TEMECULA
– Kwanzaa is an opportunity for families to gather and celebrate
their rich cultural heritage. Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration from
Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 that was the brainchild of Dr. Maulana
Karenga, a professor and chairman of Black studies at California
State University Long Beach in 1966. At a time when rioting was
prevalent near where Karenga lived and worked, he thought a
celebration to unite African Americans as a community and help them
reconnect with their African heritage could benefit his community.The
name “Kwanzaa” is from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,”
which means “first fruits of the harvest.” Kwanzaa pays homage to
the traditional harvests that take place in Africa during December
and January. Kwanzaa presents another way to refle
