A Holiday for African Americans

The first day of Kwanzaa, a weeklong African American holiday, was celebrated Tuesday at a candlelighting ceremony at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

Dozens of African Americans, including local Christian and Nation of Islam leaders, crowded a conference room for the celebration sponsored by Kwanzaa Fest Inc. Organization.

The ceremony featured seven young women (six pictured at right) nominated by the organization as the 1995 Kwanzaa Queens.

Each of the queens represented one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).

Kwanzaa was begun in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, now chairman of the Department of Black Studies at Cal State Long Beach, to provide a holiday for African Americans.

FO