Slate's Bizbox
recycled: Previously published Slate articles made new.

KwanzaaHow the Watts riots helped create a new kind of American holiday.


Posted Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, at 1:55 PM ET

Yesterday marked the first day of the weeklong celebration of Kwanzaa. Each year, millions of African-Americans celebrate their heritage by observing the holiday, which honors a medley of African and African-American customs and traditions, as well as instructs—each of the seven days offers a Horatio-Alger-like principle of self-improvement. In this December 1996 "Gist," Carol M. Beach explains how Kwanzaa morphed from an attempt to elevate a socio-political cause (cultural security for black Americans) to the exalted status of religious festival. She also explores the ways in which Kwanzaa, like Hanukkah, has since been altered by the competitive commercial force of Christmas.

Print This ArticlePRINTDiscuss this in The FrayDISCUSSEmail to a FriendE-MAIL
Share on FacebookPost to MySpace!Share with MixxDigg ThisShare with RedditShare with del.icio.usShare with FurlShare with Ma.gnolia.comShare with SphereShare with Stumble Upon
Photograph of the father and son lighting candles on Slate's home page from Royalty-Free/Corbis.
Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum
What did you think of this article?
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES
Washington Post
The Washington Post
OPINIONS
Assessing Sarah Palin
| Newt Gingrich, Grover Norquist, John Podesta and others weigh in.
Colbert King: She's No HillaryEditorial: Is She Ready for This?
PLUS » PostPartisan: Quick Takes from Opinions