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SHARE YOUR PHOTOS: Did You Attend Today's Kwanzaa Parade?

Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga, formerly Ronald Mckinley Everett, who is now chair of Cal State Long Beach's Department of Africana Studies,

A parade was held along Crenshaw Boulevard today to mark the start of the seven-day African-American festival of Kwanzaa with Compton Mayor Aja Brown serving as the Iyaba, or queen.

The theme of this year's 37th annual Kwanzaa Gwaride Parade and Festival is "On the Agenda," reflecting a need to read, watch, listen and chat, according to People of Color, which organizes the parade and festival.

Activist Najee Ali was named the Oba, or king, and Betty Pleasant, contributing editor for the Los Angeles Wave, the Yeye Iyaba, queen mother.

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The parade was set to begin at 11 a.m. at the corner of Crenshaw and Adams boulevards, then head south along Crenshaw to Leimert Park. A festival will follow in Leimert Park.

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a Swahili name for the former Ronald Mckinley Everett, who is now chair of Cal State Long Beach's Department of Africana Studies, in what he called "an audacious act of self- determination."

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Kwanzaa's focus is the "Nguzo Saba," the Seven Principles -- unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

SHARE YOUR PHOTOS OF TODAY'S FESTIVAL AND PARADE WITH PATCH.

During the week, a candelabrum called a Kinara is lit, and ears of corn representing each child in the family are placed on a traditional straw mat.

African foods such as millet, spiced pepper balls and rice are often served. Some people fast during the holiday, and a feast is often held on its final night.

A flag with three bars -- red for the struggle for freedom, black for unity and green for the future -- is sometimes displayed during the holiday.

Kwanzaa is based on the theory of Kawaida, which espouses that social revolutionary change for black America can be achieved by exposing blacks to their cultural heritage.

"Each season and celebration of Kwanzaa reaffirms our commitment as African people to create, celebrate and sustain good in the world," Karenga wrote in his annual founder's message.

"For rightly conceived, the celebration of Kwanzaa is about embracing ethical views and values and practicing principles which are directed toward remaking the world so that the goodness of the world can be shared and enjoyed by us and everyone."

A poll commissioned by the National Retail Federation and conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics Oct. 1-8 found that of the 91.7 percent of the 6,415 adults surveyed who said they would celebrate any of the winter holidays, 2.8 percent said they would celebrate Kwanzaa, compared to 94.8 percent for Christmas and 6.5 percent for Hanukkah.

-- City News Service


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