Kwanzaa Events 2010

Kwanzaa is a festival which is observed from December 26 through January 1. This is an opportunity for people of African heritage to focus on traditional African values including family, community responsibility, creativity and faith. The word Kwanzaa means "first fruits" in Swahili.

Preserving our cultural heritage is particularly important for those of us from the African Diaspora, as our heritage was stolen from us.Celebrating Kwanzaa is a way of reclaiming our identity, our ancestral heritage and our sense of self.

To read more, see: Kwanzaa - Celebrating Traditional African Values.

Click here for my list of 2010 Kwanzaa events. I have listed events across the UK, as well as in Ottowa, Canada and the U.S.A.

I have updated this list several times. Some of the many U.S. events I have listed include those in:

- California
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Michigan
- New York
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas

and more.

See also: Kwanzaa Videos

The Spiritual Dimension of Kwanzaa

Happy Kwanzaa!

Kwanzaa Videos

This article on Kwanzaa - Celebrating Traditional African Values has some lovely videos with children explaining the meaning of Kwanzaa.

See also: The Spiritual Dimension of Kwanza.

Click here for a listing of Kwanzaa events 2010. I have listed Kwanzaas all over the UK as well as U.S. Kwanzaas.

Happy Kwanzaa!

The Spiritual Dimension of Kwanzaa

One of the many attractive aspects of Kwanzaa, the African American holiday celebrated December 26th through January 1st, is its spiritual feature. Although Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, it nevertheless has a spiritual dimension.

Spirituality is defined here broadly speaking as the highest values which humans aspire to attain, is expressed in the values, concepts and themes of Kwanzaa.

To read the rest of this article by Jitahadi Imara, click here to download the free Black Holiday Gifts Guide. It contains loads of free resources for parents and children, as well as loads of gift ideas.

See also: Nikki Giovanni - 100 Best African American Poems.

Click here to read more about Kwanzaa - celebrating traditional African values.

Click here for a list of Kwanzaa events.

Happy Kwanzaa!

How You Can Start Your Business with No Money Today

Click here for an interesting article on How You Can Start Your Business with No Money Today.

Click here for a video of a conversation between Dr. Boyce Watkins and Danielle Douglas about how to start a business with no money, plus lots more resources.

See also: The Number One Fundraising Tool for Your Business.

How to Manifest What You Want

What do you want for your life in 2011?

What changes do you want to see?

Click here to read about what I have manifested in my life - and how I did it. You can too!

I am not asking you to believe anything, I am just asking you to be open to the possibility of positive change, and be willing to try new things.

If you are a jobseeker or looking to change jobs or careers, this is a brilliant method for you.

This is NOT a business proposition, this is solely for your personal use.

Many people are experiencing uncertainty in this time of change.

I have helped hundreds of people. I can help you, too. Together, we will win!

You can have more fun, love, money and success in 2011.

Click here to download your free 3-Step Success Formula.

See also: We Can Turn This Around
Here's to you getting what you want in the new year.

10 Important Things to Do for Your Business before 2011

Check out this great blog post by SmallBizLady: 10 Important Things to Do for Your Business before 2011

Click here for lots more resources for your business.

Here's to your success!

Nikki Giovanni - 100 Best African American Poems

The 100 Best African American Poems Edited by Nikki Giovanni.

Who better than Nikki Giovanni to collect these treasures?

To read my review, click here to download the Black Holiday Gifts Guide 2010.

If you are looking for a brilliant gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa, this is a great place to start.

We have loads of great gift ideas for all the family:

* Books for young children, older children, biographies
* Books about Black history and Black achievers
* Books about Kwanzaa
* Music - CDs, DVDs and mp3 downloads
* Toys, games and activities

As well as articles, ideas for free online family fun, and lots more.

Click here to download the Black Holiday Gifts Guide 2010.

See also: Loads of Free Stuff for Black Parents and Children

From Pain to Passion in 7 Weeks

A Christian Book for Teenage Girls

From Pain to Passion in 7 Weeks

Cynthia James, author of What Will Set You Free, promises to move you from pain to passion in seven weeks.

