Greetings Good People! This year's Kwanzaa Table will feature "tales of the day", e.g. stories and lessons out of the days headlines that help us to remember that the principles of Kwanzaa do not simply honor the past or prepare for the future, but also define the core of how we can embrace and exist today.

KUUMBA! Creativity is the word of the day. And today I'm reflecting on the good work of my people - the "BLERD," the Black Nerds. Yes we exist! And yes we are creative!

In the context of the principle of kuumba, creativity is not about being creative for creativeness sake. The principal demands that we use our skills, our gifts, our ability to imagine things new, unseen, and beautiful to move our communities forward. The goal of this principle being to leave the community better than when we found it. Embedded within this principle is the expectation of change and driving concepts of justice, repair, and restoration.

Of course, this does not exclude using classic forms of creativity - such as art, fashion, food, architecture, even community redevelopment and park design! - but kuumba allows us to go much farther and broader as we consider ways to power our communities through creative change.

So for today's modern expression of Kwanzaa principle, I highlight Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League. In the snippet I'm sharing with you, she combines her knowledge of algorithms and AI with her penchant for poetry, alongside her genius for breaking down complex concepts into terms we can all understand as she shares her poem "AI, Ain't I A Woman." In this video, Dr. Joy calls to task the algorithmic bias in facial recognition software that constantly misidentifies black women as objects, as animals, and as men. In doing so, she is not only creatively pushing for change for the betterment of the African American community - but also for the betterment of her adopted communities of computer scientists and AI creators.

Scientists do their research. And poets make you listen. And those in the space of kuumba can bring these creatives together for progress.

Sharing Dr Joy Buolamwini performing "AI, Ain't I A Woman" - watch it full screen.
https://youtu.be/QxuyfWoVV98?feature=shared