TrainingBriefs® Embracing Other Cultures (Kwanzaa)

Understanding and embracing other cultures is a key part of creating an inclusive workplace free of bias and stereotypes. This course provides an overview of the African American holiday - Kwanzaa. During the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to celebrate with food, music, and cultural activities. Each day of the holiday is dedicated to a different principle, with participants lighting candles in a special candle holder, called a kinara, to represent each of the principles. The colors of Kwanzaa, black, red, and green, represent the people, the struggle, and the future, respectively.

Celebrations of Kwanzaa often include storytelling, dance, and music, as well as the giving of gifts and the sharing of food, particularly traditional African American dishes. The holiday is seen as an opportunity to celebrate and promote unity, self-determination, and cultural pride within the African American community.