Far from being “Black Christmas,” Kwanzaa honors universal ideals

Photographer Emiola Omatayo credits her introduction to Kwanzaa in the early 2000s with helping her thrive as a Black woman. She holds ujamaa, the principle of cooperative economics celebrated on the fourth day of Kwanzaa, closest to her heart. Far from a once-a-year holiday consideration, ujamaa helped her develop a financially secure future as a single mom based on knowledge gained from African American financial advisers and other black authors.

As Ms. Omatayo’s experience, is designed to empower the Black community and honor traditional African family values.