According to Essence magazine, 18 million African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa. For them, and the millions of others who want to know more about it, this comprehensive guide explains the traditional ceremonies, foods, clothing, and history of this joyful and spiritual holiday.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
"All ethnic groups seek acceptance in society and their place in the universal order," writes educator Dorothy Winbush Riley. "And each group, through holidays, demonstrates its interpretation of human experience." For millions of African Americans, the week after Christmas is a time to celebrate Kwanzaa by reflecting upon seven principles, among them creativity, cooperation, and faith, which are considered the foundation of successful societies. Riley elaborates upon each of these principles through a combination of first-person narratives, poetry, folktales, quotations, and proverbs. The section on Kujichaguila (self-determination), for example, includes poems from Riley, Nikki Giovanni, and Serena Gordon, and excerpts from Booker T. Washington's Up from Slavery and Michael Jordan's Rare Air. Ultimately, Riley says, the principles of Kwanzaa cannot be relegated to seven days at the end of the year; if we really want to take Kwanzaa to heart, we must live it in every moment.
From Library Journal
Kwanzaa is an African American holiday that began in 1966 as the brainchild of a black studies professsor, Dr. Maulana Karenga. It's an occasion celebrated from December 26 to January 1 and organized around seven principles-unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. In this work, which is helpful in understanding the custom, Riley (My Soul Looks Back 'Less I Forget, LJ 8/93) has illuminated each Kwanzaa principle with chapters replete with poetry, life stories of noted personalities who have benefited from using that particular system, quotations, folktales, and proverbs. Numerous books have been written on this practice, many for children. Two to consider are Karenga's The African American Holiday of Kwanzaa (Univ. of Sankore Pr., 1989) and Haki R. Madhubuti's Kwanzaa (Third World Pr., 1987). A good source, especially for young adult collections.
Ann Burns, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Ann Burns, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best book on Kwanzaa!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Complete Kwanzaa: Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest (Paperback)
I have used the paperback copy for the past two years during Kwanzaa. Each year I find something I missed before. It is the best book for all ages on the subjects. It tells you everything you want to know.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great reference. Riley writes about the holiday,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Complete Kwanzaa: Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest (Hardcover)
This is another great reference source by Riley. She writes and tells everything about the holdiay that anyone needs to know. The book is organized in such a way that you can read a section, gain information, put it down and come back for more. I love this book and the cover is beautiful.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Complete Kwanzaa,
This review is from: The Complete Kwanzaa: Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest (Hardcover)
The book provides some good background information on Kwanzaa, there are only a few sources of information on Kwanzaa. Thus, it presented information that many families will find helpful in learning about Kwanzaa. Yet, I thought the book would go further into depth on the history of each principle. In that respect, the book didn't fulfill my expectations. Yet, the book does give stories that represent each principle, as well as a wealth of recipes. More importantly, the book does make you question are you doing what you love in life.The Kwanzaa Coloring Book
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