Posted on 12/26/2011 9:47:45 AM PST by BenLurkin
LOS ANGELES (CBS) A parade will be held along Crenshaw Boulevard Monday to mark the start of the seven-day African American festival of Kwanzaa.
The theme of the 35th annual Kwanzaa Gwaride Parade and Festival will be A New Paradigm, according to R.W. Akile for People of Color, which organizes the parade and festival.
The festivities are set to begin at noon at the corner of Crenshaw and Adams boulevards and will then head south along Crenshaw to Leimert Park.
The celebration of the 45th anniversary of Kwanzaa is a significant marker and milestone in itself, not only because of what it says about the expansive message and enduring meaning that Kwanzaa has for millions throughout the world African community, but also because of what it says about us as a people, Maulana Karenga wrote in his annual founders message.
For it speaks to our profound commitment to self-determination, to cultural reaffirmation and the celebration of ourselves; to our right and responsibility to speak our own special cultural truth in a multicultural world and to the practice and promotion of Kwanzaas core principles, the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the hub and hinge on which the holiday turns.
Kwanzaa was created by Karenga in 1966 and is observed from Dec. 26 though Jan. 1. Its focus is on seven principles unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
The seven principles of Kwanzaa are values that we as Angelenos all hold dear, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.
During the week, a candelabrum called a Kinara is lit, and ears of corn representing each child in the family are placed on a traditional straw mat.
Some people fast during the holiday, and a feast is often held on its final night.
Corny holiday created by a Marxist Felon from a crayon book in his jail cell....
HAHA! Ya, but its the thought(s) that count! /s
Another fake religion, just like Islam and their pedophile prophet.
I wonder how much Ron Karenga is making off Kwanzaa this year.
I smell a DNE (Domestic Nike Event) on the horizon!!!...
ridiculous
Couldn’t laugh any harder!
He has a pretty good gig as Professor at Cal State. But sure he rakes in considerable $$ from Kwanzaa.
You know, I work in a 98% minority environment and I have not heard one word about Kwanza this year. We’re talking memphis, TN here and nothing.
People of color...? Does that mean that sunburned WHITE people could join? How about green or blue skinned aliens?
One day several years ago, when I was walking past some faculty offices at Cal State Long Beach, I was rather shocked to pass the office of a "Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga." The last time I had heard of Ron Karenga, he had been in a shootout on the UCLA campus when his gang, the United Slaves, got into a firefight with their rivals, the Black Panthers. I thought at first that this could be a different Ron Karenga, but no, it was the same one.
You may be right. I don't know of anyone who actually celebrates Kwanzaa.
Unless they are passing out freebies, I don’t expect there will be many in attendance.
Kwanzza? that is still around?
Same here. I, too, live in Memphis and hear only crickets chirpping when it comes to this non-event. Only hearabout when it comes up in places like this or a newscast. Otherwise, I could give a rat’s a#*
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