{"id":8423,"date":"2022-12-22T15:50:19","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T22:50:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nmblc.org\/?p=8423"},"modified":"2023-01-12T10:35:25","modified_gmt":"2023-01-12T17:35:25","slug":"kwanzaa-a-celebration-of-african-american-culture-and-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmblc.org\/old-site\/kwanzaa-a-celebration-of-african-american-culture-and-heritage\/","title":{"rendered":"Kwanzaa: A Celebration of African American Culture and Heritage<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Celebrate the seven days of Kwanzaa with food, community, and creativity.\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the season two premiere of the HBO comedy Insecure<\/em>, Issa Dee is spiraling out from a break up with her long term boyfriend. She devises a scheme to get him to come see her, then practices how she\u2018ll act in the event he does. She tries out several different personas, speeches, and outfits in front of her bedroom mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a0\u201cThis reminds me of the fifth day of Kwanzaa. Oobija. Ilani. Booyakasha.\u201d <\/p>\n\u2014Insecure, S2 Ep1<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The joke is twofold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One: Issa is invoking the principles of Kwanzaa to get her boyfriend back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two: she doesn\u2019t know what the principles of Kwanzaa are, so she spews some vaguely African-sounding words that she thinks could be related to Kwanzaa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though Kwanzaa is a holiday that was created by an African-American for African-Americans, it\u2019s often the case that African-Americans can\u2019t rattle off the meaning, origins, or principles of Kwanzaa at the drop of a hat. That\u2019s okay. We got you. Keep reading for your guide to all things Kwanzaa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Origins of Kwanzaa  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kwanzaa was created by professor Maulana Karenga to unite and empower the African American community in the wake of the Watts Rebellion. It\u2019s modeled after African harvest traditions and provides African Americans a way to honor the culture and heritage that was ripped away from them during the slave trade. Kwanzaa runs for seven days, from December 26th through January 1st. The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili expression matunda ya kwanza<\/em>, which means \u201cfirst fruits of the harvest.\u201d First celebrated in 1966, it\u2019s now estimated that 30 million people worldwide celebrate Kwanzaa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kwanzaa is based on seven principles, one for each day of the holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Umoja<\/strong>: Unity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kujichagulia<\/strong>: Self-determination<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ujima: <\/strong>Collective work and responsibility<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ujamaa: <\/strong>Cooperative economics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nia: <\/strong>Purpose<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kuumba:<\/strong> Creativity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imani: <\/strong>Faith<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Seven Symbols of Kwanzaa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Seven symbols represent the principles honored during the holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mazao:<\/strong> Crops, symbolizing a community harvest. Anything grown from the earth\u2019s soil can represent a crop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mkeka<\/strong>: Mat, symbolizing the foundation of the past to build lives in the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muhindi: <\/strong>Corn, symbolizing fertility and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kinara: <\/strong>Candleholder, the most recognizable icon of Kwanzaa, symbolizing ancestry. It holds three red candles, three green candles, and one black candle.\u00a0 Some online Black owned businesses selling Kinaras: The Black Art Depot<\/a> and It’s a Black Thang<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mishumaa Saba<\/strong>: Seven candles, symbolizing the sun\u2019s power to return after the darkness of winter. The colors are from the Pan-African flag: red (the struggle), black (the people), and green (the future). The candles are placed in the Kinara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kikombe Cha Umoja<\/strong>: Unity cup, used to pour liquid honoring the ancestors and for communal drinking. It\u2019s typically displayed with the Kinara. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zawadi: <\/strong>Gifts, given on the seventh day of Kwanzaa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ways to Celebrate Kwanzaa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kwanzaa is a holiday that anybody can celebrate, not just African Americans. Read on for some ways to honor this holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meals play an important role in Kwanzaa celebrations. The sixth day of Kwanzaa, December 31st, is marked with Kurama, the large feast. Meals are a great way to explore and enjoy various African-American, African, Caribbean, and South American dishes. Mac and cheese<\/a>, anyone?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cookbooks to check out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Smithsonian’s Sweet Home Cafe Cookbook<\/em><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

High on the Hog<\/em><\/a> by Jessica B. Harris (also available from the ABC Library<\/a> System)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rufus Estes’ Good Things to Eat <\/em><\/a> (also available from the ABC Library<\/a> System)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes<\/a><\/em> by Jenne Claiborne (also available from the ABC Library<\/a> System)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Candles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Light a candle each day to highlight that day\u2019s Kwanzaa principle. Breathe meaning into the principles by reciting words or poetry by your favorite African American writer, leader, or activist.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Still I Rise<\/a><\/em> by Maya Angelou (also available from the ABC Library<\/a> System)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commissons y Corridos<\/em><\/a> by Hakim Bellamy (also available from the ABC Library<\/a> System)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alive At The End Of The World<\/a><\/em> by Saeed Jones (also available from the ABC Library<\/a> System)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call Us What We Carry<\/a><\/em> by Amanda Gorman (also available from the ABC Library<\/a> System)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grinning and Bare<\/a><\/em> by Ebony Isis Booth (also available from the ABC Library<\/a> System)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Kwanzaa Celebration Ideas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Click the link on the National Museum of African American History and Culture site for more ideas on celebrating Kwanzaa:
https:\/\/nmaahc.si.edu\/explore\/stories\/seven-principles-kwanzaa<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the book Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture<\/a> <\/em>by Maulana Karenga<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more at the Official Kwanzaa Website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the Albuquerque Journal article on local residents celebrating Kwanzaa:
https:\/\/www.abqjournal.com\/1262425\/local-residents-celebrate-kwanzaa.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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