Collective Consciousness
Twas the day after Christmas...Umoja
I hope you had a wonderful holiday, spending time with those whom you cherish, making new memories, and fondly remembering those who are no longer with us. I hope you remembered the spirit of giving, and less on the receiving part—the receiving part is good too :-) I hope you practiced self care and carved out some time for yourself to relax, reflect and restore.
As one official holiday ends, a cultural one begins: Kwanzaa.
Created by Dr. Maulana Karenga during the 60s, Kwanzaa is a cultural African American/Pan African holiday, celebrated December 26-January 1. It celebrates community and culture; an homage to African roots to reinforce the bonds as a culture, and is based on Seven Principles:
Umoja/Unity: To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Kujichagulia/Self Determination: To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Ujima/Collective Work and Responsibility: To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa/Cooperative Economics: To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia/Purpose: To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
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.
Imani/Faith: To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Each day of Kwanzaa celebrates the principle for that day. Many community organizations host Kwanzaa events in an effort to reinforce coming together as a community collectively.
I was first introduced to Kwanzaa during my Cali living days, the good ole 90s! I resonated with the Seven Principles—the collective thought process—and witnessed that process growing up in my neighborhood. Neighbors looked out for each other, we gathered at one another’s homes, if someone was in a crisis or in need, the women came together to “raise a village.” That collaborative spirit shaped me, and quite a few others who held similar memories of their neighborhood.
In attending past Kwanza festivities, I came to realize the value in the principles, as they relate to business. To amalgamate those principles into the growth of our business and of others.
Build Upon Principles, Incorporate into Business
Umoja/Unity - Collaboration, building/restoring relationships
Kujichagulia/Self Determination - Your “why”
Ujima/Collective Work and Responsibility - Team work. mentorship, giving back
Ujamaa/Cooperative Economics - Support a small business, a friend’s start up, shop local
Nia/Purpose - Your brand, value statement
Kuumba/Creativity - Goals, aspirations, dreams, visions
Imani/Faith - Trusting yourself and others
Kwanzaa’s collective consciousness starts at the end one year and simultaneously, enters into a new year. The timing is auspicious.
Collaboration is the new competition…it takes a village to be successful.
I wish you peace of mind, love for self and others; wellness, holistically; prosperity, and a ridiculously amazing new year!
Be great…the world needs more of that!
-Gillian
(Principles retrieved from Official Kwanzaa Website)
