlast generations, says Jackie Taylor, the Black Ensemble Theaters founder and executive director, who through creativity and the arts, is definitely helping to make the community more beautiful than when it was inherited. Taylor believes we are all artists. Everyone is an artist, she says, everyone is creative. That part of you which ignites the imagination, which dares to dream, which gets excited and expresses that excitement that is the creative artist within youart is present in our everyday lives, she says.

Through inspirational productions and community programs, the Black Ensemble Theater is working toward and pursuing its mission and making gains across cultural barriers; across color [barriers]; across cities and states, Taylor says.

Whether engaging children, encouraging parents, or assisting teachers, the Black Ensemble Theater aims to enrich all members and aspects of the community. Art is necessary and fruitful. The arts are vital because they are the foundation for learning and for character development.

The arts serve to motivate, inspire, as well as reflect the history and cultural activities of our society. Unfortunately, many of us do not recognize the arts or creativity into our everyday lives.

That is why there is so much violence amongst young folks today they have taken the arts out of the schools and the violence is a direct reflection of what happens when art and creativity are ignored or devalued, she maintains.

Imani (Faith)

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

Faith, like hope, like courage, propels us daily: faith in ourselves and others, in our present path and future trajectories, faith in the possibility of our progress, in the creation of greater good. Kwanzaa was created with this faith.

Kwanzaa marks a profound reorientation put forth in the 60s in terms of the way we understand and assert ourselves as an African people in the world. It marks both a cultural and political struggle to return to our own history and culture, to reaffirm our identity and dignity as African people and to reaffirm our social justice tradition in and thru transformative struggle for serious social change, Dr. Maulana Karenga wrote in his 2008 Annual Founders Message, Kwanzaa and the Seven Principles: Repairing and Renewing the World.

Looking back on a year filled with so many challenges, much economic uncertainty, high unemployment rates, ongoing wars, failing schools, etc., it is easy to overlook the successes and ones faith may be challenged. The seven days of Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba, are an opportunity to reflect and to recommit.

Imani (Faith) teaches us to believe in the good, hope for the best and work and struggle relentlessly to make both a reality, Karenga wrote.

Events that may inspire a sense of faith, hope and community that the celebration of Kwanzaa brings include:

Malcolm X College: Kwanzaa 2009: Honoring our Elders for Preserving our Cultural Heritage

Malcolm X College will host its 15th Annual Kwanzaa Observance Program from December 26 to January 1. There will be a series of events each day. For more information, visit malcolmx.ccc.edu.

DuSable Museum of African American History Childrens Penny Cinema: Kwanzaa: Bring the family to view this informative introduction to the significance and celebration of Kwanzaa. Wednesday, December 30 at 10:30am.

Raven Black: A Kwanzaa Tale:

Come enjoy the sounds of the African Diaspora in this story of the Great Migration. Saturday, December 26 at 2:00pm and Sunday, December 27 at 4:00pm.

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