| Kwanzaa | |
 A woman lights kinara candles on a table decorated with the symbols of Kwanzaa |
|
| Also called | Kwaanza |
|---|---|
| Observed by | African Americans |
| Type | Cultural |
| Significance | Celebrates African American unity and culture. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa |
| Date | December 26 until January 1 (7 Consecutive Day Celebration) |
| Celebrations | Unity Self-Determination Collective Work and Responsibility Cooperative Economics Purpose Creativity Faith Being with Loved Ones |
| Related to | Black History Month |
Kwanzaa (or Kwaanza) is a week-long festival celebrated primarily in the United States, honoring African-American heritage. Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. 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Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC
Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift giving. A libation (spondee in Greek) is a Ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. It was created by Ron Karenga and first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967. Maulana Karenga (born Ronald McKinley Everett on July 14, 1941, and also known as Ron Everett) is an African American Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar.
Contents |
History and etymology
An African-American scholar and social activist, Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the only original African-American holiday. [2] Karenga said his goal was to ". . . give a Black alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society. "[3] The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza", meaning "first fruits". Swahili (called Kiswahili in the language itself is the First language of the Swahili people (Waswahili who inhabit several large stretches The choice of Swahili, an East African language, reflects its status as a symbol of Pan-Africanism, especially in the 1960s. Pan-Africanism is a Sociopolitical World view, and Philosophy, as well as a movement which seeks to unify both Native Africans and those of
The official stance on the spelling of the holiday is that an additional "a" was added to "Kwanza" so that the word would have seven letters. The name was meant to have a letter for each of what Karenga called "The Seven Principles". Another explanation is that Karenga added the extra "a" to distinguish the African-American meaning from the African one. Kwanzaa is also sometimes incorrectly spelled "kwaanza", as in the title above.
Kwanzaa is a festivity that has its roots in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s, and was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of "African traditions" and "common humanist principles. Black nationalism (BN advocates a racial definition (or redefinition of black national identity as opposed to Multiculturalism. "
During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said that it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas, that "Jesus was psychotic", and that Christianity was a white religion that blacks should shun. [4][5] However, as Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so as not to alienate practicing Christians, then stating in the 1997 Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture, "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday. "[6]
Also in 1997, the first Kwanzaa stamp was issued by the United States Postal Service on October 22[7] at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, California. Holiday stamps are a type of Postage stamp issued to celebrate a certain Religious festival or Holiday. Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. In 2004 a second Kwanzaa stamp, created by artist Daniel Minter was issued which has seven figures in colorful robes symbolizing the seven principles. Daniel Minter is an African American artist who works in paint and sculpture [8]
Principles of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called "The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa", or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba - "The Seven Principles of Blackness"), 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. Communitarianism, as a group of related but distinct philosophies began in the late 20th century opposing in its opinion exalted forms of Individualism while advocating phenomena " These seven principles comprise Kawaida, a Swahili term for tradition and reason. African Philosophy is a disputed term used in different ways by different Philosophers. Swahili (called Kiswahili in the language itself is the First language of the Swahili people (Waswahili who inhabit several large stretches The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem acc of traditio which means "a giving up delivering up surrendering" and is used in a number of Reason involves the ability to think understand and draw Conclusions in an Abstract way as in Human thinking Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles, as follows:
- Umoja (Unity) To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
- Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
- Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
- Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Popularity
In President George W. Bush's 2004 Presidential Kwanzaa Message, he said that, "During Kwanzaa, millions of African Americans and people of African descent gather to celebrate their heritage and ancestry. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Kwanzaa celebrations provide an opportunity to focus on the importance of family, community, and history, and to reflect on the Nguzo Saba or seven principles of African culture. These principles emphasize unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. "[9]
