Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, the week-long celebration honoring universal African heritage and culture in the United States and Canada. The celebration lasts from December 26th to January 1st, ending in a feast and gift-giving. It was created by Black Power activist Maulana Karenga and first celebrated in 1966. The day was originally created as an alternative to Christmas, considered by Karenga to be a "white" holiday, but later altered to be an additional holiday so as to not offend Christian African-Americans. Kwanzaa is dedicated to the principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
