the seventh day of Kwanzaa is Imani, Faith!

Imani, Faith…is the seventh principle of Kwanzaa. For many African Americans, Faith is the cornerstone of  the African American experience. Our elders would remind us that Faith made it possible to “make a way out of no way”  and  “to keep on keeing on” during some of history’s most disturbing periods.  Going forward, we will need to cling tighter to Imani to adress the health and economic challenges that need our individual and collective  attention.  AIDS  requires our attention.

Last month, The Black AIDS  Institute’s 8th Annual Heroes in the Struggle Gala Reception and Awards revealed how serious  the AIDS epidemic  has grown. They indicate: 

• AIDS is the leading cause of death for Black Women aged 24-34.
• Nearly 50% of the estimated 1.2 million Americans living with HIV are Black.
• 70% of the new HIV/AIDS cases among adolescents in the US are Black.
• The AIDS epidemic in Washington D.C. is worse than the AIDS epidemic in Port-a-Prince Haiti”

The Balm in Gilead, works to improve the health status of people of  African descent  by  focusing  on  building the capacity of faith communities to address life-threatening diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Since The Black Church has historically been the center of  faith-based (spiritual and religious) expression for African Americans, we encourage more Black Churches to join The Black Church Institute on HIV/AIDS —to save lives-spiritually and literally.

the sixth day of Kwanzaa is Kuumba, creativity!

Today is Kuumba, creativity! Africa’s children celebrate creativity in many ways…through fashion, music, art, movies, technology, soulfood, etc. How will you embrace Kuumba today? Next Year? 

Check out  Soulfe’ge- a culturally dipped group of Kuumba musicians  who have been called “Afropolitan“ and  described as “Afro-Diasporic Groovalicious Funkadociousness!!!  Bob Marley meets The Fugees on a street corner in West Africa.” Listen to “To Be Free“  and then look at the Sweet Remix Video below…and see what we mean.

 

 

 

The Kuumba movie of the day is The Black Candle, the first film about Kwanzaa!

the fourth day of Kwanzaa is Ujamma, cooperative economics!

Today is Ujamma which means cooperative economics! This principle encourages Kwanzaa celebrants to build and maintain businesses and to find ways to profit together from these business ventures.  iKwanzaa.com believes in using this virtual space to advance this principle (along with the other six principles) to encourage the continous development of  sustainable black businesses. We work with black businesses to help them leverage internet marketing tools (business blogs, online advertising, cultural search engine optimization (SEO), search marketing (SEM),  social media and  micro-blogging) - to get found online and manage their online presence.

::email us::

inboundmarketing@iKwanzaa.com

the third day of Kwanzaa is Ujima, Collective Work and Responsibility!

Today is Ujima, collective work and responsibility! How will you embrace this principle in your life? How will you apply ujima in your family and commmunity? Join us at the iKwanzaa Community to share your insight.