According to a marketing survey conducted by the National Retail Foundation in 2004, Kwanzaa is celebrated by 1. The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail Trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department 6% of all Americans (about 13% of all African-Americans),[10] or about 4. 7 million. [11] In a 2006 speech, Karenga asserted that 28 million people celebrate Kwanzaa. He has always maintained it is celebrated all over the world. [1] Lee D. Baker puts the number at 12 million. [12]
Observance
Families celebrating Kwanzaa decorate their households with objects of art, colorful African cloth, especially the wearing of the Uwole by women, and fresh fruits that represent African idealism. Pan-Africanism is a Sociopolitical World view, and Philosophy, as well as a movement which seeks to unify both Native Africans and those of Pan-Africanism is a Sociopolitical World view, and Philosophy, as well as a movement which seeks to unify both Native Africans and those of An Afro-Latin American (also Afro-Latino) is a Latin American person of at least partial Black African ancestry the term may also refer to historical African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism The word Maafa (also known as the African Holocaust or Holocaust of Enslavement) is derived from a Swahili word meaning disaster terrible occurrence or The term black people usually refers to a racial group of Humans with dark Skin color, but the term has also been used to categorise a number of diverse African Philosophy is a disputed term used in different ways by different Philosophers. Black nationalism (BN advocates a racial definition (or redefinition of black national identity as opposed to Multiculturalism. Black orientalism is a terminology that is used for an intellectual and cultural movement within primarily African American circles which while similar to the general movement Afrocentrism or Afrocentricity is a World view that emphasizes the importance of African people in culture philosophy and history This is a list of articles that are related to African and black people The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou ( Festival panafricain du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou or FESPACO) is the largest African African art constitutes one of the most diverse legacies on earth Established in 1992 The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of cultural and racial tolerance and understanding through the exhibition of film George Padmore (1902&ndash September 23, 1959) born Malcolm Ivan Meredith Nurse, was a Trinidadian who became a leading Pan-Africanist Walter Rodney ( March 23, 1942 &ndash June 13, 1980) was a prominent Guyanese historian and political figure Patrice Émery Lumumba ( 2 July, 1925 – 17 January, 1961) was an African anti-colonial leader and the first legally elected Prime Captain Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara ( December 21, 1949 – October 15, 1987) was the leader of Burkina Faso (formerly Frantz Fanon ( July 20, 1925 – December 6, 1961) was a Psychiatrist, philosopher, revolutionary and author from Ahmed Sékou Touré (var Ahmen Seku Ture) (January 9 1922--March 26 1984 was an African political leader and president of the Republic of Guinea Kwame Nkrumah ( September 21, 1909 - April 27, 1972) was an influential 20th century advocate of Pan-Africanism, and the leader of Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr, National Hero of Jamaica (17 August 1887 10 June 1940 was a Publisher, Journalist, Entrepreneur, Black nationalist Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little; May 19 1925 February 21 1965 also known as El-Hajj Malik El- Shabazz, was an African American William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (duːˈbɔɪz ( February 23, 1868 August 27, 1963) was an American Civil rights activist Cyril Lionel Robert James ( 4 January 1901 &ndash 19 May 1989) was an Afro- Trinidadian Journalist Cheikh Anta Diop ( 29 December, 1923 &ndash 7 February, 1986) was a Senegalese Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (ˈuɰo rafaˈel ˈtʃaβ̞es ˈfɾias (born July 28 1954 is the current President of Venezuela. It is customary to include children in Kwanzaa ceremonies and to give respect and gratitude to ancestors. Libations are shared, generally with a common chalice, "Kikombe cha Umoja" passed around to all celebrants. A libation (spondee in Greek) is a Ritual pouring of a drink as an offering to a god. Non Africans also celebrate kwanzaa. The holiday greeting is "joyous Kwanzaa". [13][14][9]
A Kwanzaa ceremony may include drumming and musical selections, libations, a reading of the "African Pledge" and the Principles of Blackness, reflection on the Pan-African colors, a discussion of the African principle of the day or a chapter in African history, a candle-lighting ritual, artistic performance, and, finally, a feast (Karamu). Two different sets of three colours are referred to as the Pan-African colours: the green gold and red first used in the Flag of Ethiopia; (Ghana was the first The greeting for each day of Kwanzaa is "Habari Gani",[15] Swahili words for "What's the News?"[16]
At first, observers of Kwanzaa eschewed the mixing of the holiday or its symbols, values and practice with other holidays. They felt that doing so would violate the principle of kujichagulia (self-determination) and thus violate the integrity of the holiday, which is partially intended as a reclamation of important African values. Today, many African-American families celebrate Kwanzaa along with Christmas and New Year's. The New Year is an event that happens when a Culture celebrates the end of one Year and the beginning of the next year Frequently, both Christmas trees and kinaras, the traditional candle holder symbolic of African-American roots, share space in kwanzaa celebrating households. The kinara is the candle holder used in Kwanzaa celebrations in the United States. To them, Kwanzaa is an opportunity to incorporate elements of their particular ethnic heritage into holiday observances and celebrations of Christmas.
