The seven principles of Kwanzaa will be celebrated through a host of events across the Chicago area, but some event leaders are adamant that the traditionally African American holiday’s meaning is for everyone.
The celebration, created in 1966, kicks off Thursday and runs for a week, with each day honoring a different principle of Kwanzaa.
Malcolm X College has held a Kwanzaa celebration for nearly 20 years. Throughout the holiday, the school will host live music, art, shopping markets, dance performances and more from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the first floor of the college, at 1900 W. Jackson Blvd.
While the seven-day celebration showcases African culture from art to hair care, the college's leader says the holiday is not just relevant to African American people.
“It's relevant to all people if you really understand the true essence of what Kwanzaa is all about,” said Malcolm X College President David Sanders.
Sanders rejects the often divisive political and social climate across the country and says the “polarization” of the times “does not really benefit us.”
“Once we unify and we come together and figure out what's the best course of action, we're better as a nation, and the polarization of the world that's there today — that has us not talking to one another and going in our separate little (groups) — it really doesn't benefit us. It just makes us opposing factions. And Kwanzaa really fights against it.”
Unity and community strength are the prevailing goals of the holiday, Sanders said. “Kwanzaa is about defining and remembering the principles that made us great.”
Those seven principles are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).
At the Bronzeville Children’s Museum, founder Peggy Montes spends the few days before Christmas preparing her museum for its yearly Kwanzaa celebration. She mocked up some examples of the craft she will have her 80-something visitors create: a paper mask with the seven principles flowing off of it that the kids can color and put together.
“It’s important because it’s the celebration of the culture and the history of our African-American people here in the United States and their contributions that they have made,” said Montes, 88. “It is a wonderful way of bringing community and everybody else to understand our traditions and how we can continue to celebrate Kwanzaa not just during (this week), but throughout the year.”
The Bronzeville Children’s Museum, which Montes notes is the only African-American history museum for children, has celebrated Kwanzaa since the museum opened 26 years ago.
As Montes sets up a traditional Kwanzaa altar in her museum, she positions a kinara (candleholder), seven candles, a basket of fruit and vegetables under a “Happy Kwanzaa” banner. The altar will be ready for the celebration Thursday afternoon featuring storytelling by the “Kwanzaa King” (a yearly up-for-grabs role), crafts, singing and face painting. The museum and its Kwanzaa celebration is meant for children ages 4-9.
Sobenna Worrill’s group Chi-Village is celebrating its second annual celebration for the holiday. Worrill, the daughter of Chicago activist, professor and writer Conrad Worrill, said the holiday is “an opportune time” for Black Americans to rally and get ready for the coming year.
Chi-Village was founded in 2020 to provide support for independent performing artists, Worrill said.
“It's a holiday that's an African-American tradition, and so in order for us to ensure that we don't lose our traditions, we need to make sure the next generation knows about the principles of Kwanzaa,” said Worrill.
“This is a harvest holiday so it's rooted in coming together and essentially planting seeds for the next year. … This is an opportune time, especially for Black people, for us to take advantage of the space that we have to come together, for us to work, for us to prepare for the next year and for us to build community and make it stronger.”
The celebration, featuring wellness workshops, vendors, pop-up shows and fashion shows, will be held Thursday at the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center, 10201 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
“Now that the track center is open, and that was one of the last projects that he worked on before he passed away (in 2020), it's only right you know that we have it in that space,” she said.
Though celebrations usually start the day after Christmas, the principles don't conflict with the Dec. 25 holiday, Worrill says.
“Some people believe that it's a religious holiday and that is trying to take the place of Christmas, which is not true.
"Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday. It's about the community coming together and it celebrates the African diaspora and the many traditions that are shared amongst African people.”
