The Kulture Kidz

Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)

admin — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 02:47:56 +0000

Kwanzaa is holiday celebrated by African-Americans. The holiday was started in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Ph.D in 1966. It lasts from December 26 – January 1 and the foundations of the holiday are based on ancient African festivals. This seven-day celebration was created for African-Americans to think about their African heritage and present state.

The colors for Kwanzaa are black, red, and green — each color has a special meaning.

GREEN – The land of Africa; hope
BLACK – Color of the African race
RED – Blood shed by African ancestors

Kwanzaa’s language and symbols have been derived from the Swahili language. For example, the Swahili words NGUZO SABA means Seven Principles. In the next section, the seven principles are shown.

Nguzo Saba or Seven Principles

Kujichagulia means Self Determination
Nia means Purpose
Kuumba means Creativity
Umoja means Unity
Ujima means Cooperative Work & Responsibility
Ujamaa means Cooperative Economics
Imani means Faith

Kwanzaa Symbols

Now let’s learn about some symbols. There are seven symbols. The English meaning is shown in green below.

Mkeka – the mat
Kinara – the candleholder
Mishumaa Saba – the seven candles
Kikombe cha Umoja – the unity cup
Mazao – the crops
Muhindi – corn
Zawadi - gifts

The Seven Days of Kwanzaa

The Kinara sits on top of the Mkeka. Then the seven candles are placed in the Kinara. The seven candles represent the seven principles. Three red candles go on the right, three green candles go on the left and a black one is placed in the middle. The candles are lit each day beginning with the black one which represents Umoja. Each day after a candle is lit alternately from left to right.

On the final day of Kwanzaa, the children receive gifts. These gifts are usually an educational book, a heritage symbol or a toy/present.

Michelle Obama

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:51:00 +0000

Michelle Obama was born January 17, 1964. She is the wife of Barack Obama and will be the first African American to become the First Lady of the United States. She was born and grew up on the South Side of Chicago and graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

Michelle met Barack when he joined the same law firm where she worked. They were married in October 1992 and have two daughters, Malia Ann and Natasha.

Martin Luther King, Jr (1929-1968)

admin — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 02:50:18 +0000

Martin Luther King, Jr was born January 15, 1929. He graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA in 1948. In 1953 King married Coretta Scott in Marion, Ala. They had four children: Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter, and Bernice.

King most famous speech is called ” I Have A Dream.” He spoke to 250,000 people in the March on Washington on August 28, 1963.

King was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn. by James Earl Ray in 1968. On January 20, 1986 the United States celebrated King’s birthday as a holiday for the first time.

I HAVE A DREAM
(Parts of Speech)

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

Read or listen to the entire speech (new window)