Joy of Kwanzaa

The now-infamous Texaco executives were caught on tape deriding Kwanzaa, the seven-day African American harvest celebration that occurs just after Christmas. In fact, many people, including some blacks, are not sure what the holiday is all about.

This weekend in Pasadena, there will be an effort to educate people of all races about Kwanzaa (the Swahili words means “first fruits”). The highlight is a keynote lecture by Maulana Karenga, the chairman of the department of black studies at Cal State Long Beach and the man who created Kwanzaa 30 years ago.

Karenga will touch on Kwanzaa as a celebration that promotes African American unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

The two-day free event features workshops on Kwanzaa, ethnic food, a marketplace, music, a black heritage fashion show and hair care lecture, and performances by local youth.

Time and Place: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Karenga will speak at 3 p.m. Sunday; Jackie Robinson Center, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena.

Information: (818) 794-1585.

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