On the second day of kwanzaa  - Kujichagulia which means “Self-Determination” I couldn’t be more in tune with the theme of the day

Self determination in not putting yourself in positions where you have to rely on “others” for whatever your plans are to work. Kind of like the worker mentality that many in the black community are stuck in whereby they are completely reliant on working for someone else instead of creating jobs and being entrepreneurial.

We are in the minority in terms of actual numbers but we outspend all other groups – if we utilized that spending power in our own communities and in creating business and supporting business in our own communities – would we be suffering with a %16 percent unemployment rate? Would we still be looking to “someone” else for jobs ?

Or would we be able to  hire our own and pour much needed resources into the schools in our neighborhoods and NOT have to wait for government to throw spare change our way.

Would we be able to maintain and run our own educational institutions and ensure that the curriculum is accurately reflective of our history and heritage?

Would our standards of living increase and our communities be more solvent because of the influx of cash being spent in our communities instead of OUTSIDE ?

Would the images released into the public sphere be more in line with who we really are as opposed to moneymaking concepts of who we are?

Self- determination as individuals and in our communities those who disparage Kwanzaa – can you offer any other alternative opportunity for large members of the black community to discuss a concept so vital to the survival of and future prosperity of said community?

As far as made up holidays go – (hint they are all made up)  which of the other commercialized holidaze encourage the black community to take at least one day to contemplate the concept of self-determination –  let me know which ones those are – I will wait