As an African American and Pan-African
holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world African community, Kwanzaa
brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be
African and human in the fullest sense. Given the profound significance Kwanzaa
has for African Americans and indeed, the world African community, it is
imperative that an authoritative source and site be made available to give an
accurate and expansive account of its origins, concepts, values, symbols and
practice.
Moreover, given the continued rapid growth of Kwanzaa and the
parallel expanded discussion of it and related issues, an authoritative source
which aids in both framing and informing the discussion is likewise of the
greatest importance. Therefore, the central interest of this website is to
provide information which reveals and reaffirms the integrity, beauty and
expansive meaning of the holiday and thus aids in our approaching it with the
depth of thought, dignity, and sense of specialness it deserves.
The holiday, then will of necessity, be engaged as an ancient and
living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought and
practice in its reaffirmation of the dignity of the human person in community
and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the
environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a
people's culture. It is within this understanding, then, that the Organization
Us, the founding organization of Kwanzaa and the authoritative keeper of the
tradition, has established and maintains this website.
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*Material on this site is summarized from:
Maulana Karenga (2008).
Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture.
Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press
(www.sankorepress.com)
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