“Every Story I Tell is true,...
...except for the parts that I make up!”
It is the last week of January, and I am already behind. Only two blog posts this year? Really? Spent about seven days this week ill. Nothing debilitating, you understand,
My son is nineteen. He does not drive. ….The first time my blackness was challenged was by black children in Beaumont, Tx. I went to school with lots of military
We made it to 2018. More shows, more writing, more teaching. I found myself in two conversations this week about the nature of storytelling. I thought I’d share some of
Darith lighting the Kinara – Photo by Kat Heller Habari Gani! Imani (i-mah’-nee) – Faith. Last night we had a Karamu – Our celebration. Here
Habari Gani? Kuumba! It means creativity! We must strive to leave the world a more beautiful place than we found it
Habari Gani! Nia (nee’-uh) – Purpose. We must live our lives with purpose. We must have goals and aspirations. This is the only way we
Habari Gani? Ujamaa (oo-jah’-mah) – Cooperative Economics. Ujamaa means that African Americans must strive to open and maintain businesses. This also means that African Americans should patronize
Habari Gani! Ujima (oo-gee’-mah) – Cooperative Work and Responsibility. We must work together to make our families and communities strong. We are responsible for ourselves and we
Habari Gani! Kujichagulia (coo’-gee-chah-goo-lee-ah) – Self-Determination. We must strive to define ourselves, understand ourselves, make choices for ourselves, and go through the world as we choose,
Yes, it is once again Kwanzaa time! Time to eat benne cakes, roll out the Mkeka, set up the Kinara, light the Mishuma Saba, pass around the Kikombe Cha Umoja, and reflect on the Nguzo Saba! Hooray! Before we