Service of the Word: Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 10 am
Sermon: “Kwanzaa: An Introduction”
Presented by: The Park Church Racial Justice Team
📖 Scripture Readings: Colossians 3:12-17 and Luke 2:41-52
Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday celebrated primarily by African Americans to honor
African heritage and values. It was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a
professor and chair of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach,
CA and a central figure in the Black Power movement and an advocate for African-
centered ideologies. Kwanzaa is rooted in African traditions and principles,
emphasizing unity, self-determination, and cultural pride. Through his creation of
Kwanzaa and contributions to Africana Studies, Dr. Maulana Karenga has left an
indelible mark on African American culture, promoting a deeper understanding of
African heritage and principles in modern society.
Like the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, Kwanzaa has the lighting of candles that each
have a special meaning. The kinara in which the candles are placed in is to represent
the seven principles of Kwanza which are: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-
determination), Ujima (collective work & responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative
economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).
December 26 (Unity - Umoja): The black candle in the center of the kinara is
lit first. It symbolizes unity in the family, community, nation, and race. It is the
foundation of the celebration.
December 27–January 1: Each subsequent night, a new candle is lit,
alternating between red (representing struggle) and green (representing hope
and the future):
December 27 (Self-Determination - Kujichagulia): The far-left red candle.
Kujichagulia, or Self-Determination means to define, name, create, and speak
for oneself.
December 28 (Collective Work and Responsibility - Ujima): The far-right
green candle. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) means to build and
maintain the community together, making our brothers’ and sisters’ problems
our problems and solving them together.
December 29 (Cooperative Economics - Ujamaa): The next red candle (left of
the black candle). Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) encourages us to build and
maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them
together.
December 30 (Purpose - Nia): The next green candle (right of the black
candle). Nia (Purpose) means to make our collective vocation the building and
developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional
greatness.
December 31 (Creativity - Kuumba): The final red candle. Kuumba
(Creativity) encourages us to do always as much as we can, in any way we can,
in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we
inherited it.
January 1 (Faith - Imani): The final green candle. Imani (Faith) acknowledges a
profound and enduring belief in and commitment to all that is of value to us as
a family, community, people and culture.
The lighting ceremony each evening is typically accompanied by reflections,
discussions, or readings about the principle of the day. This ritual fosters mindfulness
and reinforces the values of Kwanzaa.
The Park Church represents and understands the assignment given it’s history as part
of a network of freedom, and today stands strong with their community as that stands
against oppression and discrimination, while offering compassion and unity, which is
what Kwanzaa is all about.
As we begin this new celebration of Kwanzaa, I would like you think of the history
and suffering that has bought us together for a common cause. Without unity, there is
no victory in the game of life. When we light the first candle, let us rejoice in the
spirit of Harmony.
Kwanzaa represents more than the Black struggles, it shows the fight between Good
vs Evil. It is the testament on far we have come and still have to go. I hope to one day
see more people taking part in this celebration. As you continue to celebrate, I
encourage you to get involved. Be an activist; spread the word of this celebration.