Katura J. Hudson

On New Year’s Eve, someone on social shared a great idea. Buy from a small business at midnight so an entrepreneur would start the new year with an order. I’m always looking for an occasion to shop small, and a business owner logging in and seeing new  orders on January 1 felt as important as me eating black eyed peas and greens. So I selected two businesses I hadn’t purchased from before, scrolled, and clicked. My orders arrived on the same day less than a week later: Leverage Everything in Life Journal Wax print robes from Diop I’ve been known to skip New Year’s resolutions because I’m one of those people who feels the new year doesn’t truly start until spring. And that you can choose a new path any day of the year. But I liked this approach to welcoming 2025. Starting small . 

Today is the last day of Kwanzaa. Every day of Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 - Jan. 1) focuses on a principle, collectively called the Nguzo Saba. The principle for today is Imani, which means faith. Today is also Haitian Independence Day. On January 1, 1804, Haiti made history becoming the first Black republic and the first country in the Western Hemisphere  to abolish slavery.  There’s something extra special about these two celebrations falling on January 1 — about bringing in a new year grounded in thoughts of freedom & faith. Just a bit of what’s on my mind as we welcome 2022. Happy New Year! Photo description: my fully lit kinara sits on my bookshelf, on top of fabric from West Africa. With it is a plant, a printed list of the Nguzo Saba, ears of corn, an Ankh and cowrie shells.