Celebrating Kwanzaa
I regularly reference my mother's impact on me with her cultural life lessons that often took a while to take root in my world of understanding. Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, and I am reminded of the gift of teachings my mother planted that took bloom after her passing. When I was a resident assistant in college, I decorated the bulletin boards in December that highlighted different winter holidays. When my mother came to visit, she quipped, "Where's the board about Kwanzaa?" I pointed out the section I had dedicated for the holiday, which wasn't enough in my mother's perspective. In reflection, she was right.
My mother ensured that we celebrate Kwanzaa as a family to honor the cultural heritage of our African roots. That is what Kwanzaa is all about. The Christmas episode of Ted Lasso reminded me of Kwanzaa's significance when Leslie Higgins asked Sam Obisanya about the meaning of Christmas in his home country of Nigeria. Sam's response, "Colonization." Kwanzaa is an opportunity for African Americans to reclaim our ancestral culture and regain the narrative to celebrate African traditions such as principles, clothing, hair, and food. It is important to emphasize that Kwanzaa is not a substitute for Christmas. In fact, many African American families celebrate Kwanzaa alongside another religious holiday because Kwanzaa is not rooted in religion. Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga, the founder of Kwanzaa in the 1960s, to foster a holiday to rebuild a cultural understanding of their African heritage in American society. It is an opportunity to live in a world of ‘and’ not a world of ‘either.’
My mother was right in the sense that by not giving more bulletin board real estate on the holiday of Kwanzaa. I was not only neglecting an opportunity to practice the lessons of Kwanzaa, but I was also neglecting an opportunity of normalizing African American heritage through equally educating others. As my family begins our celebration of Kwanzaa, I invite you to learn more about the cultural meanings and symbols to carry with you throughout the year.
The number seven is emphasized to capture the symbols and principles of Kwanzaa. A table is set to include Mazao (fruits and vegetable crops), Mkeka (placemat), Kinara (candleholder), Vibunzi (ears of corn), Zawadi (gifts), Kikombe Cha Umoja (the communal unity cup), and Mishumaa Saba (the seven candles). The Kinara holds seven candles, including one black candle to signify Umoja (unity), three red candles and three green candles to signify Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamma (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). These symbols recognize the significance of rooted labor, the fabric of history, the power of the ancestral collective, the immortality of future generations, rewards for commitments kept, promote the spirit of oneness, and principles to light our way (McClester 1985).
The beauty of Kwanzaa is the connectedness of generations, community, and the earth we collectively share. These lessons should extend beyond December 26th through January 1st and immediate family units. When we celebrate holidays without fostering dialogues, we miss out on opportunities that promote shared understandings of cultures that shape the patterns of our past, present, and future communities. I share this gift of Kwanzaa's lessons of unity in hopes that we can collectively weave together a world of shared cultures, responsibility, and commitment. Happy Kwanzaa!
