Christmas is finally over which means the surge of consumerism is leavening and it's time to celebrate Kwanzaa. For those who are not familiar, Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga as a way to connect descendants of the African Diaspora to the values of West African Heritage. The roots of Kwanzaa are based on the importance of community and its principles are derived from Black nationalism as a cultural revolution.
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The seven principles of Kwanzaa are <i>Umoja</i> (Unity), <i>Kujichagulia</i> (Self-Determination), <i>Ujima</i> (Collective Work and Responsibility), <i>Ujamaa</i> (Cooperative Economics), <i>Nia</i> (Purpose), <i>Kuumba</i> (Creativity), and <i>Imani</i> (Faith). As Kwanzaa means "first fruits" or "first fruits of the harvest" in Swahili, this is a time to prepare your own personal harvest for the new year.
This year, more than ever, the political climate has been quite tumultuous and tensions are high with the prospect of polarizing change on the horizon. Health care, government assistance, national security, reproductive services and immigration reform are being challenged and threatened with the inauguration of a new president. Now is the time to ensure that the seeds of harvest are in place to protect your finances, spiritual/emotional health, and overall self-awareness in order to move forward for 2017 and beyond.
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