Habari gani, folks? Today's principle is ujamaa -- cooperative economics. I'll admit that my relationship with this principle has become increasingly tenuous. This stage of capitalism requires increasingly direct appeals for money just to survive, and it feels like we've been hoodwinked into cannibalizing our interests to ensure cash keeps flowing toward the rich and … Continue reading Kwanzaa: Ujamaa / Cooperative Economics
Month: December 2023
Kwanzaa: Ujima / Collective Work and Responsibility
Habari gani, folks? (By the way, this is a "traditional" Kwanzaa greeting meaning "What's the news?" in Swahili!) Today we celebrate Ujima, a Swahili word for "collective work and responsibility." This speaks to the multi-faceted, intersectional nature of our shared struggle. Inequality (and white supremacy) is a hydra that targets groups with different tactics, but … Continue reading Kwanzaa: Ujima / Collective Work and Responsibility
Kwanzaa: Kujichagulia / Self-Determination
Habari gani, everyone? Today's principle is kujichagulia, or self-determination if Swahili isn't your thing. Right after ensuring we're united with our kin in common struggle, the ability to "define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves" is the most essential principle. For most of us living in subcultures, we intrinsically know the … Continue reading Kwanzaa: Kujichagulia / Self-Determination
Kwanzaa: Umoja / Unity
Habari gani, friends? Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, a completely made-up holiday meant to be celebrated by the African diaspora -- but nowadays is mostly the butt of jokes about what a silly and mysterious holiday it is. To be fair, it IS a silly and mysterious holiday! Over the past several years, … Continue reading Kwanzaa: Umoja / Unity
From the Desk of Jakebe T. Rabbit 