Kwanza
The Seven Principles, "Nguzo Saba", and other Kwanzaa Information
The seven principles of the Nguzo Saba are celebrated during Kwanzaa however, they can be practiced on a daily basis. Kwanzaa is not to be viewed as a "Black Christmas". Instead it is a cultural observance in which Black Americans renew and affirm the strengths and values of ourselves and our ancestors.
UMOJA (UNITY) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
KUJICHAGULIA (SELF-DETERMINATION) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created and spoken for by others.
UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY) - To build and maintain our community together, and make our sisters' and brothers' problems and to solve them together.
UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS) - To build and maintain our own shops, stores and other businesses and to profit from them together.
NIA (PURPOSE) - To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) - To always do as much as we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
IMANI (FAITH) - To With all of our hearts, believe in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
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Background
KWANZAA, the African-American spiritual holiday was formulated, devised, developed and initiated by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga on December 26, 1966. The operational under pinnings are based on the cultural principles of a theory called Kawaida. The Kawaida theory premise is that social revolutionary change for Black America can be achieved by the act of revealing and disclosing individuals to their cultural heritage.
During the early and middle sixties Dr. Karenga noted that many community based groups were functioning and utilizing a myriad of ideologies, plans, and social approaches to assist Black Americans to obtain social changes in this era of Civil Rights in America. The cultural social under pinnings of the Kawaida Theory gave conditions that would enhance the revolutionary social change for the masses of Black Americans. The first condition to be addressed was the major exploitation of Black America during the months of October, November, December or the Christmas Season. The second condition was that during this time in history, Black Americans did not have a holiday. Review of the major holidays celebrated by the American society would reveal that not one related to the growth and development or essence of Black Americans. The third condition was to which Dr. Maulana Karenga postulated a reassessment, reclaiming, recommitment, remembrance, retrieval, resumption, resurrection, and rejuvenation of those principles (Way of Life) utilized by Black Americans' ancestors. The principles (Way of Life) allowed them to endure slavery, racism, and oppressions during their sojourn in American.
Dr. Maulana Karenga utilized the concept of Kwanzaa as the framework to address these major conditions of 1966 and to assist in the resolution of others.
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Introduction
Kwanzaa is a spiritual, festive and joyous celebration of the oneness and goodness of life, which claims no ties with any religion.
The focus of Kwanzaa is centered around the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) with particular emphasis on the unity of our Black families. It is a time for gathering of our families, and for a rededication to manifesting the principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba) as a way of life for Black Americans.
Kwanzaa has definite principles, practices and symbols which are geared to the social and spiritual needs of African-Americans. The reinforcing gestures are designed to strengthen our collective self-concept as a people, honor our past, critically evaluate our present and commit ourselves to a fuller, more productive future.
Kwanzaa is a way of life; not just a celebration. As a living social practice, it is a week of actual remembering, reassessing, recommitting, rewarding and rejoicing. For evaluation of ourselves and our history, we relate to our past, reassess our thoughts and practices, and recommit ourselves to the achievement of Black liberation and the betterment of life for all Black Americans.
Finally, the concept of Kwanzaa, the African-American holiday, is to help Black Americans relate to the past in order to understand the present and deal with the future.
Whenever new information is presented to an individual or a group of people, the information must be accurate, clear and have a specific meaning for that particular individual or particular group. Therefore, the information should be presented in a specific format and should include certain factors. These factors are:
FOCUS - The center of an activity or the area of attention.
PURPOSE - The plan, intention or reason for an activity or event.
SENSE OF DIRECTION - The way and manner in which the event will take form.
GOALS - The things that will be achieved.
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FOCUS OF KWANZAA
It is important to relate to the past in order to understand the present and deal with the future. A people will never look forward to posterity who never looked backward to their ancestors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURPOSE OF KWANZAA
To maintain a history. History is Knowledge, Identity and Power.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENSE OF DIRECTION
To practice the principles in our lives that helped our ancestors to endure oppression, slavery and racism.
Emphasize Unity of the Black family.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOALS OF KWANZAA
To develop self and facilitate a positive Black self-esteem by exposing individuals to "KWANZAA", a culturally desirable pattern of principles, to help them live their lives and to encourage the highest level of positive Black self-esteem and spiritual development.
To establish a culturally oriented "WAY OF LIFE."
