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PageTurners: Historic Black Women and the Literary Legacies They've Paved
It has already been a historic year for Black women, and this week we can reflect on the legacies of history-making women who paved the way for our successes today. The long-awaited biography Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells; Cicely Tyson’s, Just as I Am: A Memoir; and…
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PageTurners: In With the Old and In With the New
Today has been really emotional. My own moods swung from pure delight to pure anxiety as I woke up this morning and realized that #45 had left the White House as President for the last time—then pessimistically waited for something bad to happen during the Inauguration—but then tearing up the moment Vice-President Kamala Harris was…
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PageTurners: We’re in for a Helluva Literary Year
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to find joy in reading again. I had this same goal last year–and let’s face it, every year for a while now–and even felt the hope of achieving that goal when we all went into lockdown, assuming I would have plenty of time to read and get back…
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Having Faith: Giving Back in the Spirit of Imani, the Seventh Day of Kwanzaa
Having faith in those around us is the backbone of building community. In a year that has kicked Black people down over and over again, it is crucial that on Imani, the seventh day of Kwanzaa, we continue to build faith in the places that build up the community around us. The following places focus…
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Creativity and Craftsmanship: Celebrating Kuumba, the Sixth Night of Kwanzaa
Black-owned businesses breathe creativity. The sixth day of Kwanzaa, Kuumba, represents creativity and is a time for celebrating the radical Blackness that comes from multiple countries and cultures across different platforms. The following Black-owned businesses show their creative instincts in their hand-made and hand-picked products that represent the beauty of Blackness and cultural backgrounds. …
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Finding Purpose Through Literature on Nia, the Fifth Day of Kwanzaa
The best way to educate ourselves is by listening to those around us with shared and different experiences. Each person serves a different purpose in this world, and it is important to pay attention to what they say. The fifth night of Kwanzaa represents Nia, or purpose. In a time when we can’t attend talks…
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Representing Black Businesses on Ujamaa, the Fourth Night of Kwanzaa
The fourth day of Kwanzaa represents Cooperative Economics and how we can come together to support Black businesses under one roof. Black marketplaces have been growing and become a collective space for people to display their work with other businesses and creators. Ujamaa embodies community and collective work while supporting Black businesses. africaboutik africaboutik.us is…
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Collective Work and Responsibility–7 Gifts for Wellness on the Third Night of Kwanzaa
For Ujima, the celebration of the third night of Kwanzaa, we look towards how we can incorporate collective work and responsibility into our lives. It is imperative that we continue to take care of ourselves and others as this year comes to a close and find a way to do it as an individual and…
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The Second Night Of Kwanzaa Brings Us Kujichagulia. Here Are 7 Gifts For Self-Determination
We all know that it takes a whole lot more than a New Year’s resolution to get yourself back in shape after overindulging on seasonal treats and the insanity that was 2020. Good thing the second night of Kwanzaa, Kujichagulia, represents self-determination. In order to nurture this determination, gifting yourself or others one of these…
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Ready for the First Night of Kwanzaa? Here Are 7 Gifts Perfect For Umoja
The first night of Kwanzaa marks the beginning of a celebration of Blackness and the power of coming together. After having spent the majority of 2020 stuck inside with my family, I can safely say that we are all closer than ever. Umoja (unity) is about creating and fostering strength between parents and children, within…
