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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…
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This Holiday Season, Try These 13 Festive Feasts and Drinks from Black Chefs
As we settle in to spend another holiday at home, it’s hard to imagine what in the world we’re supposed to cook. Are we expected to go big and bold because it’s Christmas, which should be cause for celebration? Or are we finding a place that delivers in hope that it lives up to any…
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12 Christmas Songs Where the 'Soul' Cover Is the Superior Version
When it comes to holiday classics and their covers, any song sung by Whitney Houston, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, or John Legend is going to be an improvement on the original. With these tried and true standards, black artists take holiday song traditions—remixing and redoing them—and create new classics out of something old and staid.…
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Black Christmas Songs That Just Slap
Growing up, I knew the minute the Christmas tree was dragged into the house that Christmas songs would soon follow. And Christmas originals sung by Black artists are more than just fun yuletide ditties. They are immersive musical experiences that make it close to impossible to not get up and dance. These following 10 songs…
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What the Root Crew Is Cooking (and Not Cooking) for the Craziest Thanksgiving Ever
Last year I spent Thanksgiving with—wait for it—17 people crammed into a two-bedroom, one-bathroom Jersey City apartment where the festivities spanned over the course of two days with enough food for each person to take home a to-go plate and still leave the host enough to last through the next week. This year, my Thanksgiving…