Cultural exhibitions include "The Spirit of Kwanzaa", an annual celebration held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts featuring interpretive dance, African dance, song and poetry. The John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (on the building itself called the John F Interpretive dance is a family of Dance styles that seeks to Interpret the meaning inherent in Music rather than by performing specific preformatted moves In this article African dance refers mainly to the dance of black Africa and more appropriately African dances because of the many cultural differences in musical and movement [17][18]
Evolution in Kwanzaa's observance
In 1977, in Kwanzaa: origin, concepts, practice, Karenga stated, that Kwanzaa "was chosen to give a Black alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society. "[19]
In 1997, Karenga changed his position, stating that while Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday, it can be celebrated by people of any race: "other people can and do celebrate it, just like other people participate in Cinco de Mayo besides Mexicans; Chinese New Year besides Chinese; Native American pow wows besides Native Americans. "[20]
Currently, according to the Official Kwanzaa Website authored by Karenga and maintained by Organization US, which Karenga chairs, "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday. And it is not an alternative to people's religion or faith but a common ground of African culture. . . Kwanzaa is not a reaction or substitute for anything. In fact, it offers a clear and self-conscious option, opportunity and chance to make a proactive choice, a self-affirming and positive choice as distinct from a reactive one. "[21]
Karenga's most recent interpretation emphasizes that while every people have their various holiday traditions, all people can share in the celebration of our common humanity: "Any particular message that is good for a particular people, if it is human in its content and ethical in its grounding, speaks not just to that people, it speaks to the world. "[22]
Criticism
In 1999, syndicated columnist (and later White House Press Secretary) Tony Snow wrote that "There is no part of Kwanzaa that is not fraudulent. The White House Press Secretary is a senior White House official with a rank one step below Presidential Cabinet level Robert Anthony Snow ( June 1 1955 – July 12 2008) was an American Political commentator, Television news " [23] Some Christians also see Kwanzaa as an organized attempt to detract from Christmas. [24]
Film
The Black Candle, a documentary by M.K. Asante, Jr., narrated by Maya Angelou, is the first feature film on Kwanzaa. The Black Candle is an independent Documentary film directed by M MK Asante Jr (born November 3 1982 is an African-American Professor, Author, Filmmaker and activist Maya Angelou (ˈmaɪə ˈændʒəloʊ (born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4, 1928) is an American Poet, Memoirist
References
- A program to raise the faith level in African-American children through Scripture, Kwanzaa principles and culture, Janette Elizabeth Chandler Kotey, DMin, Oral Roberts University,1999
- The US Organization: African-American cultural nationalism in the era of Black Power, 1965 to the 1970s, Scot D. Brown, PhD, Cornell University, 1999
- Rituals of race, ceremonies of culture: Kwanzaa and the making of a Black Power holiday in the United States,1966--2000, Keith Alexander Mayes, PhD, Princeton University, 2002
- Interview: Kwanzaa creator Maulana Karenga discusses the evolution of the holiday and its meaning in 2004 By: Tony Cox. Tavis Smiley (NPR), 12/26/2003
- Tolerance in the News: Kwanzaa: A threat to Christmas? By Camille Jackson | Staff Writer, Tolerance. org, 12/22/2005
- Should African-Americans Celebrate Kwanzaa? By: Mike Gallagher; Alan Colmes. Hannity & Colmes (FOX News), 12/22/2004
- Is Kwanzaa a Racist Holiday? By: Sean Hannity; Alan Colmes. Hannity & Colmes (FOX News), 12/06/2005
Footnotes
- ^ a b "Why Kwanzaa Video". "Maulana Karenga". Maulana Karenga (born Ronald McKinley Everett on July 14, 1941, and also known as Ron Everett) is an African American
- ^ "THE EVENING HOURS". "NY Times" (1983-12-30). Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Retrieved on 2006-12-15. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of
- ^ Kwanzaa: origin, concepts, practice p. 21
- ^ Karenga, Ron (1967). "Religion", in Clyde Halisi, James Mtume: The quotable Karenga. Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press, p. 25. 23769. 8.
