The Kwanzaa Table

IMANI! Kwanzaa Day 7 2024

Greetings Good People! This year's Kwanzaa Table will feature "tales of the day", e.g. stories and lessons out of the days headlines that help us to remember that the principles of Kwanzaa do not simply honor the past or prepare for the future, but also define the core of how we can embrace and exist today. IMANI! is the principle of the day - faith. In the context of Kwanzaa the principle of faith refers to faith in people, faith in a person's ability to contribute to the betterment of their community. And with such faith comes awesome responsibility. So we conclude this year's Kwanzaa Table circling back to where we began with another piece of the story of the recent presidential delegation trip to Angola. The delegation included several African Americans and members of the African diaspora who now have jobs, obligations, and organizations that do the work of building, creating, and sustaining black communities and black history and culture. These descendants of enslaved people or descendants of those who were left behind as their people were taken away from them and enslaved have not only survived, but have (through generations of commitment) risen to great heights in their careers and in their lives - and from these great heights they continue to pull their communities and surrounding communities forward. So as an example of the principle of Imani in action, I leave you with an article that talks about how this trip renewed fire and faith in the need to teach black history (in America) to and for everyone. I share this article because of a photograph halfway through the story that includes myself and several colleagues laughing over some bit of our conversation while we are seated at the former site of a transatlantic slave trading port, looking across the ocean towards the site of the museum I lead which is also located at the site of a former transatlantic slave trading port. This moment is a stark reminder that though we are indeed stewards of the history that holds the trials, the trauma, and the brutality of slavery and enslavement, we are also the stewards of the joy, the resilience, and the faith that has powered us through. Yes, with faith it all comes full circle. Habari gani! https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/26/africa-trip-inspires-protect-black-history-america/76941360007/

KUUMBA! Kwanzaa Day 6 2024

Greetings Good People! This year's Kwanzaa Table will feature "tales of the day", e.g. stories and lessons out of the days headlines that help us to remember that the principles of Kwanzaa do not simply honor the past or prepare for the future, but also define the core of how we can embrace and exist today. KUUMBA! Creativity is the word of the day. And today I'm reflecting on the good work of my people - the "BLERD," the Black Nerds. Yes we exist! And yes we are creative! In the context of the principle of kuumba, creativity is not about being creative for creativeness sake. The principal demands that we use our skills, our gifts, our ability to imagine things new, unseen, and beautiful to move our communities forward. The goal of this principle being to leave the community better than when we found it. Embedded within this principle is the expectation of change and driving concepts of justice, repair, and restoration. Of course, this does not exclude using classic forms of creativity - such as art, fashion, food, architecture, even community redevelopment and park design! - but kuumba allows us to go much farther and broader as we consider ways to power our communities through creative change. So for today's modern expression of Kwanzaa principle, I  highlight Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League. In the snippet I'm sharing with you, she combines her knowledge of algorithms and AI with her penchant for poetry, alongside her genius for breaking down complex concepts into terms we can all understand as she shares her poem "AI, Ain't I A Woman." In this video, Dr. Joy calls to task the algorithmic bias in facial recognition software that constantly misidentifies black women as objects, as animals, and as men. In doing so, she is not only creatively pushing for change for the betterment of the African American community - but also for the betterment of her adopted communities of computer scientists and AI creators. Scientists do their research. And poets make you listen. And those in the space of kuumba can bring these creatives together for progress. Sharing Dr Joy Buolamwini performing "AI, Ain't I A Woman" - watch it full screen. https://youtu.be/QxuyfWoVV98?feature=shared

NIA! Kwanza Day 5 2024

Greetings Good People! This year's Kwanzaa Table will feature "tales of the day", e.g. stories and lessons out of the days headlines that help us to remember that the principles of Kwanzaa do not simply honor the past or prepare for the future, but also define the core of how we can embrace and exist today. NIA! is the principle of the day - and it means purpose. The principle of NIA puts everything we do in perspective and suggests that everything we do can be done with purpose. As simple as carrying bags for your elders or as complicated as founding your own non-profit... The principal of NIA directs us to direct our actions toward the collective betterment of our community. This sense of purpose requires us to reckon with the fact that members of communities, such as the African American community, that have been marginalized, discriminated against, or historically abused, must constantly and consistently act with purpose. And that purpose is to continue the work nurturing, rebuilding, sustaining, and preserving our community and our culture. Spoiler alert: The same can be said for Allies of such communities. Finding your life's purpose is a journey, but acting with purpose is a daily event. What will you do today with the intent to support and build community and culture? In the news inspiration? How about a 4-year-old that feeds the homeless? ( Yeah, we all need to level up just a bit!) https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/austin-perine-alabama-4-year-old-superhero-using-his-power-to-feed-the-homeless/

UJAAMA! Kwanzaa Day 4 2024

Greetings Good People! This year's Kwanzaa Table will feature "tales of the day", e.g. stories and lessons out of the days headlines that help us to remember that the principles of Kwanzaa do not simply honor the past or prepare for the future, but also define the core of how we can embrace and exist today. UJAAMA! is the word of the day. Ujaama means cooperative economics. Today's reflection is short and sweet because many of us have a core understanding of what "cooperative economics" means. But in the season of Kwanzaa when we celebrate the expression of cultural values particularly significant to the African American community - values that have sustained, propelled, and inspired generations of the African Diaspora here in the United States - it's worth a moment to pause about the particular nature of cooperative economics within the principle of Ujaama.  Ujaama moves us beyond the concept of business for business sake - even if it is an extraordinary business! The principle of Ujaama requires that a business support, uplift, serve, and be a tool in meaningfully sustaining our community, as well as, being "good for the culture."  The first story of the day to reflect this principle has origins dating back so long, that this business's founding doesn't meet the criteria of using current news stories to elevate the principles of Kwanzaa! But the "why and how" of their survival through 2020 - moving them into their third generation of ownership - most certainly does. Introducing Lee's Flower Shop: https://www.leesflowersdc.com/history The second story is about a woman who returned home and started a non-profit farm - that is so much more than a farm - in the middle of the hood (because where else would you build a farm that matters?). Introducing Fresh Future Farm: https://charlestonmag.com/features/at_fresh_future_farm_germaine_jenkins_cultivates_a_healthy_well_fed_future_for_underserved

UJIMA! Kwanzaa Day 3 2024

Greetings Good People! This year's Kwanzaa Table will feature "tales of the day", e.g. stories and lessons out of the days headlines that help us to remember that the principles of Kwanzaa do not simply honor the past or prepare for the future, but also define the core of how we can embrace and exist today. UJIMA, collective work and responsibility, is the principle of the day. "Education" is a collection of experiences - from the people we know, to the experiences we have, to the books we read, to the classes and classrooms (formal and informal) we learn from - and it is the community's responsibility to make sure that we have as many of those experiences as possible. It is the ultimate example of a community's activation of the principle of ujima. So for today's modern take, we'll be courting some good trouble! As we take a moment to reflect on education as the epitome of a community's collective work and responsibility, I delve into the challenge of searching for success stories in pushing back on book bans. Curiously harder than it should be since - yes! - the stories are out there. Let's see if you can outsmart your search engine's algorithm, too! UJIMA inspiration in action: https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/what-happened-when-students-led-fights-to-reverse-book-bans/2023/07