[Michelle 053002]

I got a book on Kwanzaa and I like what it celebrates & I think it would be great to teach my daughter about her AA heritage, so here is my questions( I do not mean to offend any one) my hubby & I are both white, can we celebrate Kwanzaa with her as a way to teach her or would that be wrong & disrespectful since we don't share that heritage. We want her to understand & be proud of who she is. Her Bmom doesn't have contact(her choice- we send her pics & letters) or I would ask her. Any advice would be appreciated.
Michelle

Hi,

I think this is a great idea! You and your husband could find out
what musuem or organization is having an event and take her or you could go to you local library and pick up some books on Kwanzaa and celebrate it at your house.

My mother who is (aa) took her nephew's German girlfriend(they were visiting from Germany) and their daughter who is biracial to a Kwanzaa celebration held at an african american museum. All of them loved it. The first candle was lit, a little history given, and some children and adults did an african dance. Even though the baby was 2 she was mesmerized by it all. She clapped and even tried to mimick some of the singing and dancing . Her mother really enjoyed it also.

Traditionally my mother does a ceremony and has the rest of my extended family over. She passes out small gifts and has dinner. Gifts are made not bought. She also asks family memebers to wear something afro-centric -even if it is just a hat, or scarf.

As a childrens's librarian let me recommend a few books:

young child

My first Kwanzaa book by Deborah Chocolate
Kente Colors " "
Seven Days of Kwanzaa by Ella Grier
Seven Candles for Kwanzaa by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Kwanzaa by A.P. Porter
Story of Kwanzaa by Donna L Washington

A great craft book is Crafts for Kwanzaa by Kathy Ross

As a former teacher and a children's librarian I like to share a book, share a food item and do a craft so that it's memorable because you use all the senses-touch, taste, smell and hearing.

You can check at Borders or B. Dalton for newer books also if you want to buy.

The kinara (candle holder can be pricey but shop around Ive seen them range between 30-60 dollars, but if you can find the whole set it might be better. If your husband is handy he could make the kinara and unity cup out of wood.

Linens and Things or Bed Bath and Beyond will have the black candles (sometimes they are hard to find).

Hope these helps! Let me know how it goes

[Jensboys]

we celebrate Kwanzaa here. We are the cauc. parents of two aa boys and do the celebration dinner. Admittedly, it probably isnt recognizable to anyone who has ever been to a kwanzaa celebration anywhere else ... but we do the best we can!

Kids LOVE it too!

[crysmith]

I think it's a great idea. My husband and I are AA and will be adopting an AA baby. I've been going to Kwanzaa festivities for the past 7 years and I love celebrating and learning about my heritage. I think to give a child that gift is a wonderful way to introduce them to a heritage they can be proud of. Kudos to you for making that effort!

[Brat]

I think that's an excellent idea! There are lots of meaningful and beautiful ways that you can enjoy Kwanzaa in your home. What a great tradition to start now with your daughter.

Just so you know, every public Kwanzaa ceremony I have attended has been a celebration of African American pride and an encouragement for us to stand together to overcome our struggles, rooted in the days of slavery. Meaning, there is the possibility that you may encounter speakers that may make you and your husband feel singled out, as my husband has in the past. I say that to you just to let you know what may occur, and in the hopes that you will go anyways, prepared. What a gift to your daughter to be exposed to a celebration that encourages her to develop strong values that will encourage her to think beyond herself, and care for the needs of others.

While created to promote African American unity, I think the basic principles of Kwanzaa are universal and, hopefully, the themes can be embraced by anyone. I took the following from the Kwanzaa website.

Umoja (Unity)
To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kuumba (Creativity)
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

I hope you enjoy your time with your daughter. What a thoughtful mom.

[frances93]

I think that would be great if you participated in a Kwanzaa celebration. I am AA and don't celebrate it. I had never even heard of it until a few years ago when I worked at a AA youth organization that celebrated it with the children, but I think the principles are universal and anyone could celebrate it. I think that your proactive approach to educating your children about their heritage is fantastic.