Kwanzaa
kwanzaa annual celebration africanamerican culture december january culminating communal feast called karamu usually sixth day created activist maulana karenga based african harvest festival tradition various part west east well southeast africa kwanzaa first celebrated st century estimate many american celebrate kwanzaa american black separatist maulana karenga created kwanzaa aftermath watt riot nonchristian specifically africanamerican holiday karenga said goal give black people alternative existing holiday christmas give black people opportunity celebrate history rather simply imitate practice dominant society karenga figure black power movement creation holiday also underscored essential premise must cultural revolution violent revolution cultural revolution give identity purpose direction according karenga name kwanzaa derives swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza meaning first fruit first fruit festival exist southern africa celebrated decemberjanuary southern solstice karenga partly inspired account read zulu festival umkhosi wokweshwama decided spell holiday name additional would symbolic seven letter early year kwanzaa karenga said meant alternative christmas believed jesus psychotic christianity white religion black people shun kwanzaa gained mainstream adherent karenga altered position practicing christian would alienated stating book kwanzaa celebration family community culture kwanzaa created give people alternative religion religious holiday many african american celebrate kwanzaa addition observing christmas creation california kwanzaa spread outside united state december reverend al sharpton mayor eric adam businessman robert f smith reverend conrad tillard rabbi shmuley boteach elisha wiesel joined celebrate kwanzaa hanukkah together carnegie hall kwanzaa celebrates founder called seven principle kwanzaa nguzo saba originally nguzu saba – seven principle african heritage developed year kwanzaa seven principle swahili word together comprise kawaida common philosophy synthesis nationalist panafricanist socialist value seven day kwanzaa dedicated one principle follows umoja unity strive maintain unity family community nation race kujichagulia selfdetermination define name well create speak ujima collective work responsibility build maintain community together make brother sister problem problem solve together ujamaa cooperative economics build maintain store shop business profit together nia purpose make collective vocation building developing community order restore people traditional greatness kuumba creativity always much way order leave community beautiful beneficial inherited imani faith believe heart people parent teacher leader righteousness victory struggle kwanzaa celebratory symbol include mat mkeka symbol placed kinara candle holder seven candlestick mishumaa saba seven candle mazao crop mahindi corn represent child celebrating corn may part holiday meal kikombe cha umoja unity cup commemorating giving shukrani thanks african ancestor zawadi gift supplemental representation include nguzo saba poster black red green bendera flag african book artworks—all represent value concept reflective african culture contribution community building reinforcement family celebrating kwanzaa decorate household object art colorful african cloth kente especially wearing kaftan woman fresh fruit represent african idealism customary include child kwanzaa ceremony give respect gratitude ancestor libation shared generally common chalice kikombe cha umoja passed around celebrant nonafrican american also celebrate kwanzaa joyous kwanzaa may used greeting holiday kwanzaa ceremony may include drumming musical selection libation reading african pledge principle blackness reflection panafrican color discussion african principle day chapter african history candlelighting ritual artistic performance finally feast faith karamu ya imani greeting day kwanzaa habari gani swahili first observer kwanzaa avoided mixing holiday symbol value practice holiday would violate principle kujichagulia selfdetermination thus violate integrity holiday partially intended reclamation important african value today african american family celebrate kwanzaa along christmas new year cultural exhibition include spirit kwanzaa annual celebration held john f kennedy center performing art featuring interpretive dance african dance song poetry karamu ya imani feast faith feast typically take place december sixth day kwanzaa period karamu feast developed chicago citywide movement panafrican organization proposed hannibal afrik shule ya watoto communitywide promotional educational campaign initial karamu ya imani occurred january person gathering ridgeland club national black united front chicago held one largest karamu ya imani celebration country included dancing youth ensemble keynote speech nbuf prominent black nationalist leader conrad worrill celebration includes following practice kukaribisha welcoming kuumba remembering kuchunguza tena na kutoa ahadi tena reassessment recommitment kushangilia rejoicing tamshi la tambiko libation statement tamshi la tutaonana farewell statement popularity celebration kwanzaa declined waning popularity black separatist movement kwanzaa observation declined community commercial context university minnesota professor keith mayes report exact figure noting also difficult determine three main africanamerican holiday name martin luther king jr day malcolm x day juneteenth mayes added white institution also celebrate national retail federation poll percent people planned celebrate winter holiday said would celebrate kwanzaa starting holiday became increasingly commercialized first hallmark card sold expressed concern potentially damaging holiday value first kwanzaa stamp designed synthia saint james issued united state post office year bill clinton gave first presidential declaration marking holiday subsequent president george w bush barack obama donald trump joe biden also issued greeting celebrate kwanzaa maya angelou narrated documentary film kwanzaa black candle written directed k asante featuring chuck country celebrate kwanzaa include jamaica france canada brazil canada celebrated province including saskatchewan ontario kwanzaa week first declared toronto local chapter emerged province like british columbia much smaller group diaspora founding member may immigrant country like uganda american holiday public holiday united state medearis angela shelf seven day kwanzaa scholastic paperback isbn seton susannah simple pleasure holiday conari isbn brady april kwanzaa karamu lerner publishing group isbn karenga maulana kwanzaa celebration family community culture university sankore press isbn marsh carole kwanzaa activity craft recipe gallopade international isbn anganza maitefa kwanzaa holiday every day kensington publishing corporation isbn gamblegumbs ida plan kwanzaa celebration cultural expression inc isbn hintz martin kwanzaa celebrate way capstone press isbn asante molefi k mazama ama encyclopedia black study sage isbn x official website black candle imdb kwanzaa created karenga archived december wayback machine history channel kwanzaa meaning kwanzaa tavis smiley show npr december interview karenga discusses evolution holiday meaning