What Will Set You Free contains a series of challenging practical exercises to help you bring about positive change in your life.

To read the review of this book, click here to download the free Black Holiday Gifts Guide.

We have loads of great gift ideas for all the family:

* Books for young children, older children, biographies
* Books about Black history and Black achievers
* Books about Kwanzaa
* Music - CDs, DVDs and mp3 downloads
* Toys, games and activities

As well as articles, ideas for free online family fun, and lots more.

Check it out: click here to download the free Black Holiday Gifts Guide 2010 now.

Ancient Egypt Jigsaw Puzzle

I have just seen this great free online resource: Ancient Egypt Jigsaw Puzzles. There are several jigsaw puzzles on that page. There's also a puzzle of Great Zimbabwe.

See also: Free Stuff for Black Parents and Children

The Influence of Ancient Egypt

Loads of Free Stuff for Black Parents and Children

The Black Holiday Gifts Guide has loads of free resources for Black parents, children and families.

Online Fun for You and Your Children

We have lots of free online fun for your children, including free resources they can download and print out.

Print out and color a Kinara.

There's an online Black history quiz.

And lots more free resources.

click here to download the free Black Holiday Gifts Guide 2010 now.

African American Gifts

Plus, we have lots of children's gifts you can buy. We have gifts for all the family - toys, coloring books, Black history board games and more.

Our coloring books include:

African American Leaders Activity and Coloring Book
Famous Black Women
African Designs Coloring Book

and more.

Check it out: click here to download the free Black Holiday Gifts Guide 2010 now.

See also: A Christian Book for Teenage Girls.

Modern Day Slavery - What U Need to Know

New Year's Eve is Watch Night, the night when many people across the U.S.A. celebrate emancipation from slavery. But has slavery really ended?

What U Need to Know - Click here to listen tonight, 7 p.m. UK time, 2 p.m. EST. Please phone in if you want to, or join us in the chatroom.

If you can't listen tonight, click here to listen to the recording.

For loads of Black history books and DVDs, click here for the Black Gifts Guide 2010.

Holiday Open House at the Schomburg

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a research unit of The New York Public Library, is recognized as one of the leading institutions of its kind in the world.

For details of the Holiday Open House on Saturday December 11th, see Black History International.

They will also be screening The Black Candle, a film about Kwanzaa narrated by Maya Angelou, on 21st December. Click here for details. This is a free event.

To watch a trailer for The Black Candle, and to see more Kwanzaa videos, go to African American Holiday Shopping.

Ancient Egyptian philosophies influenced many religious and spiritual traditions. To read more, see The Influence of Ancient Egypt.

A Christian Book for Teenage Girls

The Real Deal explores some of the issues teenage girls face today, including, for example:

- body image
- dating
- peer pressure

and more.

To read the review of this book, click here to download the free Black Holiday Gifts Guide.

We have loads of great gift ideas for all the family:

* Books for young children, older children, biographies
* Books about Black history and Black achievers
* Books about Kwanzaa
* Music - CDs, DVDs and mp3 downloads
* Toys, games and activities

As well as articles, ideas for free online family fun, and lots more.

Check it out: click here to download the free Black Holiday Gifts Guide 2010 now.

Ancient Egyptian philosophies influenced many religious and spiritual traditions. To read more, see The Influence of Ancient Egypt.

Are You Guilty of Downplaying Your Achievements?

Are you guilty of downplaying your achievements?

Are you denying your magnificence and what you are capable of?

Check out my articles:

Allowing Success

You Are Magnificent

Have a great day!

Oscar Micheaux - First Major African American Filmmaker

Oscar Micheaux was the writer, director and producer of more than 40 African American films. He made his first feature film in 1919/20.

Before Spike Lee, there was Oscar Micheaux.

To read more, see Oscar Micheaux.

The Influence of Ancient Egypt

In Upside Down World, Eugene Crowley gives us a fascinating exploration of different spiritual traditions, their origins and their impact on history.

