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The Mother Of Kwanzaa
Today we acknowledge you
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration that honors African heritage and African American culture. This holiday started in the United States in the late 1960s as a way to unify the Black American community after the Los Angeles Watts Riots and other social and political changes during this time. This 7-day celebration is observed from December 26 to January 1. Each day represents one of the seven principles that are recognized in both the Swahili and English language.
Day 1: Umoja (Unity)
Day 2: Kujichagulia (Self-determination)
Day 3: Ujima (Collective work and responsibility)
Day 4: Ujamaa (Cooperative economics)
Day 5: Nia (Purpose)
Day 6: Kuumba (Creativity)
Day 7: Imani (Faith)
Many Black Americans celebrated Kwanzaa in the years shortly after its creation, however, over time the numbers started to exponentially decrease. As a result, there is a huge lack of awareness and misinformation about the meaning of Kwanzaa as it is often minimized to being viewed as “Black Christmas” or a made-up Afro-centric holiday. In the age of social media, some people use their platforms to educate their followers about this day as a way to raise awareness and inspire more people to celebrate.
