History of Kwanzaa, Best Small Cities In America, 2013 Wisconsin News Roundup

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time

Today is the second day of Kwanzaa, a holiday primarily celebrated in African-American communities. Rob Ferrett and Gene Purcell learn about the history of Kwanzaa and why the holiday is still relevant today. Then we ask you what makes your small city a wonderful place to live, and we get a roundup of the top state news stories of 2013.

Featured in this Show

  • Kwanzaa Has Persevered Because Of Its Inclusiveness

    Friday is the second day of Kwanzaa, a holiday celebrated primarily by African-American communities every year from Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. The holiday is only 47 years old, and an expert in African-American studies said it’s persevered because it’s inclusive.

    Keith Mayes, an associate professor and chair in the Department of African American Studies, said Kwanzaa doesn’t have any religious affiliation and is a holiday that appeals to all communities.

    “The principles of Kwanzaa … these are not black principles. Unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, faith. These types of principles resonate not only within the African-American community, they resonate beyond blacks, and I think that Kwanzaa’s endurance may lie in the fact that the principles are universal principles,” Mayes said.

    Kwanzaa is celebrated over seven days and each day commemorates one of seven principles central to creating strong communities: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, a sense of purpose, creativity with a focus on making the community better and faith.

    Mayes said the holiday gives people a sense of historical grounding. It’s a time to talk about the past, and to also take stock of who you are as a community.

    “It’s a backward-looking cultural tradition, it’s a present-looking one, as well as a forward-looking one…It’s important because you’re able to do this…annually. Just take stock of where you are as a community,” he said. “Kwanzaa does that.”

  • The History Of Kwanzaa

    Today is the second day of Kwanzaa, celebrated for seven days from December 26th to January 1st every year. A professor of African-American studies explains the origins of Kwanzaa and why the holiday is still relevant today.

  • 2013 Wisconsin News Roundup

    As 2013 comes to a close we look back on some of the top news stories of the year in Wisconsin.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Amanda Magnus Producer
  • Keith Mayes Guest
  • Noah Ovshinsky Guest

Related Stories