It's December 26. That means Christmas is over and Kwanzaa is just beginning. Kwanzaa is the seven-day African-American celebration of family, community and culture. Malcolm X College on Chicago's Near West Side has one of the largest Kwanzaa celebrations in the country.

For the thirteenth year Malcolm X College on West Van Buren is hosting Seven Days of Kwanzaa. Through January 1, the college will be all about bringing African-Americans together to celebrate their heritage. Kwanzaa, by the way, is from a Swahili word which means first fruits.

"It is a harvest festival, not of crops we have harvested, but of good deeds and good intentions and leadership we expect in the coming year," said Baba Hanibal Afrik, founding elder Shule Ya Watoto.

 

Kwanzaa is a mixture of ancient traditions and cultures, but it is not a holiday celebrated much in Africa. It's an American original designed to give African-Americans a deep feeling of pride in their past and a mission for the future.

Kwanzaa began in 1966, 41 years ago. Now millions of people around the world participate. And one thing organizers want to stress is that this is not an alternative to the Christmas holiday for African-Americans. It is in addition to it, and everyone is welcome.

 

"This is a non-political, non-religious, non-heroic holiday. It is not in favor of anything, it is more the celebration of African-American culture," said Zerrie D. Campbell, president of Malcolm X college.

 

For the next six days the Kwanzaa celebration will continue at Malcolm X College. It's free and it runs from noon until 4 p.m.