Kwanzaa Celebrations in Grand Rapids, December 26 thru January 1st.
Grand Rapids — Kwanzaa is an original African - American event founded in 1966, by Dr. Maulana Karenga. He was finishing his last year of graduate school during the Watts riot and felt his people had lost touch with their African heritage.
After receiving his Ph.D., he studied ways that African Americans could help themselves and each other. Through the Kwanzaa Celebration, he wanted to unify his people and instill in them a sense of pride in their culture.
Karenga added the extra "a" so the name would have seven letters to match seven principles.
Kwanzaa is not a religious observance. Many celebrate both Christmas and Kwanzaa since Kwanzaa is an African American cultural celebration based on seven principles, with focus on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self - improvement.
The celebration can be done in a number of different ways.
People celebrate over seven days, in one day, two hours or over a few weeks. The important thing is to make the Kwanzaa celebration fit the participants' lifestyles and schedules, and to base the celebration on the Kwanzaa principles.
The Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives is coordinating a virtual, online celebration of Kwanzaa this year. As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads and state health department restrictions limit the number of participants to indoor events, GRAAMA will have its celebration online through the ZOOM portal.
This will be the museum's first online celebration. GRAAMA will host the 1st day focus on the Kwanzaa principle, Umoja.
The Grand Rapids Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host the second day, also online, with focus on the Kwanzaa principle, Kujichagulia.
Meeting log in "The rest of the days have not been secured yet," Bayard said. "If any group would like to host a day, please contact us at: 616-649-3778 or bayardgallery@aol.com" In another Kwanzaa observance, West Michigan Jewels Of Africa LLC, will be host a Kwanzaa Soul Stroll 2020 on December 26, 2020 – Jan 1, 2021.
West Michigan Jewels Of Africa (WMJOA) LLC, a local traditional African drum and dance group located at 1541 Eastern Avenue SE, is inviting the community to stroll and shop Black owned businesses on Eastern from Wealthy Street 49503 to 36th Street.
The Soul Stroll is an opportunity to increase the number of customers who shop local, buy local. This can be achieved by hosting a Kwanzaa display, sign and or poster that WMJOA will supply as needed.
Ms Jewellynne Richardson, WMJOA founding director says, "The stroll is a public invitation for the community to stroll Eastern Avenue SE to learn, shop, fellowship, absorb all the Black - owned businesses – old an new – during our holiday celebration week will show a visual united display of Black Love and Power.
WMJOA will host an outdoor public candle lighting ceremony at the One Stop Culture Shop located at 1541 Eastern SE Grand Rapids, Michigan each evening at 6pm with light refreshment and entertainment.
"This unity in the community cooperative economic collective will provide a season of safe, local shopping while demonstrating a love of self and all the contributions African Americans have contributed throughout the world," Richardson said.
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