VOL. XVI NO.6 An tnt o: mod People Is A Free People DECEMBER 26 - JANUARY 1. 1994
moja (u nit y )
urges us to care
for each other
and to strive for
and maintain strong fami­
lies, .comrnunities, and na­
tions. One reason that
Black children and fami­
lies in America are facing
so many crisis. is that we
have lost the sense of unity
that brought us through
slavery, war, emancipa­
tion, reconstruction, and
segregation. We must re­
weave the fabric of com­
munity if our children are
to have any future at all.
Let's put aside our differ­
ences and agree on a com­
mon goal: saving and
improving the lives of our
children. Let's be an exam­
pie 0 f .w hat c a· n b e
achieved when we work
together for the common
good. ,
ujicbagulia
(self-determi
nation) en­
courages us to
think for ourselves, and to
take re pon ibility for
overcoming the challenge
before us. If our children
are to overcome the epi­
dern ic of hopele ness that
fi 11 them wi th des pai r, we
must t e a c h them -
thr ugh our xampl ' -
the power they have to
make a difference.
jima (c II ec­
tive work and
re p nsibility)
brin to mind
the traditional African cul-
tur that cmpha iz the
comm n g dover indi­
viduali m and c p rati n
rather than c mpetition.
This principle reminds us
to replace "me-first-ism"
and "me-too-ism" with
concern for others. Let's
put aside our di fferences
and, together, take respon­
sibility for our children's
lives.
masses of African Ameri­
cans. We hold in our hand
the potential to overcome
the crises we're facing and
build a solid foundation
that will upport our chil­
dren in generations to
come. Let's invest wisely
and support Black-owned
businesses who give good
service to the community.
This i an important step in
reversing the cycle of pov­
erty that stunts the lives of
nearly half of Black chil­
dren in America today.
better purpose than im­
proving the life circum- .
stances of our children, .
whose present is clouded
and future threatened by a
growing sen e of peril.
Let's make saving our chil­
dren the purpose of every­
thing we do.
jamaa (strong
economic ba e)
calls for us to
recognize the
influence we wield, but
seldom use to our own ad­
vantage. Black purchasing
power, now over $250 bil­
lion annually, exceeds the
com bined gross national
products of Australia and
, New Zealand. But, all our
spending ha not trans­
lated into com mensurate
Black economic influence
and concrete result for the
uumba (crea­
tivity) urges us
to devote our
creati ve ener­
gies to improving our com­
munities. We all have
talents - artistic and oth­
erwise - to contribute.
Our creativity has often
hel ped us survive, whether
we were making feasts out
of table scrap or creating
the music that is jazz.
Creativity is the way our
unsung heroes and h ro-
ia (purp e) fo­
cuses our atten­
tion on the
mean i ng be­
hind our action , and the
need to act with a sen e of
purpose. I can think of no
(
Sunda
December 26 :._ Saturda
1
ines in our community de­
vote themselves to bring­
ing beauty and harmony
into the I ives of those
around them. Let's make
our children's well-being
the focus of our creativity
today, and dedicate all of
our resources and abilities
to building them the future
the deserve.
mani (fai th) is a t -
tament to th power
of s P i r it u a I b eli e f
and the hope that
sustains us when we have
nothing else. The poverty
of the spirit that afflicts so
many of our children and
youths today is often
cau ed by an ab ence of
hope that burdens the heart
and cripples the. oul. It is
up to us to give our chil­
dren faith in us, in them­
sclve , and in the
possibilities of a life where
fai th i fulfilled. Before we
can demon trate this prin­
ciple to them, we must re­
di cover and nurture in in
our elves. It i faith that
gives the other principles
of guzo aba their mean­
ing. And, it is faith that the
holiday of Kwanzaa is all
about.
A we celebrate this
holiday ea on, It's
memorize th e principle
and appl y them to our eve­
ryday lives. With a child'
face as our bacon and a
child' need as our guide­
p t, let' I ive up to
Kwanzza' potential a an
affirmati n f family, of
community, and of lif .
