Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday honoring African culture and traditions. It’s celebrated annually between December 26 and January 1.
Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday celebrated from December 26th to January 1st, with each day highlighting a powerful principle—starting with Unity, then Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.
These principles remind us of life’s real gifts—not the ones bought in stores, but the gifts of family, love, and the values that have sustained the Black community through generations.
Join us on Jammin’ 98.3 as we honor the principles of Kwanzaa with daily reflections to help us embrace these values and become our best selves in the New Year!
Kwanzaa recognizes and celebrates these 7 principles:
UMOJA Umoja (ooh-MOE-jah)
Umoja, which means unity—to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Now more than ever, unity is essential. Nations are at war, political parties are divided, and gang violence continues to plague our streets. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Today, let’s be intentional about finding ways to bring unity to our families, neighborhoods, and the city of Milwaukee. Let’s prove the naysayers wrong—the ones who say, “We will never stick together.” Because, as Big Mama always says, “Baby, we are better together.”
KUJICHAGULIA (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-ah)
Kujichagulia, or self-Determination—to define, name, and speak for ourselves, and to never give up when the journey gets tough.
Duke Ellington once said, “Life has two rules: Rule number one, don’t quit. Rule number two, don’t forget rule number one.” Our ancestors lived by these rules. Even aboard slave ships, they didn’t quit. In the cotton fields, they didn’t quit. And today, we don’t have permission to quit either.
So build that business, fight for that cause, and follow that dream! Let’s make our descendants proud of us, even if we never meet them.
UJIMA (ooh-GEE-mah)
Ujima, or Collective Work and Responsibility. This principle reminds us to build and maintain our community by making our neighbors’ problems our own and solving them together.
Milwaukee is a city full of genius and talent! But as Baba Tony Courtney says, “We are superstars on a losing team.” No one person has ever won a championship alone, and no single organization or political leader can solve the challenges we face by themselves.
Today, let’s commit to working together, breaking out of silos, and creating a unified effort to make our city a better place for everyone.
UJAMAA (OOH-jah mah)
Ujamaa, or Cooperative Economics. This principle encourages us to build our own businesses and share in the profits together.
If money is the lifeblood of every community, then here in Milwaukee, we have serious circulation issues. Studies show the Black dollar stays in our community for only six hours, compared to 28 days in other communities. This means we are economically bleeding out.
Today, let’s invest in Black businesses, nonprofits, or even the child selling water on the corner. After all, who will support us if not us?
NIA (NEE-ah)
Nia, or Purpose—to collectively restore our people to their traditional greatness.
They say the two most important days in our lives are the day we are born and the day we discover why we were born. Each of us was created to leave a mark on the world in our own unique way.
Black history is not just about honoring the accomplishments of the past—it’s about what we are achieving today! Let’s teach our children that their true purpose lies in living a life of service, not in reckless actions that diminish their worth. Tell them: life isn’t a video game. They only get one chance. Let’s help them make the most of it while they still can.
KUUMBA (koo-OOM-bah)
Kuumba, or Creativity—to always strive to leave our community better than we found it.
God is the Creator, and we are closest to Him when we create. As children, when they took basketball courts away, we cut holes in milk crates, nailed them to light posts, and kept playing. When they took musical instruments out of schools, we used our mouths to beatbox and gave the world hip-hop.
But creativity isn’t just for the young. Let’s not grow old and leave our imagination behind. We need creative solutions to fight poverty, reduce crime, and rebuild our communities. Remember, imagination is the greatest nation, and its best citizens are those who create.
IMANI (ee-MAH-nee)
Imani, or Faith—to believe with all our hearts in our people and the righteous victory of our struggle.
Scripture teaches us that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. Today, we need that kind of faith to move the mountains of hopelessness and despair in our city. But this can only be accomplished if we first have faith in ourselves.
What if Dr. King didn’t have faith in his dream? What if Sojourner Truth didn’t fight for women’s rights? And what if YOU lose faith and give up the fight? The world would suffer because of it.
Today, have faith in yourself, your family, and God. Together, let’s make this world a better place in the new year!