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
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Kwanzaa 2020: Ujima
Habari gani, fam? 2020 has made me keenly aware of my place within my community, and how important my relationships are to me. When George Floyd was murdered by police officers and the collective frustration of millions of Americans bubbled over into street protests, it meant a lot that folks checked in on me because … Continue reading Kwanzaa 2020: Ujima
Kwanzaa, Day 3: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility
Habari gani, brothers and sisters? One of the things I'll strive to remember in 2018 is that we're all in this together. We all share the planet we call home and we all share our collective victories and setbacks -- from that perspective, there's just no need to be envious of someone else's success and … Continue reading Kwanzaa, Day 3: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility
Kwanzaa 2015: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
The principle we focus on today, this third day of Kwanzaa, is Ujima. It's a word that points to the idea of collective work and responsibility, which is a concept that I feel is missing from so many of our communities. One of the things that binds a society together is this very ideal, that … Continue reading Kwanzaa 2015: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)