The Complete Kwanzaa: Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest

by Riley, Dorothy Winbush

• ISBN13: 9780785816973
• ISBN10: 0785816976
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: Book Sales

Summary

Celebrated between December 26 and January 1, Kwanzaa is a joyous and deeply meaningful holiday that gives African Americans an opportunity to reunite with family and friends and to pay tribute to their rich cultural heritage. For the millions of African Americans who already celebrate Kwanzaa, as well as for the millions of others who want to know more about it, The Complete Kwanzaa is a comprehensive guide that explains the traditional ceremonies, foods, and history of this joyful and spiritual holiday. Author Dorothy Winbush Riley offers a welcome introduction to the cultural foundations of Kwanzaa, practical tips on how to tailor celebrations to individual circumstances, and directions on how to hold a Karamu feast, as well as recipes. More than just a holiday guide, though, this is a substantive and inspirational explanation of the seven principles of Kwanzaa -- beliefs that can be shared and celebrated year-round. Practical and informative, The Complete Kwanzaa is a welcome source of cultural pride during the holidays and throughout the year. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Dorothy Winbush Riley is the editor of My Soul Looks Back 'Less I Forget: A Collection of Quotations by People of Color. She has edited a series of textbooks on African American history and has also created informational packets for teachers and other community leaders on celebrating Kwanzaa, a focal point in multicultural curricula across the United States. A librarian and administrator in the Detroit school system for twenty years, she is currently principal of an elementary school. Dorothy Winbush Riley is also a mother and grandmother and lives in Detroit

