By Dionne Ford
A couple of days before Christmas last year, my daughters pleaded for a Kwanzaa celebration. (I think they were under the impression that a second holiday meant twice the gifts). Outwardly, I was excited that my oldest daughter—who describes herself as white although she is biracial—was interested in this celebration of African culture.

Kwanzaa: Imani  (Faith). To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Kwanzaa: Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build our own businesses, control the economics of our own communities, and share in all our communities’ work and wealth.

Kwanza: Kuumba (Creativity). To do as much as we can, in whatever way we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than it was when we inherited it.

Kwanzaa: nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community; to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kwanzaa: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together; to make our sisters’ and brothers’ problems our problems and to solve them together.

Kwanzaa: Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

First Day of Kwanzaa Kwanzaa: Umoja (Unity): To strive for a principled and harmonious togetherness in the family, community, nation, and world African community.