Where We Begin

As Keith Mayes, Professor of Africana Studies at University of Minnesota, Twin Cites, indicates the mother vain of the year round African American Holiday tradition is the dateline alley from January 1 through April 4 (our addition).  That is to say a swath of major commemoration dates as follows:

A) The Seventh Day of Kwanzaa-January 1;

B) The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend-following January 15;

C) Black History Month I (General Focus)-February; (The Kawaida Afrocentricity philosophy suggestion)

D) Black History Month II (Women Focus)-March; (Again a Kawaida suggestion)  and

E) The April 4 Martyrdom of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This said, the Kuumba Calendar project annually begins by programatically raising up the above major commemorations and other significant dates in between such as Black Love Day, Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Langston Hughes', Frederick Douglas', and W.E.B. DuBois' birthdays, the Martyrdom of Minister Malcolm X-all in February as well as the Celebration of Haitian Independence, January 1 (or early during that Month). 

Respectfully submitted: Rev. Joel Washington (Khunanpu Sangoma), Special Transitional Pastor for African Descent Congregational Renewal of Reformation Church-Chicago ("Young Barack Obama's community organizing sanctuary") and Kuumba Chicago Blogger.