Kwanzaa
Supporting Rio teachers with resources for monthly celebrations
December 26th - January 1st
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture that is held from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually held on the 6th day. It was created by Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of Africa, including West and Southeast Africa. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966. American Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 during the aftermath of the Watts riots as a specifically African-American holiday. Karenga said his goal was to "give blacks an alternative to the existing holiday of Christmas and give blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." For Karenga, a major figure in the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the creation of such holidays also underscored the essential premise that "you must have a cultural revolution before the violent revolution. The cultural revolution gives identity, purpose, and direction."
Resources
History
Songs
Children Books
Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford
My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
Seven Spools of Thread by Angela Shelf Medearis
My First Kwanzaa Book by Deborah Chocolate
The Story of Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington
Imani’s Gift at Kwanzaa by Denise Burden-Patmon
Lil’ Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington
Habari Gani?: What’s the News? : A Kwanzaa Story by Sundaira Morninghouse
Wood-Hoopoe Willie by Virginia Kroll
Find teaching resources for a wide variety of holidays and celebrations. Fun and engaging activities for special occasions such as the 100th day of school, Pi Day, Holidays, monthly heritages and many others.