Happy holidays, dear reader. As we come to the close of another year, it is my honor to have a column in the historic Amsterdam News. It is my sincere hope that this year has treated you well, and you learned about yourself, others and more. I also hope that as the holiday season approaches, you will find time to rest, reconnect with yourself and loved ones, and spend a bit of time reflecting on all of the joys this year has brought.
I don’t know about you, but this holiday season snuck up on me. I have yet to purchase a single Christmas gift, which is not like me at all. It’s not that I lack the holiday spirit, it’s just that the fall sped by and before I knew it, Thanksgiving was over and mid-December was upon us. As a dear friend posted, “Christmas is in one week and everyone’s gifts are still in my thoughts and prayers.” This year I am really looking forward to spending quality time with friends and family and am resisting the urge to purchase gifts just because it’s something I have done in the past.
This year I have also decided to celebrate Kwanzaa. I was recently on my colleague Panama Jackson’s podcast “Dear Culture” on thegrio.com. He, our colleague Michael Harriot, and I had a discussion about what Kwanzaa means to us in this particular moment. I did not grow up celebrating Kwanzaa. My parents definitely instilled in my sister and me a deep love and respect for Black people and the African diaspora, but we never celebrated Kwanzaa.
The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits.” This year I am dedicated to observing the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (Unity) to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race; Kujichagulia (Self-Determination); Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility); Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and Imani (Faith).
Kwanzaa begins December 26 and lasts until January 1. The celebration is not a substitute for Christmas. Kwanzaa is a seven-day non-religious holiday observed (primarily) in the U.S. and is meant to honor African Americans’ ancestral roots. Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by California State University at Long Beach professor Maulana Karenga, a Black nationalist and professor of Pan-African studies.
As I light my Kwanzaa candles this year I will reflect on all of the accomplishments of my people, goals I would like to set for the upcoming year, and a reflection of the struggles and triumphs of Black people throughout the diaspora.
I do hope you have a rest-filled holiday season and spend time asking yourself what would make you happy in the upcoming new year. So, happy holidays to you and yours, near and far.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” and the co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio.