It’s not enough just to have money. Yes, you can pay the bills, buy food and other things you want, but your life will have much more meaning if your money is used for a purpose.
Through the principle of Nia, Kwanzaa reminds us to put ourselves on a path of purpose by setting goals for ourselves and our community.
Light the Fifth Candle
On the fifth day of Kwanzaa we light the candle representing the principle Nia, or purpose. It encourages us to look within to not only set personal goals, but also to choose goals that benefit our community.
We believe that financial strength is critical to building a successful future for the Black community. And we believe the #BankBlackX and #BuyBlack Movement is an important part of building that future. Whether it’s giving you a way to securely store and save your money or helping you find a solution to buy a home, moving your money to a Black-owned bank helps support Black-owned businesses, helps circulate dollars within our community, and allows us to invest in our community at a higher level.
That’s what the #BankBlack and #Buy Black Movement is all about… using our financial power to help build and empower our community.
Giving Yourself Direction
As you grow older, you find that more of what you do will be done for a purpose that makes sense. As a child, you may have spent hours riding a bike or playing outside with friends. Now, you may do the same things for different reasons. Riding a bike now may be for the purpose of exercise. When you hang out with friends now, the purpose may be to keep in touch and build deeper relationships.
Yes, we want to make money to live comfortably and provide for our families, but it goes deeper than that.
Where do you see yourself in the future? Where do you see your community? Think about the long-term goals for the money you spend on yourself, your family, and the community around you. Then plan for how much you need, and save accordingly.
A Different Way to Look at Money
What are you passionate about? Is giving back important to you? Maybe you’re driven by a cause that reaches beyond your immediate social circles. What gets you fired up? How can you help?
One simple act you can do today is to spend your money with purpose. Take an active role in the #BankBlack and #BuyBlack collective economic movement with the purpose of supporting Black owned businesses in your neighborhood. It may seem like a small act, but a little support can go a long way.
Think about what matters most to you, where your money can make a real difference in your community. Then act with purpose. Spend with purpose.
Because when you give your money a purpose, good things will happen for you and your community.
