I don’t celebrate Christmas in a very commercial way.  Nonetheless, this past Christmas was one of my most special Christmases.  I gave no material gifts.  I could not afford to.  But instead, I received and shared the love of my heart with others close to me, quite randomly.

This past Christmas made me feel proud also!

It made me feel that my mother, in heaven, was smiling down on me.  One of my dearest friends, who I supported in the past, and who supported me, surprised me with money when I really needed it to catch up on bills. 

He reminded me of times that I was there for him when he needed me.  I was but without expectation.  That is why it felt so special.  This friend’s family is my family.  They are lovingly spiritual.  I am there for them if they ever need me.  They poured their spirit, all the way from Costa Rica, into my Christmas, complete with pictures that exuded God’s spirit.

Then a highly intelligent and honorable friend from India sent me a gift unexpectedly.  I haven’t seen him in about 20 years when we worked together on IT projects. 

He reminded me of back then, when I supported him, believed in him.  Now he is a success as a businessman, family man, in the spirit Knowledge, Happiness, and Krishna.    He told me that he considers me as his brother.  I feel the same way and am available to help him with his visions in whatever way I can. 

My neighbor and I collaborate on video projects.  We have conversations about videos, music, creativity, and life in general.  He is a mentor to ‘his homies’, who are younger than him.  I am like a mentor to him, because I am as many years older than he is, as he is older than his ‘homies’. 

He and I sprang gifts on each other this Christmas.  Not so much wrapped with bows.  Rather impromptu gifts of appreciation, backed with conversations filled with true authenticity and gratitude. 

The highlight of my Christmas was being spontaneously invited to dinner by someone in the media that I admire.  I help him as much as I can because I feel really good vibes from him.  …And it helps that he is really smart, with a humble peaceful spirit.

He invited to dinner with his family, mask-free.  I am sure, because of his spiritual upbringing, that he realized that he shared the loving spirit of his family with me, in addition to the wonderful meal that each member of the family prepared.  I felt love in his home, beyond what I have felt in support from him on media projects.

I offered my skills, talents, and time to him and his family sincerely.  And I mean it.  If there is a way that I can assist in the future, I’m on it!

Not one of these things was planned, and I feel like in them I’ve experienced a more loving and touching Christmas this go-round than I have when it had been meticulously orchestrated.  This is what Christmas, Diwali (Deepavali), Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa should be all about.     

I never purchased anything online this Christmas, nor in department stores. I haven’t for at least six years.  I spend several hours in prayer and meditation during the Christmas holidays remembering what the whole point of the holiday season is, outside of the commercial hype. 

I do not celebrate Christmas in the traditional way because I do not want to kid myself into believing that it is just an occasional expression of Love.  I feel that we should celebrate Christmas every day, just as we should celebrate the spirit of Kwanzaa, Black People!  …All people should.

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We should not be generous, give the right of way, smile at strangers, and give generously to the homeless just for a spell.  We should live this way every day, point blank period. 

I apply the same principle to going to church every Sunday.  I pray, meditate, and praise God every single day.  It also applies to celebrating the spirit of Black History Month and having a big to-do over Thanksgiving Day. 

Putting on grand celebrations, while not living the spirit of these occasions on a daily is not true-to-self.  That’s not whatzup.

We should be Thankful, Grateful, Spiritual, Loving, and in Unity every single day.  Kevy

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If you’ve read any of my past posts, I am hopeful by now that you realize that I pride myself on discussing topics that most people avoid.  Furthermore, I am proud that I speak openly about Race & Racism. With regard to Race, I am especially proud that I openly admit that Racism is not only the fault of Whites or other races.  I believe that Blacks play a significant role in perpetuating their own demise.

Blacks have been damaged by hundreds of years of racism to the point that we inflict it on ourselves as well.  We have a way to go in terms of supporting, having integrity, love, and honesty with each other.  …And, not Killing each other literally, and figuratively.

Fixing these character flaws in the Black race is not for Whites or any other race to do.  It is solely our responsibility to Unify and collectively galvanize our talents and strengths.

The celebration of Kwanzaa presents an opportunity to do so, right now.  We are on the second day of Kwanzaa, and the question is Black folks, are you embodying Kwanzaa today?

But like Christmas, Diwali (Deepavali), Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, it should be more than a celebration.  Only celebrating Kwanzaa, and not living it, poses the same problem for me as does ‘celebrating’ Christmas.  We get caught up in the fanfare, but we generally do not live the principles of Kwanzaa.

Black people, until we live as though it is Kwanzaa, and Christmas every single day, Inequality and Inequity will never be eliminated.  We will never make significant progress as a people until we have Umoja (Unity).  We may succeed individually (and sometimes selfishly) succeed, but that will only help us, while ignoring not only the important principles in our own indemnification but the most important spiritual principles, regardless of belief.

It’s very unfortunate too because we are exceptionally talented and resourceful.  The world can plainly see our value to civilization, as they can also see that we just can’t seem to get our shit together.  It is about time we see that and embrace Kwanzaa and its principles every day.  Kevy

The seven principles of Kwanzaa – Leah Asmelash, CNN – December 26, 2020

 

Umoja – 12/26/20 – Eternity

Umoja means unity in Swahili. – To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.”

Kujichagulia – 12/27/20 – Eternity

Or self-determination. This principle refers to defining, naming, creating, and speaking for oneself.

Ujima – 12/28/20 – Eternity

Translated as “collective work and responsibility,” ujima refers to uplifting your community.  “To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together,” Karenga writes.

Ujamaa – 12/29/20 – Eternity

Cooperative economics. Similar to ujima, this principle refers to uplifting your community economically. “To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together,” he writes.

Nia  – 12/30/20 – Eternity

Nia means purpose.  – Karenga expands on this principle with, “To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.”

Kuumba – 12/31/20 – Eternity

Meaning “creativity,” Karenga defines this principle as “To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.”

Imani – 01/01/21 – Eternity

The final principle translates to “faith.” – Karenga defines this as faith in community, writing, “To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.”  Read More

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Unpacking the Future of Kwanzaa in the Black Community – Dec 18, 2020 – The Root

The holiday season is here and let’s be real… Black folks, how many of y’all are celebrating Kwanzaa?

Given the 2020 uprisings, and the love for Black culture (’cause everybody wants to be Black until it’s actually time to be Black), should we be observing the holiday?

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This Kwanzaa (feat. Pierce Freelon) | Happy Kwanzaa Song for Kids and Families – Nov 30, 2020 – FYUTCH

Happy Kwanzaa! I and @Pierce Freelon made a song for kids and families to celebrate and learn about this African American Holiday and the 7 principles/days of Kwanzaa.

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Amabutho – 01 – Umoja (Unity) – Apr 25, 2013 – Amabutho Sikelela

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Black Americans Are At Fault Too – From An OG Brother – Nov 3, 2020 – Kevy Michaels

This video is in response to Jared Kushner’s comments on “The Lobster” caring about Black People, and that Black People don’t desire success.  He is dead wrong on the first point, and wrong in intent on the latter point.  I do, however, believe that Black People need to support each other better than we have over the years.   A Trump presidency may be just the slap upside the head that we need to unify and help ourselves.  We Black People as a collective contribute to our oppression and don’t generally know how to love one another.  This does not apply to all Blacks but certainly applies to many that I have encountered.  I am becoming more colorblind simply because my Black people have done me wrong, many times.  I deal in truth.  This once was a hidden truth.

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