Ever since I was little I have heard
about Kwanzaa and never celebrated it. Even when everyone was in that
crazy Spike Lee induced Malcolm X phase no one I knew was trying to
celebrate Kwanzaa. It wasn't until today when a guy at Best Buy
wished me a happy Kwanzaa that I thought “What the hell is
Kwanzaa?” The fact that it doesn't have to be spell checked means
its a real thing.
Someone named Maulana Karenga created
this holiday back in 1965. It was created as a way for African
Americans to celebrate their own holiday and get in touch with
African roots. The word Kwanzaa comes from Swahili “matunda ya
kawanza” which means “first fruits of the harvest.” I guess.
Meditation and the stufdy of African sultures was also a thing that
was to be done and was called Nguzo Saba which are the seven
principles of African heritage.
