Habari Gani! - Ujamma, cooperative economics, feeling good about investing your money in businesses owned by people of color or African descent.
On a large scope, buying American, as it related to our own Christmas shopping, buying from businesses at our local mall, and bringing it even closer to home, buying from Jonathan's cub scout troop and school fund raisers.
UJIMA (green) – for the future, working together…African Americans should work on their problems together.
We didn't have our candle lighting ceremony tonight as a family, but I did spend the evening with my Dad salvaging photos from my Grandmother's house fire last year. We worked together scanning, sorting, cropping and scrapbooking over 108 photos in one night.
Earlier in the day, I helped my daughter think through some ideas to generate revenue at her daytime job. So, I lived out the Kwanzaa principle of of Ujima...salvaging photos, memories & newspaper clippings for future generations and working to solve problems together with my daughter.
Here's a photo of the family working together to create Zawadi (gifts) a few days ago.
Day 2 of Kwanzaa consisted of me and the two boys having a quick candle lighting late in the night. We discussed who our ancestors are and who we want to be and what we want to do.
Joseph (6) wants to be a Police Officer, Jonathan (9) the candle lighter wants to be a Fireman or Park Ranger. Mom - wants to be a teacher with integrity vs. consultant, to teach my clients how to navigate the world of federal contracting vs. just telling someone what to do.
Kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) - Self-Determination - deciding for ourselves who we want to be and what we want to do.
My goodness, the holidays are just rushing by. We've been extremely busy at the Sanford house and for the next week we will be reflecting on the past year, as well as focusing on the new year and how we can show more UBUNTU (humanity towards others).
No matter what your race, faith, creed, color or nationality, it would do us all some good to reflect on the principles of Kwanzaa over the next week. Just look up the principle of the day and discuss how you have demonstrated that principle in the past year or how you can live it out in the new year.
Kwanzaa Day #1 - UMOJA - unity
Every year I like to move away from the traditional American Christmas crazed traditions. Last year we did gifts, food and everything under $500 on Christmas eve. This year we plan to spend even less. I'm really focused on giving my kids, memories (Rosa Parks museum in Alabama, trips to NYC), opportunities (violin lessons, traveling soccer teams), and experiences (snorkeling in the Caribbean), versus STUFF.
One of my goals this holiday season is to be more purposeful in my giving and the giving effort of my whole family.
First, we have adopted a young pregnant mother to bless this holiday season with items she and her new baby need.
Second, I plan on giving the kids ONE family gift, (they have really enjoyed last year's family gift of Guitar Hero all year long).
Third, for the special gifts that I do buy, I plan on spending my money with indies (independent artists) or small business owners.
What's your holiday spending plan? Here's an idea...join me at Savage Mill in Laurel Maryland on November 21 & 22 to shop the boutiques and find unique one-of-a kind gifts and support small businesses and indies. I'll be there showing you small hand crafted gifts you can make for friends and family and signing my book, Ethnic Scrapbooking which will be offered for $15.00, that's a $10.00 discount...first time ever!
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International Center For Artistic Development, Inc
New Weave Building, Mezzanine Level
Box 2049
8600 Foundry Street
Savage, MD 20763
A Celebration Of Cultural Influences & Heritage
November 21 & 22, 2009
Reception: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 2PM to 4PM
Historic Savage Mill
8600 Foundry Street • Savage, MD 20763
Phone: 301-604-4484 • www.icadev.org
Directions: From Wash. DC, I-95 N to Exit. 38A ( Rte. 32 E.) to Rte. 1South. Turn right at first traffic light on Howard St. Follow signs to Mill parking.
Because I have a Christmas Birthday people think I get jipped (shortchanged). Well that has never been the case in my life...if anything I get more because so many more people actually remember my birthday. I was brought to tears a number of times this past holiday season. Here's why....
My globe-trekking friend Cynthia ( also a contributor in my book) was a public library book sale and brought me a stack of books related to various cultures along with a 2-disk music cd from the ethnic neighborhoods of New York...talk about a FABULOUS gift...absolutely everything I love and will consistently use. THANKS CYNTHIA YO ARE A GEM.
So add that to your list of ways to connect to other cultures...a trip to you local library!
Zwadi - gifts given at Kwanzaa.
Here's a gift I altered for my mother. She is organizationally challenged and she carries around a plastic bag full of addresses and phone numbers written on slips of paper. We've tried for the past few years to get her to store the numbers in her cell phone...but we can barely get her to answer the dag on thing.
I found this blank journal at Barnes & Nobles for $3.00 so I added tabs using my Stampin' Up punch and then used rub-ons for the letters. I also added our family mailing list that I had in an excel file using brads. I thought that was enough and then I went eclectic (like my mom) and added the ribbon...it was so cute I wanted to keep it for myself.
This year we managed to really focus on the history, meaning and prinicples of Kwanzaa. Usually I am just wiped out and exhausted by December 26th and can't seem to get it together, but it was easier this year because Christmas was very low key...we've been dwindling the gift giving down for years and this year it was way down because we focused on travel and lessons (soccer, voice & Spanish).
This year we actually lit some of the candles and discussed the principles and our ancestors on two different nights.
here are the details of my Kwanzaa plan...not all of them came to fruition, but that's okay because we live out Kwanzaa everyday.
Day 1: UMOJA (black) – unity, people who work, live and build a future together create a community
I teach my children that their education is the responsibility of the family unit. When one succeeds we all celebrate in that success because we work together on homework.
Day 2: KUJICHAGULIA (red) - who we are and who we will be. We must act and speak for ourselves…we are no one’s slave.
Review the Starbucks incident in Uniontown when the girls were disrespected by man & his wife.
Activity: African Dance, listen to Gullah music
Day 3: UJIMA (green) – for the future, working together…African Americans should work on their problems together.
Example is mommy’s involvement in the Gymnastics Booster Club.
Activity: Play Mancala – African games
Day 4: UJAMAA (red) – buying from each other. Sharing the wealth of all black people.
I buy the bulk of my monthly scrapbook supplies from AA owner, and our dog groomer is African American.
Activity: Make something with Fabric
Day 5: NIA (green) – Purpose – remember your past and your purpose to make our people great.
Discuss God’s purpose in our lives…a biblical purpose rather than a self-serving purpose.
Activity: Create a scrapbook/look at photo albums
Day 6: KUUMBA (red) – Creativity, thinking of new ways to do things.
Baking the macaroni & cheese on the grill this past Thanksgiving.
FEAST on the sixth day – KARAMU – arrange food on MKEKA in the middle of the Floor
Day 7: IMANI (green) – Faith, believing in all African people.
Our Chirstian faith, faith in God and Jesus Christ.
Last week I had fun with a local girl scout troop discussing ways to connect to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. I encouraged them to create their own Kwanzaa displays during this week and learn more about this African-American celebration.
