"A dream deferred is a dream denied" -Langston Hughes
According to Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa was conceived and born in the womb, work and transformative struggles of the Black Freedom Movement. And thus, its essential message and meaning was shaped and shared not only in Sankofa initiatives of cultural retrieval, of the best of our views, values and practices as African peoples. It was also shaped by that defining decade of fierce strivings and struggles for freedom, justice and associated goods waged by Africans and other peoples of color all over the world in the 1960s. 2023 marks the 57th annual celebration of Kwanzaa with the theme, “Kwanzaa, Freedom, Justice and Peace: Principles and Practices for a New World.” Fahima Seck, co-producer/co-host of WPFW’s “What’s at Stake” and co-producer of this program spoke to activist Mollie Bell, straight out of Compton.
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Next, we travel to the East Coast to talk to Bookeem Nyere, of the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO) to tell us more about the significance of The Nguzo Saba, or the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa and Kawaida. Dr. Karenga says, “Kawaida defines itself as and strives mightily to bring forth the “the best of African sensibilities, thought and practice in constant exchange with the world” and thus is developed and directed in the interest of African and human good and the well-being of the world.”
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Kwanzaa is a Pan African celebration of family, community and culture. It is recognized as a celebration and an act of freedom. Dr. Karenga says Kwanzaa is also an act of self-determination and the practice of principles that engenders and sustains liberating ways to understand and assert ourselves in the world.” Here’s Dr. Maulana Karenga on Indigenous Wisdom recovery, transformation and conservation.
Learn more about the history of Kwanzaa, visit officialkwanzaawebsite.org.
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What does it mean to be human? | Sonia Sanchez
A celebration of Life… with legendary poet, professor and scholar-activist Sister Sonya Sanchez exploring the most important question of the 21st century: “What does it mean to be Human?” Held at a TEDx event in Philadelphia, and produced independently. Sanchez is known for her innovative melding of musical formats—such as the blues—and traditional poetic formats such as haiku and tanka. She also uses spelling to celebrate the unique sound of Black vernacular, for which she gives credit to poets such as Langston Hughes and Sterling Brown.
Poet, long time scholar-activist and professor, Sister Sonya Sanchez was born September 9, 1934. Sanchez was a leading figure in the Black Arts Movement and has written over a dozen books of poetry, as well as short stories, critical essays, plays, and children’s books. In the 60s, she released poems in periodicals targeted towards African-American audiences, and published her debut collection, Homecoming, in 1969. In 1993, she received the Pew Fellowship in the Arts, and in 2001 was awarded the Robert Frost Medal for her contributions to the canon of American poetry.
And that concludes today’s edition of Capitalism, Race & Democracy. We thank all of Pacifica’s sister stations and affiliates who contribute to the production of this show. Today’s program was produced by Akua Holt, and co-produced by Fahima Seck, with editing by Polina Vasiliev.
Thanks for listening.
Music:
This Kwanzaa (feat. Pierce Freelon) | Happy Kwanzaa Song for Kids and Families
Sweet Honey in the Rock 7 Principles
