Ujima - To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
Not a bad principle if one applies that to all people. In fact, as Christians, we are also urged to help those who need help and to help people solve their problems.
What was the creator’s intent of this principle and how do people celebrate it today? Let’s take a peak and see!
In Karenga’s 1997 book on Kwanzaa, A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, he says the following:
"…the principle of Ujima supports the fundamental assumption that African is not just an identity, but also a destiny and duty, i.e., a responsibility."
So the primary thrust of this "collective work and responsibility" is to help the African brother’s or sister’s. In other words, if one is black, if their skin color is black, then those are whom the black is to help.
Now let’s see how the general public celebrates this day of Ujima:
From an article in the Chicago Sun-Times:
"Ujima (Collective work and responsibility): The expectation is that everyone contributes and everyone has an opportunity for a job. We saw this play out in Illinois' minimum wage referendum and Chicago's "big box" debate. The nation is diminished because we have failed to deal responsibly with universal health care and school funding.
From an article in a Bowling Green newspaper:
"Today is the third day of Kwanzaa, Ujima, which means collective work and responsibility, a day Starks said reinforces the "it takes a village" mentality people should take when viewing their role in their community."
While not religious, Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that has become religious, Hardin said. "It is hard to separate religion from where we are as a people," Hardin said. "We are a religious people."
I found that article particularly interesting because while not claiming to be a religious celebration, this celebrant does consider it religious. Please click on the above links to read the entire articles.
From an article on the Stamford Times:
STAMFORD — "Ujima" is the Swahili word used to describe the celebration of collective works and responsibility on the third day of Kwanzaa when the obligations to the past, present and future are recalled along with the roles individuals play in their communities and the larger world, according to one Kwanzaa history.
African cultural identity and "connectedness" along with the Nguzo Saba principals are key Kwanzaa themes along with an emphasis on the unity of black families, according to the center.
Although Karenga says in his Kwanzaa writings that the principles are for world-wide use, the message that many blacks are getting is that it is created just for the black family.
