'Together for Kwanzaa' - Read and Rise Book Club December 2020
Today is the first day of Kwanzaa! If you're unfamiliar, Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that lasts from December 26 to January 1. Kwanzaa was created and first celebrated in the 1960's as a way for African Americans to connect with their African culture and heritage and is often celebrated in addition to Christmas or other religious holidays. Each of the seven days is dedicated to celebrating one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Our story today will introduce you to the seven principles of Kwanzaa as well as some of the symbols, like the kinara and mkeka mat.
Featured story: "Together for Kwanzaa" by Juwanda G. Ford
Activity: Make your own mkeka mat! A traditional mkeka can be made from straw or African cloth and uses the colors black, red, and green. Black stands for the color of the people, red for the blood that unites all people of African ancestry, and green for the rich land of Africa. Here is a great tutorial for making your own paper mkeka: Kwanzaa Mkeka Mat Craft
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