Using the ancient Egyptian/Khemetian cult of Maat as his starting point, Crowley charts the impact Egyptian, Nubian and Ethiopian philosophies had on the ancient Hebrew and Greek peoples.

To read the rest of this review, click here to download your free Black Holiday Gifts Guide now.

If you are looking for a brilliant gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa, this is a great place to start.

Dealing with Difficult People

Many years ago, I was teaching a Study Skills module on a Black Studies course for adults.

One student on the course complained about everything on the course. I mean literally every single thing. The way the essay questions were worded, everything. She constantly, ceaselessly criticised and found fault.

This was obviously frustrating for those of us who were trying to deliver the course. Another tutor had told her she should not come back, and I completely agreed with him. But she just saw this as something else to complain about.

With the wisdom that comes from experience and perspective, I now realise that this was an example of what I talk about in my book Success Strategies: Love always brings up its opposite for healing.

When we encounter something positive, or when we start to move towards our goals, we become more aware of what is getting in our way - our fears, anxieties and negative tendencies.

Our tendency is to blame others, but really, we need to look within and deal with our own negativity.

This is nothing to worry about. In fact, it is positive - the more aware we are of our negativity, the more we can deal with it, move forward and continue to make progress.

We all encounter difficult people from time to time. You may find that people around you become more difficult during the holiday season.

The important thing is to notice when we are the difficult ones.

See also: Don't Freak Out.

Click here for Zhana's Amazon Author Page.

African American Holiday Shopping

The Black Gifts Guide 2010 is now online. Looking for a brilliant gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa? Click here to download your free copy now.

We have lots of free online fun for your children. There are also free resources they can download, print out and keep.

Print out and color a Kinara.

There's an online Black history quiz.

And lots more free resources for children and parents.

Plus, we have lots of children's gifts you can buy.

And articles about Kwanzaa. This guide will continue to be a resource for you and your family.

New for 2010: we now have book reviews, too!

Click here to order your free copy now.

See also: African American Holiday Gift Shopping.

Hunger in America

I have recently seen this lens, Hungry in America.

One in six Americans are at risk for hunger. There has been a dramatic rise - 50% - in the number of children at risk for hunger in America. Click here to read more.

I suspect that the percentage is higher for African Americans.

Obviously, in other countries, the figure is much higher.

In Haiti, in 2008 - before the earthquake - mud pies had become the staple diet for many people. Click here to read more.

When I say we can turn this around, the message is actually much more urgent than this. We need globsl prosperity, and it is achievable. We MUST turn this around.

To read more, see We Can Turn This Around.

See also: How Affirmations Work.

We need to turn this around - for everyone.

Students to March Again Today

Students will be marching again today in London and other cities around Britain, in protest against the proposed rise in tuition fees. School children may be joining the protests.

It seems at last the youth of the majority population are becoming politicised.

The coalition government plans to remove the current cap on tuition fees of £3,000 per year.

This is something that affects everyone. It affects the entire future of this country. It could put the cost of education out of reach of most people.

Many commentators have predicted there will be a lot more protests and a lot more violence, similar to what has been seen in France, as the coalition government's plans kick in over the next few months.

I don't disagree, as people are angry, anxious and worried about the future. But it doesn't have to be this way. See also: We Can Turn This Around

The Maya Angelou Collection

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture's Director, Howard Dodson, and New York Public Library President Paul LeClerc announced on October 29, 2010 the acquisition of the personal and professional papers of Dr. Maya Angelou, who is regarded globally as one of the greatest voices of contemporary literature.

We congratulate them on acquiring this important collection.

For more events at the Schomburg, and to watch a video of Maya Angelou, see Black History International.

To watch a trailer of The Black Candle, a video about Kwanzaa narrated by Maya Angelou, see African American Holiday Shopping.

Don't Freak Out

Affirmations are positive statements which we can use to help us achieve our goals.

The problem with affirmations is that we don't get instant results. We can't just start doing affirmations and immediately see the kinds of results we want to see. So we get discouraged.

