Kwanzaa

After gladly accepting the responsibility of organizing the 2011 Kwanzaa event at the Brooklyn Children's Museum, our mayor decides to pay OUR Kwanzaa celebration a visit. HA!

Thank you Mayor Bloomberg for making our celebration that much more special.

Children participate by teaching AND learning. Here, two of the great-grandsonsare sharing the responsibility of reading a few of the principles.

Lighting the Candles starts in the middle with the black one. Then the candles are lit alternating red and green. As each candle is lit, we take turns reading the definition for each principle.

Kwanzaa has always been for the children. Teach yours the Seven Principles as well. They and your community will grow strong.

Our Matriarch welcomes our guests and empowers us to continue.

We can't begin without a proper welcome.

Sometimes we call out the names of loved ones. Perhaps they've been with us at other celebrations or we just want to acknowledge their influence in our lives. Without them, we would not be able to gather the way we do.
Some of the Heroes we respect and honor: Harriet Tubman, Dr Charles R Drew, Benjamin Banneker, Jam Master J, Michael Jackson, any family member or elder who has passed

We pour libation for our ancestors and other spirits to cool and cleanse the event space spiritually and help the rest of the day to go smoothly.

We usually begin by discussing what Kwanzaa is all about, it's literal meaning and explaining the opening including the pouring of libation to open a peaceful event and asking that our ancestors and governing energies be in alignment with our endeavors.