Principles to Live By

I think about 80 to 90 percent of the people who I spoke with throughout the Christmas season, shared the sentiment of, with all that is happening within the black community, they were finding it difficult to embrace the usual jovial holiday spirit. Myself included, wasnt motivated to shop, wrap gifts or even say the words “Merry Christmas”.

I found myself spending more time talking with my kids about current events, history and the importance of things that we can feel and not necessarily touch.  While these are conversations that we regularly have, I realized I needed to delve deeper into a place that somewhat contradicts most of what they are taught in school and see/read in the media.  I had to take off the kids gloves and hand it to them “straight no chaser”.  There was an intentional decision made to scale back the commercialism of Christmas, in order to make a longer lasting investment into their lives.

No as we enter this season of Kwanzaa, I think now more than ever we need to take heed to the Nguzo Saba through life application.  It’s not just an African American, Pan-African holiday to be celebrated for 7 days, but indeed Principles to Live By.

As we continue to organize as a community seeking justice and basic quality of life rights, lets learn, remember  and honor our ancestors all year-long through Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba and Imani.

Harambee……..Spread Love, It’s the BrooKlyn Kisha Way!

Principles to Live By!

Here’s a quick list of things-to-do with the entire family around the city, to introduce, learn about, and celebrate Kwanzaa:

Kwanzaa Collective “Tribute to the Ancestors” – Friday, December 26th, 3pm-9pm ( http://www.puzzlesforus.com/KwanzaaCollectiveFlyer.pdf )

Ifetayo Culteral Arts “Fiirst Fruit Celebration” – Friday, December 26th, 1pm-5pm (http://ifetayo.com/events/)

African Burial Grounds, Friday, December 26th & Saturday, December 27th,  (http://www.nps.gov/afbg/historyculture/kwanzaa.htm)

Apollo Theater – Saturday, December 27th at 2pm & 7:30pm (https://www.apollotheater.org/all/details/301-kwanzaa_celebration_12_27_14)

American Museum of Natural History – Saturday, December 27th , 12pm-3pm (http://www.amnh.org/calendar/kwanzaa)

Brooklyn Children’s Museum – Sunday, December 28th, 12pm-4pm (http://www.brooklynkids.org/index.php/festivals/kwanzaa2014)

Brooklyn Public Library – http://www.bklynlibrary.org/