Man who invented kwanzaa

Bunchy was less than thirty years old. People do sometimes change and come in from the cold. The way many of us see it, people who celebrate Kwanzaa and are getting something out of it should hold that high. Somebody has to remember who they were, what they lived and served for. Trial testimony revealed that the women had been whipped with cords, beaten with batons, and seared with irons — while naked — in an effort to elicit confessions that they were conspiring against him.

Those confessions never materialized. Karenga served a few years in prison and later went on to get his doctorate and teach. My stomach lurched as I read about the trial and his conviction. Karenga was found guilty of violence against black women.

What did it mean about the celebration I had embraced? Why did no one talk about his history? The discovery felt like a personal loss and a loss for black culture. And it left me with a dilemma — to embrace Kwanzaa or not. But this year, I will again light the candles every night starting Dec. My yearning for it is a sign that it fulfills its goals; it reminds African Americans of their crucial connections to each other. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.

I will not be shooting any Black Panthers next week because I am Kwanzaa-reform, and we are not that observant. In a interview with Ethnic NewsWatch, Karenga matter-of-factly explained that the forces out to get O. Karenga should know about FBI infiltration. He further noted that the evidence against O. Karenga himself served time, a useful stepping-stone for his current position as a black studies professor at California State University at Long Beach.

Karenga searched for ways to bring African Americans together as a community. Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa.

Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara candleholder , then one of the seven principles is discussed.

The principles, called the Nguzo Saba seven principles in Swahili are values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing community among African-Americans. Kwanzaa also has seven basic symbols which represent values and concepts reflective of African culture. An African feast, called a Karamu, is held on December The candle-lighting ceremony each evening provides the opportunity to gather and discuss the meaning of Kwanzaa.

One candle is lit each evening and the appropriate principle is discussed. The seven principles, or Nguzo Saba are a set of ideals created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle. Unity:Umoja oo—MO—jah To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Self-determination: Kujichagulia koo—gee—cha—goo—LEE—yah To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Cooperative Economics: Ujamaa oo—JAH—mah To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. Purpose: Nia nee—YAH To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Creativity: Kuumba koo—OOM—bah 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.

Faith: Imani ee—MAH—nee To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Mazao, the crops fruits, nuts, and vegetables Symbolizes work and the basis of the holiday.

It represents the historical foundation for Kwanzaa, the gathering of the people that is patterned after African harvest festivals in which joy, sharing, unity, and thanksgiving are the fruits of collective planning and work. Since the family is the basic social and economic center of every civilization, the celebration bonded family members, reaffirming their commitment and responsibility to each other. In Africa the family may have included several generations of two or more nuclear families, as well as distant relatives.

For this reason, an entire village may have been composed of one family. The family was a limb of a tribe that shared common customs, cultural traditions, and political unity and were supposedly descended from common ancestors. The tribe lived by traditions that provided continuity and identity. Tribal laws often determined the value system, laws, and customs encompassing birth, adolescence, marriage, parenthood, maturity, and death.

Through personal sacrifice and hard work, the farmers sowed seeds that brought forth new plant life to feed the people and other animals of the earth.