#ujamaaday

[starcrystal-healing]

[crystalinthecity]

For the fourth day of #Kwanzaa we have Ujamaa or #CooperativeEconomics, meaning to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together. When we spend money with our people, it comes back to us. Every weekend, #LemiertPark has a festival to celebrate African culture and showcase their unique art, food, or merchandise. Harun is a black-owned coffee shop where you can literally study African American culture by picking up a book, purchase clothing by black designers, or gaze into local African American artists’ work. Koh’s Grill has been cooking around LA and really knows how to bring the flavor while paying homage through their menu item names. These establishments are what it takes to maintain black representation around the world but it’s up to ya to support so that they can continue to grow 🌱. & s/o to my brother @damisfoods for getting his product into a grocery store in Brentwood this year (last slide) 🔥. Go check him out! #UjamaaDay #HappyKwanzaa (at Leimert Park Village African Art & Music Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/Br_XgEuA4JP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1c5pdhutl4w2r

[spiritroots]

The Ujamaa Altar

I created this altar to celebrate Ujamaa Day and symbolize the different aspects of what it means for our ancestors and for our future...

Black obsidian shards and a red candle to symbolize the hard work and determination of the global black community

Bowl of fruit for the fruits of our labor and collective success

Kente cloth which represents the richness and value of black culture (inspired by Akan culture)

Ujamaa means “cooperative economics” in Swahili and it is the Nguzo Saba or principle that calls the black community to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

It’s a day about supporting black-owned businesses, shops, organizations, and helping black people around the world to grow financially as much as possible by growing together collectively as a global community!

The fruits are the fruits of our labor, together as one people.

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