- ^ Levine, Jed. "Have yourself a merry little solstice", Daily Bruin, University of California, Los Angeles, 2006-11-28. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events Retrieved on 2007-12-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the "Karenga himself admitted during the early years of Kwanzaa that the holiday was meant to be an alternative to Christmas, since his original stance was that Christianity was a white religion that black people should reject, even writing that “Jesus was psychotic. ”"
- ^ The story of Kwanzaa
- ^ Bringing Good Into the World
- ^ Kwanzaa featured on this year's holiday U.S. postage stamp
- ^ a b Bush, George W. (2004-12-23). "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city Presidential Kwanzaa Message, 2004. Office of the Press Secretary. Retrieved on 2007-12-24. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes
- ^ "2004 Holiday Spending by Region", 'Survey by BIGresearch, conducted for National Retail Foundation', 14 October 2004. The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail Trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "
- ^ "Drums herald happy holiday". "Cary News" (2007-1-2). Retrieved on 2007-01-05. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France.
- ^ Dispatches from the Ebony Tower By Manning Marable Page 224
- ^ "Clinton offers holiday messages", CNN, 1997-12-23. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 962 - Byzantine-Arab Wars: Under the future Emperor Nicephorus Phocas, Byzantine troops stormed the city Retrieved on 2007-12-24. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes
- ^ Gale, Elaine. "Appeal of Kwanzaa continues to grow; holidays: today marks start of the seven-day celebration of African culture, which began in Watts 32 years ago and is now observed by millions.", Los Angeles Times, 1998-12-26. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Retrieved on 2007-12-24. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes
- ^ Kwanzaa Greeting
- ^ A Model Kwanzaa Ceremony
- ^ The Spirit of Kwanzaa
- ^ The Dance Institute of Washington
- ^ Kwanzaa: origin, concepts, practice, p. 21, cited at Believersweb.org. Retrieved on 2005-12-29. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II
- ^ Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, p. 110, cited at Believersweb.org. Retrieved on 2005-12-29. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II
- ^ The Official Kwanzaa Website. Retrieved on 2005-12-29. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II
- ^ The Official Kwanzaa Website FAQ. Retrieved on 2005-12-29. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II
- ^ Snow, Tony (1999-12-31). Robert Anthony Snow ( June 1 1955 – July 12 2008) was an American Political commentator, Television news Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. The TRUTH about Kwanzaa. Jewish World Review. Jewish World Review is an online magazine published Monday through Friday (except for legal holidays and Jewish Holy Days) which seeks to appeal to "people of faith Retrieved on 2008-02-03. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1112 - Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona and Douce I of Provence marry uniting the fortunes of those two states
- ^ http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/news/051208b.aspx
External links
- Everything About Kwanzaa (The International Kwanzaa Exchange [TIKE])
- "The Story of Kwaanza" (The Dartmouth Review, January 15, 2001)
- The History Channel: Kwanzaa
- Midwest's Longest Running Kwanzaa Holiday Expo
- Kwanzaa Basics @ Swagga Afrocentric Experience
Dictionary
Kwanzaa
-proper noun
- A week-long African-American cultural holiday held between December 26 and January 1.
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