No ratings.
Meditations of a christizen (christian-citizen)upon today's topics. |
I, Brother James, cultivated through my imagination 'The Word Courier's Journal'. It is but one of several literary efforts so conceived to include the "Word", the mind altering, eye opening, lifesaving Gospel of Jesus Christ into the everyday conversation on those things deemed relevant to readers. I and all other followers of the Lord are called to witness. Jesus said "Go therefore and teach all nations..." (see Matthew 28:19 KJV Holy Bible) Here lies my modest attempt to introduce the unknowing people to the Lord and immerse they who know Him in discussion with respect to His outlook on all that matters. |
Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration of beliefs held dear by those of us in African and Afro diaspora communities throughout the world. It is a yearend-year beginning ritual that rings out the old year beginning on December 26th and rings in the new year on January 1st. Each of the seven days highlights a different principle valued by traditional African and Afro-centric communities. (see list) Today, December 29th is day 4, Ujamaa. This day is dedicated to cooperative economics. Economy based upon cooperation more so than competition is the priority expressed here. Kwanzaa Week Day 1, Umojo (unity) Day 2, Kujichagulia (self-determination) Day 3, Ujima (Collective work and responsibility) Day 4, Ujamaa (cooperative economics) -Today Day 5, Nia (purpose) Day 6, Kuumba (creativity) Day 7, Imani (faith) We here in the United States have historically practiced this principle. Rent parties provide a perfect example of such. Our forefathers and those among us old enough to remember (which I’m not) devised a way to raise the rent money by throwing a party. They would put together a potluck, find some musicians, throw a party, get donations and pay the rent. Harlem of the 1920’s is generally credited as being the birthplace of such events. Rent parties provided a beginning and a boon to popular black music of that day. Noted jazz and blues musicians performed at these functions. The Harlem renaissance it seems benefited from this social gathering born out of desperation. This began in Harlem, but it was carried out across the industrialized North and Midwest during early 20th century years. Chicago, Cleveland and Pittsburgh played host to these occasions as well. Regardless of location, the more enterprising party host used this device to supplement their incomes on occasions besides their rent being due. The parties captured the spirit of other principles espoused by Kwanzaa. The ideal is certainly creative (kuumba) and requires a unified mindset.( umojo) The functions displayed the ultimate in pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps ( kujichagulia) mixed with a sprinkling of community spirit (ujima) which took faith (Imani) to attempt in the first place. Rent parties enabled black people of the day to survive and thrive. Rent partyers weren’t trying to connect to their African ancestry. They were just doing what they had to do in a world fraught with high rents and low wages. Yet, their efforts continued the tradition of ujamaa first conceived in the mother land. |