Today we will focus on Ujamaa (OO-JAH-MAH), the fourth of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, which promotes Cooperative Economics. Often, this principle has been interpreted narrowly as supporting black businesses to keep more money circulating in the black community; however, it is much more than that. We are called to use our collective energy to economically benefit our communities rather than supporting economies that exploit black people. Cooperative economics emphasizes our collective economic strength and encourages us to meet common needs through mutual support.

Topics: Generosity, Holiday, Intergenerational, Ritual, Social Justice