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 Baby won’t remember it) That way we’ll be ready to celebrate it the way we should when Baby is bigger.
So, for 2023 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 4 is Ujamaa. It means Cooperative Economics. The process is much of the same, light the previous candles, and then light the last red one and they should all be lit. The person who lights it then makes a statement about Cooperative Economics. For me, that means Black businesses! For the past two years I’ve been going to Kindred Stories, a Black owned bookstore in my hometown. They’re pretty far from me, but I make it a point to support their programs and buy from them as much as I can. And if you are so inclined, please go forth and order from them too!
The book I thought about first when thinking of keeping the Black Dollar in Black Businesses or just being smart about economics in general:
This one has a real sunken treasure! And the things they go through to try to get their hands on it. And I mean that ending?! There’s no way these kids had those ideas. I’m an adult and I don’t think I would be that mature. But that’s neither here nor there lmao I think whoever reads this will have to think what it is they would do in this situation. Would they believe it or not? And what would they do with the findings?
What about you? What books do you think of when you think of Ujamaa or Cooperative Economics? Do you think of this one as well? Let me know in the comments!