There is an old saying, “You can light the lamp or curse the darkness.” Certainly Dr. Mualana Karenga, a professor and the chairman of the Black Studies department at California State University at Long Beach, had seen the darkness. He witnessed it first hand in August of 1965 during the “Watts Riots” — six days of burning, looting, property destruction, death and injury incited by angry African-Americans, who decided they could no longer tolerate their living conditions in the rundown Watts section of Los Angeles, or their treatment by the white power structure, especially the L.A. Police Department, which was considered one of the most racist, corrupt and brutal police departments in the country.
But rather than curse that dark time, Dr. Karenga decided to light a lamp. The following year, he organized a holiday that had its roots in the cultures of African tribes from the past and present. His hope was that this holiday would serve as an antidote to Watts, and the conditions that caused the riots, by celebrating and calling America’s attention to the very best of African-American family traditions, communities and culture
He called his holiday Kwanzaa — from the Swahili word for “first fruits of the harvest” — and he modeled it after research he had done on ancient African “first-fruit” harvest celebrations, in particular those observed by the Ashanti and Zulu tribes.
Dr. Karenga established Kwanzaa as a seven-day observance that begins every December 26 and lasts until the New Year, but it is a misperception that he intended to establish a “black Christmas.” In fact, he never intended Kwanza to be a strictly religious holiday. His idea was that Kwanzaa would be a mixture of individual family observances interspersed with a number of traditional Kwanzaa rituals, including songs, dances, African drums, story-telling and poetry readings.
In addition, Dr. Karenga’s Kwanzaa is organized around five fundamental activities, including the gathering of family and friends, reverence for the creator and creation, commemoration of the past — including honoring family ancestors — a recommitment to the ideals of the community, and the celebration of life and achievement. Another related tradition during Kwanzaa is to have young family members light the mishumaa — the seven candles of Kwanzaa — to honor the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Those principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, economic cooperation, purpose, creativity and faith. In addition, each night of Kwanzaa time is set aside to discuss what these principles mean and how they can build and reinforce a sense of community and heritage among all African-Americans.
Today Kwanzaa is celebrated by some 20 million people around the world, a tribute to Dr. Karenga, an unsung hero not just of African-American history, but of history.
Bruce Kauffmann’s e-mail address is bruce@historylessons.net.
Schools
BRUCE KAUFFMAN: Learn about the man who created Kwanzaa
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Official: Indiana among first 10 states to get ed waiver
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ISU presents Sycamore Hoopla; activities kick off Friday
Indiana State University’s Hulman Center will host its sixth annual Sycamore Hoopla Friday and Saturday.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: This little-known compromise may have saved the union
When the Constitution was signed in September of 1787 and sent to the Congress that then existed under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was instructed to send that Constitution to the states to be ratified … or not. The message to the states was clear: Accept the Constitution or reject it, but don’t try to change it.
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College plans Prom Expo on Feb. 19
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ISU offering tech ed scholarships to VU grads
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Fort Harrison State Park to host winter wildlife workshop
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Riverton Parke's winter king and queen
Seniors Gary Secuskie and Taylor Mansinne were named King and Queen of the Riverton Parke Winter 2012 Homecoming.
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Four alumni receive GOLD awards from Indiana State University
A former collegiate football standout and a trio known for selling humorous holiday apparel received the Indiana State University Alumni Association’s Graduate of the Last Decade Award this year.
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Indiana State students hear view from Cuba
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College to celebrate homecoming
Lincoln Trail College will celebrate homecoming on Feb. 18.
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Valley middle schoolers ready for MATHCOUNTS
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Indiana State education major takes teaching to Siberia
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Lincoln Trail College honors
Lincoln Trail College has released its academic honor lists for the Fall 2011 semester.
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Vigo schools see grad rate rise
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Rose-Hulman to help address need for advancing railroad technologies
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is stepping back into its past and addressing a need to advance the nation’s transportation system by educating the next generation of railroad engineers.
Chauncey Rose, an entrepreneur and builder of railroads, came to western Indiana in 1817. -
Take the Plunge for Special Olympics on Feb. 11 at ISU
Join Mayor Duke Bennett, Indiana State University Police Chief Bill Mercier, Terre Haute and ISU Police departments, GFS Marketplace, Mix-FM, the men of Pi Kappa Alpha and the ladies of Alpha Sigma Alpha at the Fourth Annual Terre Haute Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Indiana on Feb. 11.
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Valley woman’s recipe featured by Taste of Home
Taste of Home magazine has honored a Riverton Parke Jr.-Sr. High School Foods Services employee for her recipe.
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College Goal Sunday set for Feb. 12 at Ivy Tech
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College to offer aeronautics classes at Robinson airport
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Agreement to further college’s international initiatives
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Otter Creek Middle School to celebrate 50 years
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College savings campaign kicks off statewide
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Freedom of religion — beliefs and actions
Because religious faith is, arguably, the quintessential example of our right to privacy, to say nothing of its prominent place in our First Amendment, throughout our history court cases involving the free exercise of religion have been handled with great trepidation and with particular care. One of the milestone “free exercise” religion cases, Davis v. Beason, was decided by the Supreme Court this week (Feb. 3) in 1890.
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