As soon as we start moving in a positive direction, we immediately become more aware of our negative thoughts, tendencies, habits and beliefs. They come up for us BIG TIME. But don't freak out. This is just part of the process.

You can use affirmations to improve your money situation, work and career, health, or in fact, any area of your life.

You are in charge. Your future is in your hands.

To read more, see How Affirmations Work.

Still not getting the results you need? Sometimes you have to go deeper. To read more, see Change Your Life with Core Conditioning.

Click here for a brilliant gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa.

Click here for Zhana's Amazon Author Page.

Here's to your success!

Your Future Is in Your Hands

Affirmations are positive statements which we can use to help us achieve our goals.

You are in charge. Your future is in your hands.

To read more, see How Affirmations Work.

Still not getting the results you need? Sometimes you have to go deeper. To read more, see Change Your Life with Core Conditioning.

Click here for a brilliant gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa.

Click here for my Amazon Author Page.

Here's to your success!

We Are Spending 1 Trillion Dollars

That's right, African Americans are on course to spend $1 Trillion next year (2011).

Where are we spending it? Not in our own communities. We are lining everybody else's pockets.

For more thoughts about this, listen to the recording of this month's What U Need to Know.

I recently met this lovely sister, Naomi, from Nubian Heights, which is a website that promotes Black-owned businesses for free. She was one of our guests on the show. Click here for her site.

Blacktastic News is another great site helping to promote Black businesses. The owner was also on the show. Click here for her site.

We regularly publish free advice for Black-owned businesses in More Black Success, so grab your copy now!

For more articles to support your success and help you achieve your unlimited possibilities, see: Black Success.

See also: Making a Quantum Leap Part 2.

Do Black Consumers Buy Black? Tomorrow (Saturday)

Ujamaa, or Co-Operative Economics, is one of the principles of Kwanzaa.

This month, as Kwanzaa and the holiday season approach, What U Need to Know asks, Do Black Consumers Buy Black?

Click here to listen or to join us in the chatroom. The show starts at 2 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. UK time:

I hope you will join us.

Plus click here to downlod the free Black Holiday Gifts Guide. With gifts that reflect African American history and culture - books, music and more - plus crafts, activities, and recipes for Kwanzaa and the holiday season

Why Do We Never Talk about This?

People from Africa often talk about the corruption in their countries, the corrupt governments. But they rarely mention the fact that it was European intervention that allowed corrupt governments to rise and flourish.

People from the Diaspora talk about slavery and the effects of Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome. But we are often unaware of what happened in Africa.

How many people know that the first German death camp was built in Namibia in 1905?

Or that the British in Kenya slaughtered thousands of people, stole their land, and relegated the remaining Kenyans to menial jobs? Or that Teddy Roosevelt said that the same people who did well in the old West would do well in Kenya?

How many people know that people in Nigeria were enslaved and forced to work for the British armed forces during the Second World War?

To read more, see Naij: A Film History of Nigeria

The Number One Fundraising Tool for Your Business

All of the contributors to More Black Success are experts.

What is the number one tool for you to raise funds for your business? Check out the article by Yvonne Witter in MBS 8.

Click here to order your free copy of More Black Success Volume 8 today. You'll be glad you did.

We Can Turn This Around

Many of us are experiencing fear and uncertainty to do with this economic climate.

Here in the UK, the government is bringing in measures that will lead to the loss of a milllion jobs in the private and public sectors. Our communities will be some of the hardest hit.

I am sure similar things are happening in the U.S.A. and other countries as well. People are losing their jobs and their homes.

You may already be experiencing some of the effects of this in your business or at your workplace.

But.

We can turn this around.

The more of us who know how to bring about positive change through working with our thoughts and emotions, the more we can change our lives.

And this will mean we can influence those around us in positive ways. We can influence our families, communities and loved ones. So everyone benefits.

To read more, see: 12 Ways to Be Successful.

Also, check out my book: Success Strategies for Black People.

In London, I am leading workshops in Finding Creative Solutions. I hope you will join us.

Here's to your success!

Do You Want to Have a Successful Career?

