The brother picture above these lines, needs no introduction. I am privileged on this 1st day of Kwanzaa to offer my humble thoughts, in the true spirit of Umoja. Thank you, Maulana Karenga for your most beautiful gift to African-American culture, a full week of celebration of and reflection on our best and most profound principles of life and prosperity called The Nguzo Saba. As we close out 2013 and approach 2014 with great anticipation, let us reflect for a moment how far we've come and still need to go, on our journey to full human consciousness.
The Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) are the foundation of a community-oriented and production driven societal structure that can build a strong nation of people. According to Maulana Karenga, these guiding principles originate from the Kawaida philosophy. He explains: "the set of principles which we put forth is the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles): Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). These Seven Principles are essential standards of personal and social excellence directed toward building and sustaining moral community, and strengthening and maintaining the community's capacity to define, defend and develop its interests in the most positive and productive sense. In addition to being standards of excellence, the Nguzo Saba are also categories of priorities and categories of human possibilities. As categories of priorities, they tell us some of the most important things in our lives, identifying a key set of views, values and practices which we should, even must, put first in our personal and social life. And as categories of possibilities, the Nguzo Saba, offer us a set of principles which encourage thought and practice which help define, develop and enhance our humanity in the context of community and the world."[excerpt from The Chair's Message on the Us website http://www.us-organization.org/30th/ppp.html]
The celebration of Kwanzaa manifests itself in the exchange of meaningful dialogue among family, friends and other community members involving a unified theme of conversation, i.e., 1st night is UMOJA (Unity). "To strive for and maintain unity within the family, community, nation and race," is basic and fundamental for success within each of these groups individually, and more so for the synergistic exchanges between the collective group. Wouldn't you just love to be able to come home to a nice, peaceful, calm house and meet some SANE people when you arrive there? Every day stuff, real simple, Not Rocket Science! Then why do so many of us, experience so many petty, hateful and down right envy driven attacks from so many ignorant people...at home, at work, in church, at the club, at the gym, in the supermarket? The answer is simple my brothers and sisters, we need more practice in applying these principles to our daily lives for 365 days per year, every year. If each one teach one other person how to simply BE in a unified state (one where your mind is in harmony with your Higher Self), this world would eventually become a much more peaceful place than it is right now.
The good news is, WE CAN DO THIS! Oh, and for those who think this can't be done...let me suggest you read about the Mighty Man pictured below this article. This Mighty descendant of Kings, lived the life of a true King, An Emperor whose face and name is known to many. I offer you this challenge: go and study the life's work of this man and then sit down and ponder each of the Nguzo Saba each night for seven nights. His Imperial Majesty built and peacefully ruled an entire nation in troubled times, while living these time honored principles.
Heri za Kwanzaa kwa yangu Ndugu na Dada (Happy Kwanzaa to My Brothers and Sisters)!
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