KWANZAA?

# Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity

Success starts with Unity. Unity of family, community, nation and race.

As many of you may have noticed, I have recently become outraged by what I have seen in Milwaukee as the direct denial of black women in their beauty, pride, and necessity. I have counted over 10 of the very few black males that I have attended high school with are now "in a relationship" (via facebook) with caucasian women. Now, I don't want to be the one who is not about the mixing of races, by why is it and how is it that none of these black men could find a black women or even a colored woman to please their palletes....During church, I noticed that there were only two couples in the service that were black n black and both of those couples had been together over 20 maybe even 30 years....As a black woman this is disheartening for me.... if all the black guys are interested in white girls and all the black women are intereseted in black men...who is at fault??? why should i be expected to alter who I am interested in ??? But then again.... why should they be expected to alter who they are interested in??? The underlying topic is really motivation... I love black men because I believe in the UNITY of the black community and that ultimately relies on strong familial bonds which originate with a strong black women and a strong black man. Constantly stated are the struggles of the black community... if success starts with unity... should this not be a concern???

# Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-Determination

To be responsible for ourselves. To create your own destiny.

When I was in high school I was selected to be a member of the Gamaliel Chair in Peace and Justice we often met a place that was named Kujichagulia. Its name has stuck in m y mind mainly because of nguzo saba...

ultimately.... discipline plays a large role in being responsible for yourself and creating your own destiny