Table of Contents

Special Thanks	xii
An Introduction to Kwanzaa	1	(362)
Harvest of First Fruits	1	(2)
The Origin of Kwanzaa	3	(3)
Reclamation	6	(1)
The Sacred Seven	7	(2)
Universal Principles	9	(7)
How to Use This Book	16	(1)
The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa	17	(3)
The Seven Symbols of Kwanzaa	20	(9)
Setting Up the Seven Symbols	29	(1)
Greetings for the Seven Days of Kwanzaa	30	(1)
Daily Guide for Observing Kwanzaa	31	(2)
Principle 1: Umoja	33	(35)
Without Unity Nothing Is Created: The Meaning of Umoja	34	(3)
From the Core of the Universe: Poetry for Umoja	37	(4)
Harambee: Call to Unity	37	(1)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
The Coming of Eagles	38	(1)
Henry Dumas
My Block	39	(1)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Conceptuality	40	(1)
Mari Evans
Let Us Have Visions: People of Umoja	41	(11)
Brown vs. the Board of Education	41	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Excerpt from Climbing Jacob's Ladder	45	(3)
Andrew Billingsley
Bill and Camille Cosby: Unified	48	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
We Are One, Our Cause Is One: Quotations to Inspire Umoja	52	(3)
Treading on the Singing Drum: Folktales for Umoja	55	(10)
The Three Sisters	55	(4)
Tiaudra Riley
The King of Birds	59	(2)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
I Must Sing! I Must Sing!	61	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Row Together: Proverbs for Umoja	65	(2)
Thoughts for Umoja	67	(1)
Principle 2: Kujichagulia	68	(49)
Definitions Belong to the Definer: The Meaning of Kujichagulia	69	(5)
Stretch Forth Your Mind: Poetry For Kujichagulia	74	(4)
I'm Special	74	(2)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Choices	76	(1)
Nikki Giovanni
Into the Light	77	(1)
Serena Gordon
Naming Themselves: People of Kujichagulia	78	(1)
Oprah Winfrey: Acceptance, Esteem, Love	78	(20)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Excerpt from Up from Slavery	84	(8)
Booker T. Washington
Self-Determined Change of Malcolm X	92	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Excerpt from Rare Air	96	(2)
Michael Jordan
Declare the Truth to the People: Quotations to Inspire Kujichagulia	98	(3)
Power of the Word: Folktales for Kujichagulia	101	(13)
Olagoussa: A Man of Character	101	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Parable of the Eagle	105	(2)
James Aggrey
Wave Your Fingers in the Air	107	(2)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Stormee and Charles	109	(5)
Tiaudra Riley
Wisdom of the Nation: Proverbs for Kujichagulia	114	(1)
Thoughts for Kujichagulia	115	(2)
Principle 3: Ujima	117	(33)
We Are Each Other's Harvest: The Meaning of Ujima	118	(2)
Guided by a Dream: Poetry of Ujima	120	(4)
Paul Robeson	120	(1)
Gwendolyn Brooks
Keep a Dream	121	(1)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
It Takes a Whole Village	122	(1)
Judy Boswell Griffie
Closed Doors	123	(1)
Margaret Adelaide Shaw
The Villagers: People of Ujima	124	(14)
Man Becomes His Dreams	124	(4)
Howard Thurman
Mae Jemison: Transcending Earthly Barriers	128	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
The Policy of Self-Reliance	131	(1)
Julius Nyerere
Jeffrey Howard: ``Think You Can! Work Hard! Get Smart!''	132	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
The Story of Joe Dudley: ``I Am, I Can, I Will''	135	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
We Have Visions: Quotations to Inspire Ujima	138	(2)
From the Griots: Folktales for Ujima	140	(7)
Everybody's Business	140	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
A Parable of the Corn	144	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
The Fruits of Civilization: Proverbs for Ujima	147	(2)
Thoughts for Ujima	149	(1)
Principle 4: Ujamaa	150	(38)
Destiny in Our Hands: The Meaning of Ujamaa	151	(3)
Treasures of My Dreams: Poetry for Ujamaa	154	(4)
Sacred Duty	154	(1)
Sami Bentil
Thanksgiving	155	(1)
William Stanley Braithwaite
The Season of Remembrance	156	(1)
Howard Thurman
After the Record Is Broken	157	(1)
James A. Emanuel
Self-Defining Men and Women: People of Ujamaa	158	(14)
Marie Brown: Agent of Change	158	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
The Church: From Civil Rights to Silver Rights	161	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
A. G. Gaston: Find a Need and Fill It	165	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Barbara Gardner Proctor: Advertising with Value	168	(2)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Don Barden: Springboard to Success	170	(2)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Build Your World: Quotations to Inspire Ujamaa	172	(2)
Gifts of the Creator: Folktales for Ujamaa	174	(10)
Echekwa Liberates Fire	174	(2)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Pelahatchee People	176	(6)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Njambe the Tailor	182	(2)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
To Change the World: Proverbs for Ujamaa	184	(3)
Thoughts for Ujamaa	187	(1)
Principle 5: Nia	188	(39)
Dearer Than Breath: The Meaning of Nia	189	(3)
The Essence of Life: Poetry for Nia	192	(5)
I Shall Light a Candle of Understanding . . .	192	(2)
Lorna Goodison
Excerpt from Delta	194	(1)
Margaret Walker Alexander
Frederick Douglass	195	(2)
Robert Hayden
Destined to Make a Difference: People of Nia	197	(14)
Marian Wright Edelman: Service Is the Purpose of Life	197	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: Committed to Justice	200	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Clara Hale: Determined to Love	204	(2)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Designed with a Purpose	206	(2)
Emmeline King
Excerpt from An Autobiography: Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., American	208	(3)
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
Hear the Voices: Quotations to Inspire Nia	211	(3)
To Reach and to Remember: Folktales for Nia	214	(11)
Shango Oba	214	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
High John de Conquer	217	(4)
Zora Neale Hurston
Kilindi the Helpful	221	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Golden Grains: Proverbs for Nia	225	(1)
Thoughts for Nia	226	(1)
Principle 6: Kuumba	227	(34)
Soul of the Nation: The Meaning of Kuumba	228	(4)
Circle of Hope: Poetry for Kuumba	232	(4)
Survival Lesson #1	232	(1)
Aneb Kgositsile
The Musician Talks About ``Process'' (after Anthony Spoons Pough)	233	(1)
Rita Dove
From The Blue Meridian	234	(1)
Jean Toomer
Life for My Child Is Simple and Good	235	(1)
Gwendolyn Brooks
Dreamers from the Heart: People of Kuumba	236	(11)
Whoopi Goldberg: Harvesting the Imagination	236	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Excerpt from Willing to Pay the Price	239	(2)
Margaret Walker Alexander
Every Man Must Decide	241	(2)
Howard Thurman
Maya Angelou: The Resilient Spirit	243	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
No Unknown Words: Quotations to Inspire Kuumba	247	(3)
Accomplish What You Will: Folktales for Kuumba	250	(9)
Excerpt from Things Fall Apart	250	(3)
Chinua Achebe
Spider Anansi Stories	253	(3)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
On the Eve of Krina	256	(3)
Mamdou Kouyate
Gifts of God: Proverbs for Kuumba	259	(1)
Thoughts for Kuumba	260	(1)
Principle 7: Imani	261	(36)
To Reach Inside Ourselves: The Meaning of Imani	262	(3)
Hold Fast to Faith: Poetry for Imani	265	(7)
Habari Gani-Kwanzaa!	265	(1)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Emoyeni, Place of the Winds	266	(1)
Henry Dumas
Lift Every Voice and Sing	267	(3)
James Weldon Johnson
Each Generation Must Discover Its Mission	270	(1)
Aneb Kgositsile
The Circle of Faith	271	(1)
Tiaudra Riley
Aspire to Be: People of Imani	272	(8)
Diana Ross: Imani and Desire	272	(2)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Excerpt from Along This Way	274	(3)
James Weldon Johnson
The Highest Power	277	(3)
Susan L. Taylor
Wisdom to Understand Oneself: Quotations to Inspire Imani	280	(2)
Strength to Endure: Folktales for Imani	282	(13)
The Mule of Faith	282	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Rise and Fly	286	(5)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
The Fire on the Mountain	291	(4)
Dorothy Winbush Riley
Other People's Wisdom: Proverbs for Imani	295	(1)
Thoughts for Imani	296	(1)
Kwanzaa's Karamu	297	(66)
Celebrate the Journey	298	(6)
The Riley Family's Karamu Brunch	304	(2)
Frank and Beverly Walker's Karamu Dinner	306	(1)
Diane and Cordell Hall's Karamu Feast	307	(4)
Karamu Menus	311	(3)
Karamu Recipes	314	(49)
Glossary and Pronunciation Key	363	(3)
Contributors	366	(5)
Bibliography	371	(6)
Index	377