Happy Kwanzaa from mRelief!
One of our most important values at mRelief is Empathy, and we view public support as part of a larger ecosystem of support that everyone relies upon in some shape or form to overcome challenges. Kwanzaa is modeled after the first harvest celebrations in Africa and was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate family, community, and culture. We value the holiday’s emphasis on community and want to take time this year to highlight this cultural celebration. Here are some resources about the symbols and meals that make the 7 days of Kwanzaa special.
1st Principle of Kwanzaa: Umoja (Unity)
The first day of Kwanzaa this year is December 26th. Chef Jessica Harris recommends that you celebrate the first principle of Kwanzaa, Umoja, by preparing dates, figs, and milk. Umoja means “Unity” but in the words of Kwanzaa’s founder Dr. Maulana Karenga in 2020, “Umoja urges a moral sensitivity and caring kinship with each other, other human beings, all living beings, and with the world itself.”
2nd Principle of Kwanzaa: Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
The second principle of Kwanzaa is Kujichagulia or Self-Determination. Renowned poet Maya Angelou is the narrator of the first feature film on Kwanzaa, The Black Candle by MK Asant. In celebration of Kujichagulia, we share Maya’s famous poem, “Still I Rise.”
“I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear”
—from "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou
3rd principle: Ujima (Collective work and responsibility)
The third principle of Kwanzaa is Ujima, or Collective Work and Responsibility. Chef Jessica Harris recommends that you celebrate Ujima by making Caribbean Sorrel.
4th principle: Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
The fourth principle of Kwanzaa is Ujamaa, or Cooperative Economics. Celebrate Ujamaa by supporting Black-owned and run businesses. miiriya is an app that lets you shop for products created by Black-owned businesses and EatOkra helps users to discover Black-owned restaurants, eateries, and events near them. EatOkra was recently recognized as one of Apple's top apps of 2021!
5th principle: Nia (Purpose)
The fifth principle of Kwanzaa is Nia or Purpose. Our team’s vision is to ensure that anyone can access the safety net without adding to the stressful circumstance of poverty. In the words of James Baldwin, “Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor.”
This vision to improve access to SNAP benefits fills our team with purpose and drives us to connect people to these life-saving benefits every day.
6th principle: Kuumba (Creativity)
The sixth principle of Kwanzaa is Kuumba or Creativity. Celebrate Kuumba by making a recipe from the Kwanzaa Culinarians, a blog featuring recipes and Food Stories from the African Diaspora. Our mRelief teammates in cold climates have their eye on this hearty vegetable and sausage soup with okra.
7th principle: Imani (Faith)
The seventh principle of Kwanzaa is Imani or Faith. As our country reckons with its racist origins, many people are opening their eyes to the injustices that persist as a result of the decades-long, institutionalized obstruction of resources and opportunities from Black and brown people in this country. As a recent report from the Center on American Progress shows, the solutions for this growing gap are complicated and there is a lot of work ahead of us. In celebration of Imani this year, we are reminding ourselves of the beautiful words of James Baldwin: “The moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out.”
Happy Kwanzaa! The mRelief team wishes light, happiness, and peace to you in the coming year.
