The 7 Days of Kwanzaa: Day 5 - Nia (Purpose)

Discovering one's purpose, or Nia, is a profound journey that resonates deeply with a quote written by Mark Twain:

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

Purpose is the compass that guides our actions, fuels our passions, and provides meaning to our existence. However, in Black communities, the concept of purpose has been significantly impacted by the historical traumas of slavery, distorting perceptions and beliefs regarding the meaning of our lives.

The Antebellum Slave Period falsely embedded the belief that the purpose of Black bodies were to merely serve as forced labor and the empowerment of our White counterparts. During slavery, our ancestors were very conscious of their contributions in building and sustaining this country’s physical infrastructure and its systems of oppression. However, today most of us are completely unaware of the unconscious ways we continue to labor to sustain an infrastructure that we once built and were never given access to.

In 2019, The Celig Center for Economic Growth released a report detailing the impact of Black Americans’ consumerism in sustaining the United States’ economic infrastructure; estimating Black buying power to be an overwhelming 47.8 trillion dollars. The overwhelming majority of that money is circulating everywhere but inside of the Black business community. One out of three Black men will be incarcerated in their lifetime. The US private prison system is overpopulated with Black and Brown bodies; thus unconsciously upholding another extremely oppressive yet economically lucrative system.

To find one's true purpose, it is imperative to engage in the process of decolonization and deconstruction of the mind, allowing for the liberation of authentic thoughts and beliefs. Additionally, self-exploration to uncover and embrace our true identity, reconnection to cultural roots, and the development of mindfulness and self-awareness are vital steps toward aligning with our authentic purpose. By undertaking these transformative steps, individuals can liberate themselves from historical distortions and walk a path guided by their true purpose in life.

Reference:

Marshall, K. (2020, October 1). The Black Dollar Doesn't Circulate Like It Should. The Famuan Online. https://www.thefamuanonline.com/2020/10/01/the-black-dollar-doesnt-circulate-like-it-should/