| My very first job, as a lowly assistant to an | | | | matter what their color." Maya Angelou |
| assistant advertising manager, was the job that | | | | Second Day of Kwanzaa: Self Determination |
| first brought me into contact with Kwanzaa. It | | | | "It isn't where you came from, it's where you're |
| wasn't called Kwanzaa then. In fact, Kwanzaa | | | | going that counts." Ella Fitzgerald |
| didn't even exist then. | | | | Third Day of Kwanzaa: Work and Responsibility |
| What I learned about was a wonderful holiday | | | | "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone |
| celebrated by American plantation slaves during | | | | else." Booker T. Washington |
| the week between Christmas and New Years. | | | | Fourth Day of Kwanzaa: Cooperation in Economics |
| They cooked special dishes, created special gifts, | | | | "If the fingers of one hand quarrel, they cannot |
| and sang special songs. | | | | pick up the food." Kenyan proverb |
| I learned about this tradition in a book called | | | | Fifth Day of Kwanzaa: Purpose |
| "Christmas Gif' " which Follett Publishing Company | | | | "If a man hasn't discovered something that he will |
| published that year. I was very proud to be part | | | | die for, he isn't fit to live." Martin Luther King, Jr. |
| of its promotion. "Christmas Gif' " has long been | | | | Sixth Day of Kwanzaa: Creativity |
| out of print, but I still remember the joy that | | | | "Create and be true to yourself, and depend only |
| shone through the pages. | | | | on your own good taste." Duke Ellington |
| Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966, | | | | Seventh Day of Kwanzaa: Faith (also a day of |
| basing the celebration on the "first fruits" | | | | meditation) |
| celebrations of African heritage. Black, red and | | | | "I believe that everyone is keeper of a dream -- |
| green decorate the seven candles that are the | | | | and by tuning into one another's secret hopes, we |
| centerpiece of the celebration, as well as African | | | | can become better friends, better partners, |
| arts and banners. This is a colorful, joyful | | | | better parents, and better lovers." Oprah Winfrey |
| celebration. | | | | When I set up my website |
| Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration, each of | | | | Inspirational-Quotes-Café.com, I knew I |
| seven days having its own designation. Consider | | | | had to include some of the very inspirational, |
| the majesty and joy of Kwanzaa through the | | | | motivational quotes of Kwanzaa. This is a deeply |
| words of some of the leaders of this community: | | | | felt celebration that touches every corner of the |
| First Day of Kwanzaa: Unity | | | | African American experience. |
| "We all should know that diversity makes for a | | | | I invite you to share it, too, with the quotes here, |
| rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the | | | | and those at the website. |
| threads of the tapestry are equal in value no | | | | |