December 26 • 1966 • mixed • 3 views

The First Kwanzaa

The first Kwanzaa was celebrated in Los Angeles in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, an activist, as a cultural holiday for African Americans after the Watts Rebellion, providing an alternative to Christmas to foster self-celebration and unity based on African harvest traditions, emphasizing principles like Unity, Self-Determination, and Faith. It's a non-religious, week-long event (Dec 26 - Jan 1) focusing on family, community, and cultural heritage, with symbols like the Kinara (candle holder) and discussions of the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles).

Sources

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa#:~:text=11%20External%20links-,History%20and%20etymology,revolution%20before%20the%20violent%20revolution.