For the past 13 years, The Chicago Branch
of the Association for The Study of African American Life and History has
celebrated the African American Holiday, Kwanzaa. The first Kwanzaa celebration
began in 1966 when Dr. Mulana Karenga, the founder of Kwanzaa, sought to
make the natural and profound connection of African American people to
their ancestral beginnings. Therefore, Kwanzaa as a holiday of first fruits
comes directly out of the tradition of agricultural peoples of Africa who
celebrated and gave thanks for harvests at designated times during the
year.
Kwanzaa for the African community in America
is a season of renewal. It is a time for families and extended families
to come together and interact concerning the continued challenge of our
people in this country to become independent, liberated and self determining.
It is a reason to reaffirm our commitment to the redemption and salvation
of our people in relation to African people throughout the diaspora.
ASALH celebrates an instructional Kwanzaa
with the Greater Chicago Community on Saturday, December 9, 2000 at 11:00
a.m. at the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Library located at 95th and Dr. Martin
King, Jr. Drive. You, your family and friends are invited!
For more information, call (773)375-7278;
(773)568-8951; or (773)602-5159.