Author: Quatia Snipes

Principle # 7 - Imani Pronounced (ee-MAH-nee) Kwanzaa Principle: Faith English Translation: Faith/Believe Imani stands for Faith. We strive to believe with all our hearts in the worth and value of African Americans. We believe in the struggle and victory of our people. Faith is confirmed by the heart, confessed by the tongue, and acted upon by the body. – Sufi Proverb

Principle # 6 - Kuumba Pronounced (koo-OOM-bah) Kwanzaa Principle: Creativity English Translation: To Create Kuumba means Creativity. We should innovate as much as we can in our own unique way from our own unique perspectives and share this creativeness with those in our communities. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou, African American Poet, Memoirist, and Civil Rights Activist

Principle # 5 - Nia Pronounced (NEE-ah) Kwanzaa Principle: Purpose English Translation: Interest/Interested Nia stands for purpose. Our purpose should be to make our people and communities as great as they can be. We can obtain this by taking pride in caring for our communities and developing skills and knowledge to educate and uplift our people. “If you have a purpose in which you can believe, there's no end to the amount of things you can accomplish.” – Marian Anderson, African American Singer

Principle # 4 - Ujamaa Pronounced (oo-jah-MAH) Kwanzaa Principle: Cooperative Economics English Translation: Socialism Ujamaa means Cooperative Economics. This means that we should build and maintain out own stores, shops, and businesses. We should profit from these business together as a community and should support each other in our endeavors. “Black generational wealth is a community effort and the benefits extend beyond the dollar”.  - Quatia Snipes, African American Social Entrepreneur

Principle # 3 - Ujima Pronounced (oo-JEE-mah) Kwanzaa Principle:  Collective Work and Responsibility English Translation: To Work or Exercise Ujima means Collective Work and Responsibility. This means we should build and take care of our communities. We should all work together to provide solutions to our problems as a community. “Let us continue to work together to develop and nurture in future generations a culture of human rights, to promote freedom, security and peace in all nations.” – Kofi Annan, former Ghanaian Diplomat

Principle # 2 - Kujichagulia Pronounced (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah) Kwanzaa Principle: Self-Determination English Translation: To Choose/Optional This principle stands for "Self Determination". This is the right to decide who we are, what our names will be, what we will become, and what we will create for ourselves. We will not let others do things for us. “The new definition of freedom today, is self-determination.” – John Hope Bryant, African American Entrepreneur

Principle # 1 - Umoja Pronounced (oo-MOO-jah) Kwanzaa Principle: Unity English Translation: Unity Umoja stands for Unity and means helping each other stay together in solidarity as one family, community, nation, and race. Unity is strength; division is weakness – Swahili Proverb