Today, December 29th, is the Fourth Day of Kwanzaa!

The Fourth Principle of Kwanzaa is:
(Ujamaa)
Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah-AH):
Cooperative Economics

- to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
(Red Candle)



"...If we fail to support our own people, we are leaving our fate in the hands of other people. This gives them power over us, which can and has been used to hurt us and hinder us. Black professionals are as dedicated and skilled as their white counterparts, if not more. They have to be in order to survive in the hostile environment we create for our own people by treating them as if their service is inferior. There are times when Black professionals must charge higher prices to provide services, but only because they do not receive the patronage of Black customers.

If we supported ourselves the way we supported the white men who laugh at us, we would have stronger communities. There would be more Black doctors, and they would be able to afford better equipment to provide better services. These services are no good to our community if they are only available outside our community. If we would shop at Black-owned businesses, white businesses would give us more respect because they would not take our money for granted." - Supporting Black Businesses


Traditional Greeting: "Habari Gani?"
Response on Dec 29th : "Ujamaa!"