Ujamaa Black Doll Makers Work Together For The Greater Good
I keep hearing and reading across social media "secure the bag." Securing the bag does not include rocking someone else's brand until you are broke. Robbing Peter to pay Paul or purchasing luxury items that have little value once it is purchased.
Photo Credit: www.kwanzaachat.com
At the age of 23 I owned 3 properties. I made wise decision with my finances I understood the value of my dollar...Let me repeat myself, I Understood The Value of My Dollar. While in college I learned about Kwanzaa I understood the importance of keeping money within our community, I understood that if we applied these principles, it could start us on the road to financial freedom. I also understood that if you spend more & quicker than you can make money you will be broke. I just recovered from making bad financial decisions a few years ago.
According to Essence magazine, "Conversations around reversing the racial wealth gap often begin and end with a narrative that is equally as pernicious as the wealth inequalities it tries to explain away: The wealthiest in our country earned their riches fair and square, and by the sweat of their brow; on the other hand, our poorest and most vulnerable are deadbeats and deserve their wretched lot due to weak morals and bad decision-making." HOWEVER THIS IS FALSE! AND ESSENCE AGREES!
I believe that sometimes our spending habits don’t match our deminishing financial state. We are spending more money than we’re can earn. The system is designed to keep us in a state of "barely out of poverty." ie: the more you make the higher your rent will be.
People are consciously supporting black businesses now more than ever but understanding how to budget is imperative. Live modest, resist the urge to spend people. Help another black business out if you can. Support isn't just monetarily, your presence, social media support, or perhaly a encouraging word.
In this next photo it is my great pleasure to introduce you 2 of my best friends and sisters. The first one is Aniqua Wilkerson, she is the owner and hands behind My Kinda Thing. She is a black crochet dollmaker, speaker, crochet innovator, and crochet instructor. We work together often. If it's her event I put on her company t-shirt and become her lovely assistant for the day and she does the same for me. We make magic happen when we band together!
Photo Credit: Aniqua Wilkerson https://www.facebook.com/MyKindaThing/
In this next photo is Yolonda Jordan Owner and Mastermind behind My Pretty Brown Doll & My Crochet Life. She is a black crochet dollmaker, speakers, author, and blogger.
She is such a supporter to all who want to win and I am proud to call her my sister friend! In September of 2019 she dropped everything and gave me the opportunity to sponsor her live video! See it didn't cost her a dime.
We can support one another. It doesn't matter if you are working in the same field. WHEN THEY WIN I WIN! WHEN I WIN THEY WIN. There are many late nights we are up creating, brainstorming, thinking about what is our next move. We give one another advice and we hold each other accountable. THIS IS WANT UJAMAA IS ABOUT To have the ability to build our own businesses, control the economics of our own community and share in all its work and wealth."
Don't get me wrong we must work with all people and cultures for the good of our community however the more we work together the stronger OUR community will be!
Ujamaa✊🏿