Do you want to have a successful career in
- business?
- the corporate world?
- the media?
- politics?
- healthcare?

Are you willing to learn from the experts?

In Black Success Stories Volume 1, I have interviewed experts in all of these fields, and they have given steps on how to achieve your goals.

If you are a parent, teacher, educator or mentor, you want this book.

Black Success Stories is a brilliant gift for Xmas and Kwanzaa. Click here to order your copies now.

Click here for my free report on 4 Steps to Finding the Job You Want.

Click here for lots more jobsearch resources.

Black History Film: 500 Years Later

I far preferred this film to Motherland.

500 Years Later explores the importance of history for us as people of African heritage.

Using a series of talking heads as well as powerful and disturbing images, music and sound recordings of Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X, this film examines the legacy of self-hatred and low self-esteem which we have inherited due to the slavery experience, and the need for self-love, self-determination and self-reliance among people of the African Diaspora.

I explore these themes further in Why We Need to Heal.

In my book, Black Success Stories, the late Len Garrison, founder of the Black Cultural Archives, describes the steps we need to take in order to research our history. Click here to buy it.

A Call to Action: Obama Exhibit in Oslo

A current exhibition in Oslo, Norway, "President Barack Obama, A Call to Action", examines President Obama's record as a Nobel Laureate and how the President meets Alfred Nobel's three criteria for being a Nobel Laureate.

Check out this video on the Black Women in Europe blog.

See also: Celebrating Barack Obama.

Black People 26 Times More Likely to Be Stopped by Police

Saw comic Stephen K Amos on The Wright Stuff on Monday reveal the recent report that Black people are 26 times more likely to be stopped by the police than members of other groups.

26 times!!!!

TWENTY-SIX TIMES!!!

We’re not even one percent of the population!

I knew we were more likely to be stopped, but, say it with me:
TWENTY-SIX TIMES!!!

Is this really the best use of police resources????

Plus, I have recently seen Matthew Wright question why there has been so much coverage of the police’s shooting of barrister Mark Saunders when shootings of Black people are substantially more frequent, yet barely get a mention.

In fact, I’ve heard him say it twice!

Well done, Matthew. Right on. You have obviously learned something.

What a pity Henry Bonsu has disappeared from your shows after being a regular panelist for so long. To read more about this, see my interview with Henry in Black Success Stories.

Africans in Colonial New York: Educators' Workshop

This workshop is being held today at the Schomburg Center in New York.

Teachers are invited to join Schomburg scholars and park rangers from the New York African Burial Ground National Monument for this workshop about the history and cultural contributions of New York City's early African population.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a research unit of The New York Public Library, is recognized as one of the leading institutions of its kind in the world.

For details of this and other events at the Schomburg, including The Sacred in the Secular Classroom: A Panel Discussion for Educators, see Black History International.

Motherland Film Screenings

The documentary Motherland was described by The Sowetan as "The Best Documentary on Africa". Directed by the makers of 500 Years Later, Motherland will be screened in London tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday. Click here for details of these and other BHM events.

Black History Show from Radio Nottingham

I've just been listening online to a very interesting show from Bea Udeh at Radio Nottingham. She asks, is Black History Month still relevant in the UK in 2010? What are the origins of BHM UK? She also has white guests expressing their disapproval of BHM.

Click here to listen.

Click here for lots more BHM UK events. I will keep adding to the list, so please keep coming back.

Positive Black Role Models

The More Black Success free ebooks celebrate the achievements and contributions of people of African heritage. Hot off the press: Volume 8 focuses on Black-owned businesses.

In MBS 8, Coach Kevin communicates a constant message of hope and inspiration, and talks about his book From Ghetto to Greatness.

Click here for your free copies of More Black Success.

Why Do We Need Positive Role Models?

In The Miseducation of the Negro, Carter G. Woodson argued in 1933 that Black children were being indoctrinated by the education system to view themselves as inferior. Unfortunately, in the 21st century, this is often still the case. In addition, powerful mass media reinforce negative stereotypes.

To read more, see: Do You Think Like a Success?