Umoja

This 7-part film features an assorted group of Black teenagers in a small city neighborhood are placed in situations in which they exude qualities that represent the several principles of Kwanzaa. The film starts off with the first principle of Kwanzaa, Umoja (unity), where a group of teenagers laughingly discuss a culturally controversial topic on the stairs of a brownstone apartment. Then, to Kujichagulia (self-determination), where a group of teenagers share a moment of admiration with each other. In the Ujima (collective work and responsibility) section, three boys named Zamir, Malachi, and Jabari shoot dice on a corner block until their morality is tested when an older woman named Elizabeth struggles to carry her bags across the street. It is tested again in Ujamaa (cooperative economics), where a man named Jahir fails to sell his mixtape to the boys. Eventually, Elizabeth offers to buy the mixtape and gives Jahir a substantial amount of money for it. In the next segment, Nia (purpose), a beautiful spoken word about growing and learning your special and unique “purpose” as young Black people is performed. Then to Kuumba (creativity), which showcases teens dancing together to represent the beauty of Black art and expression. In the final segment, Imani (faith), Elizabeth converses with a young girl named Zuri while starting to do her hair. Zuri questions her values and abilities to make friends, and Elizabeth redirects Zuri’s thinking, giving her comforting words of reassurance. The two share an emotional moment and a warm hug as the film ends.