One holiday tradition my mom always wanted to do with us but never did is celebrate Kwanzaa. She did educate me on what it is and what everything means, but we never got around to ever doing it. But now that I’m starting my own family, I wanted to do celebrate this year (even if Pre-K Kid won’t remember it lol) That way we’ll be ready to celebrate it the way we should when the Pre-K Kid is bigger.
So, for 2025 I decided to celebrate Kwanzaa through literature again. I’ll be listing the principles for each day along with a book that matches the principles. If you can think of other titles that match the principles, tell me, I’d love to discuss.
Day 2 is Kujichagulia. It means Self-Determination. The next candle that’s lit is the left most red one. The process is much of the same, the person who lights it recites a statement which is related to Self-Determination.
My statement for self-determination is pretty simple. I said I wanted to be on an ALA jury, and I did exactly that. I got onto the Morris award and I still don’t actually know how I did it lol I was shocked and surprised like you all. And then later on during the year I got to moderate a panel during ALA and visit Philadelphia, home to my Philadelphia Eagles. Doing all of this made me realize that I don’t celebrate myself enough, or do more things that I enjoy. I work and work for other people and then work for my family, go to bed and do it all over again the next day. So this year I’m going to do more that makes me happy. Read with my eyeballs more, Sleep during my lunch breaks, or even just go to TLA as a reader and not a librarian and bring back whatever I can for the staff. So this year I’m going to spend my time doing more things for me. More things that I want to do. Even if people don’t understand it or if they don’t think it’s a good idea or cool or whatever. Make yourself happy.
The book I thought about first that reminded me
of the knowing ones self was:
I chose this because of Juniper and her gap year trip. She knew that no one in her family would understand and she knew that they weren’t going to “let her go,” but she didn’t let them say no. She didn’t give up, even when they said they weren’t going to help. And I admired that so much about her. She knew she needed that trip and she knew what she needed/wanted for her life. Sure her moms were mad, but she knew what she wanted and how she wanted to live. She didn’t always go about it the right way, but she was still impressive for doing what she wanted. I couldn’t believe how much this teen made me think of my own life as a 37 year old. Definitely who I’ll be thinking of this year as I move on to thinking of me first and more.
What about you? What books do you think of when you think of Kujichagulia or Self-Determination? Do you think of this one as well? Let me know in the comments!