By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
As Kwanzaa, an annual African American and Pan-African holiday celebrating Black culture, family and community, begins Dec. 26, longtime observers are helping guide those new to the tradition. They are offering insight for people interested in celebrating but unsure how to begin.
The holiday lasts until Jan. 1, 2026, ending in a community meal called Karamu. Each day is dedicated to seven principles, also known as the Nguzo Saba. The Kwanzaa principles are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith).
“Kwanzaa offers grounding, especially in a world that often rushes past reflection, and it affirms the importance of honoring Black history, traditions and shared responsibility,” said Lawrielle West, founder of KwanzaaMe, a brand and movement that promotes year-round celebration of the principles of Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 in the aftermath of the Watts riots in 1965, where violent confrontations between Los Angeles police and residents of Watts, Calif., and other majority Black neighborhoods in South-Central Los Angeles took place on Aug. 11, 1965, and lasted for six days. The riots caused the deaths of 34 people, left over 1,000 injured and more than $40 million worth of property destroyed.
The creation of the holiday served as an opportunity to rebuild the Black community and bring them together, giving them a space and time to celebrate their culture, history.
Lynn Cooper, someone who has celebrated Kwanzaa for around 17 years, explained how she came to celebrate Kwanzaa, and how it became the right fit for her and her family.
“I didn’t grow up celebrating Kwanzaa, but I was raised with strong values, tradition and a sense of responsibility to family and community,” said Cooper. “When I became a parent, I wanted to be more intentional about naming those values out loud, such as showing up for each other, contributing to something bigger than ourselves and building with purpose. Kwanzaa offered a framework for doing that.”
Alliah L. Agostini, author of “The Kwanzaa Story,” has similarly found it important as a mother to celebrate Kwanzaa.
“It’s important to me as a Black mother to celebrate and cultivate a safe space for my family to have an opportunity to mindfully focus on these principles that are core to who we are and recharge at home while centering and celebrating our Black identity,” said Agostini.
Cooper said during Kwanzaa they use the principles as a way to guide their conversations.
“Each day offers a chance to reflect on how unity, purpose and faith manifest in our real lives,” said Cooper. “Kwanzaa gives us a moment to pause and take inventory.”
For getting a start in celebrating Kwanzaa, Cooper recommends asking oneself what they want to be more intentional about.
“Pick one of the seven principles and sit with it,” she said. “Talk about it over dinner. Write it down. Ask how it shows up in your life or where it could show up more.”
Agostini suggests reading about the holiday.
“There are a number of books for children about the holiday, but don’t be fooled, picture books are great primers for adults to learn a lot in a little bit of time, too,” she said.
Cooper affirms that people do not need to have a perfectly planned celebration to recognize the holiday.
“It’s about doing something meaningful,” she said. “The holiday meets you where you are and grows with you.”
One common misconception that Cooper would like to debunk is that Kwanzaa is a religious holiday.
“Kwanzaa is cultural and values-based,” said Cooper. “I wish more people understood that Kwanzaa isn’t about replacing traditions or beliefs. It’s about creating intentional space to reflect on who we are, how we care for one another and how we move forward as a community.”
“In a time when so much pulls us apart, Kwanzaa offers families and communities a way to ground themselves in shared values and collective purpose,” she added.
West encouraged people who have never celebrated Kwanzaa before or aren’t sure how to start to be the first in their community, family or circle to begin.