The Seven Principles, "Nguzo Saba", and other Kwanzaa Information
The seven principles of the Nguzo Saba are celebrated during Kwanzaa however, they can be practiced on a daily basis. Kwanzaa is not to be viewed as a "Black Christmas". Instead it is a cultural observance in which Black Americans renew and affirm the strengths and values of ourselves and our ancestors.
UMOJA (UNITY) - To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
KUJICHAGULIA (SELF-DETERMINATION) - To define ourselves, name ourselves, and speak for ourselves instead of being defined, named, created and spoken for by others.
UJIMA (COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY) - To build and maintain our community together, and make our sisters' and brothers' problems and to solve them together.
UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS) - To build and maintain our own shops, stores and other businesses and to profit from them together.
NIA (PURPOSE) - To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
KUUMBA (CREATIVITY) - To always do as much as we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
IMANI (FAITH) - To With all of our hearts, believe in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background
KWANZAA, the African-American spiritual holiday was formulated, devised, developed and initiated by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga on December 26, 1966. The operational under pinnings are based on the cultural principles of a theory called Kawaida. The Kawaida theory premise is that social revolutionary change for Black America can be achieved by the act of revealing and disclosing individuals to their cultural heritage.
During the early and middle sixties Dr. Karenga noted that many community based groups were functioning and utilizing a myriad of ideologies, plans, and social approaches to assist Black Americans to obtain social changes in this era of Civil Rights in America. The cultural social under pinnings of the Kawaida Theory gave conditions that would enhance the revolutionary social change for the masses of Black Americans. The first condition to be addressed was the major exploitation of Black America during the months of October, November, December or the Christmas Season. The second condition was that during this time in history, Black Americans did not have a holiday. Review of the major holidays celebrated by the American society would reveal that not one related to the growth and development or essence of Black Americans. The third condition was to which Dr. Maulana Karenga postulated a reassessment, reclaiming, recommitment, remembrance, retrieval, resumption, resurrection, and rejuvenation of those principles (Way of Life) utilized by Black Americans' ancestors. The principles (Way of Life) allowed them to endure slavery, racism, and oppressions during their sojourn in American.
Dr. Maulana Karenga utilized the concept of Kwanzaa as the framework to address these major conditions of 1966 and to assist in the resolution of others.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction
Kwanzaa is a spiritual, festive and joyous celebration of the oneness and goodness of life, which claims no ties with any religion.
The focus of Kwanzaa is centered around the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) with particular emphasis on the unity of our Black families. It is a time for gathering of our families, and for a rededication to manifesting the principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba) as a way of life for Black Americans.
Kwanzaa has definite principles, practices and symbols which are geared to the social and spiritual needs of African-Americans. The reinforcing gestures are designed to strengthen our collective self-concept as a people, honor our past, critically evaluate our present and commit ourselves to a fuller, more productive future.
Kwanzaa is a way of life; not just a celebration. As a living social practice, it is a week of actual remembering, reassessing, recommitting, rewarding and rejoicing. For evaluation of ourselves and our history, we relate to our past, reassess our thoughts and practices, and recommit ourselves to the achievement of Black liberation and the betterment of life for all Black Americans.
Finally, the concept of Kwanzaa, the African-American holiday, is to help Black Americans relate to the past in order to understand the present and deal with the future.
Whenever new information is presented to an individual or a group of people, the information must be accurate, clear and have a specific meaning for that particular individual or particular group. Therefore, the information should be presented in a specific format and should include certain factors. These factors are:
FOCUS - The center of an activity or the area of attention.
PURPOSE - The plan, intention or reason for an activity or event.
SENSE OF DIRECTION - The way and manner in which the event will take form.
GOALS - The things that will be achieved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOCUS OF KWANZAA
It is important to relate to the past in order to understand the present and deal with the future. A people will never look forward to posterity who never looked backward to their ancestors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURPOSE OF KWANZAA
To maintain a history. History is Knowledge, Identity and Power.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENSE OF DIRECTION
To practice the principles in our lives that helped our ancestors to endure oppression, slavery and racism.
Emphasize Unity of the Black family.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOALS OF KWANZAA
To develop self and facilitate a positive Black self-esteem by exposing individuals to "KWANZAA", a culturally desirable pattern of principles, to help them live their lives and to encourage the highest level of positive Black self-esteem and spiritual development.
To establish a culturally oriented "WAY OF LIFE."