The principles of Kwanzaa: Day Two Kujichagulia

Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder, Maulana Karenga called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba – the seven principles of African Heritage), which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy," consisting of what Karenga called "the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world." They were developed in 1965, a year before Kwanzaa itself. These seven principles comprise Kawaida, a Swahili word meaning "common". Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the seven.

On this, the second day of Kwanzaa the days principle is Kujichagulia.

Kujichagulia (koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah) - Self-determination - Responsibility for one's own future.

Kwanzaa is a secular festival observed by many African Americans from December 26 to January 1 as a celebration of their cultural heritage and traditional values.

Royal S. Freeman sworn in as first African American sheriff in Charlotte County Virginia

On Monday morning Royal S. Freeman was sworn in by Charlotte County Clerk as Sheriff of Charlotte County. In a courtroom packed with supporters Freeman took the oath of office.

Freeman won the recent election by a landslide taking two-thirds of the vote. His support crossed all lines – racial, age, education, and sex.

Upon taking office in January Freeman will become the first African-American in the history of Charlotte County to become sheriff.

Charlotte County’s slate of constitutional officers reflects well on the citizens of our county. Of the five constitutional officers, Treasurer, Commissioner of the Revenue, Sheriff, Circuit Court Clerk, and Commonwealth’s Attorney, three are women and two are African-Americans holding office.

The principles of Kwanzaa: Day One Umoja

Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder, Maulana Karenga called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba – the seven principles of African Heritage), which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy," consisting of what Karenga called "the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world." They were developed in 1965, a year before Kwanzaa itself. These seven principles comprise Kawaida, a Swahili word meaning "common". Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the seven.

On this, the first day of Kwanzaa the days principle is Umoja.

Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Kwanzaa is a secular festival observed by many African Americans from December 26 to January 1 as a celebration of their cultural heritage and traditional values.

Rep. Lauren Underwood's Lower Insulin Costs Now Act signed into law

The Lower Insulin Costs Now Act will help make cheaper generic insulin available more quickly.

Underwood’s bipartisan Lower Insulin Costs Now Act will reduce the cost of insulin by helping lower-cost, generic insulin become available sooner. The Lower Insulin Costs Now Act will allow the FDA to continue to review applications for generic insulin beyond the looming March 2020 cut-off date, creating access to new treatments that can lower the cost of insulin for those who rely on it to survive. Over 1 million Illinoisans are living with type I or type II diabetes, including one in four seniors and a growing number of children in America. Along with Underwood, the legislation was led by Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Brett Guthrie (KY-02), and Mike Kelly (PA-16).

"Over the past two decades, the cost of insulin has skyrocketed—it’s unaffordable. I've heard from countless families in our community about the hard decisions they make to afford their insulin, including rationing their supply or going without. This is unacceptable—over 7 million Americans rely on insulin to survive," Rep. Underwood said. "There isn’t a person I won’t work with to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and I’m thrilled my colleagues in Congress and the President supported this advancement toward making lower-cost, generic insulin available more quickly."

Police officer who killed Atatiana Jefferson indicted for murder

Former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean was indicted by a grand jury for murder in the fatal shooting of Atatiana Jefferson in her home on October 12.

Twenty-eight-year-old Jefferson was playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew when Dean entered her backyard. She rose up to take a look out the window when she was shot, according to police records. Dean, 35, was indicted by a Tarrant County grand jury.

The arrest warrant mentions three times that Dean didn’t announce that he was a police officer when he went around the house. Dean didn’t provide a statement to Forth Worth investigators on why he shot, according to officials. Usually, in such investigations, it’s common for a cop to give a statement to investigators and to the internal affairs division of their police department.

Jefferson’s family lawyer, civil rights attorney S. Lee Merritt, announced Dean’s indictment , saying, “Though her family is relived [sic] by the news, we need to see this through to a vigorous prosecution & appropriate sentencing.”