Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday, created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor at California State University in 1966. That makes it the 40th Anniversary of this beautiful, still flowering tradition. Each year, Kwanzaa has become more popular and active.

In Sacramento, several people and institutions are responsible for its growth as a tradition, particularly Michael Harris, Wo’se Church, Carol’s Books, and Straight Out Scribes, the team of mother-daughter poets that rarely performs in Sacramento unfortunately.

The Guru first encountered Kwanzaa in San Diego in 1993, invited by several friends who were members of the African-American Student Union at U.C. San Diego. One of the community rooms on campus was packed to the gills as the ceremony first began. At the time, the Guru didn’t know that it was a specifically African-American holiday but assumed that it grew out of African tradition and was simply being reclaimed. In many ways, that’s what it was intended to be, a revival and celebration of African roots.

But in the African diaspora of the United States, Kwanzaa has much meaning beyond reclaiming roots, it is about building the context of community, umoja, out of the foundation of those historical roots and modern choices. People choose to adopt Kwanzaa’s traditions, to learn about them, and to teach them. That is powerful, magical, and spiritual.
Later this afternoon, Michael Harris will help lead the opening of Kwanzaa for 2006 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sanfoka Hall in the Florin Arts and Business Center. See the calendar link: http://sacramento.downtowngrid.com/vcalendar/event_view.php?event_id=776563. All are welcome to atttend this free public event.
Here are a few links to visit:

1. Michael Harris’ recent post on Indybay: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/12/23/18340093.php

2. Relles Florist, interestingly enough, has a wonderful short description of the holiday: http://www.rellesflorist.com/traditions.html?which=/traditions/traditions-NA-12.html#kwanzaa

3. The Official Kwanzaa Web Site: http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/7principles.shtml