continued from pqe coe>»>
I first heard about Kwanzaa years ago, but the holiday didn't make an impression on
me until the birth of my first child, Evan, six years ago. I wanted him to ha�e a
joyous sense of his Black heritage, to have an �frican American holiday that would
fill hIm with fond memories he'd savor as an adult.
When my family lights the black, red and green.candles of Kwanzaa, we do so with
millions of Black Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa to varying degrees. Some adhere
strictly to the holiday program as Karenga conceived it. Thei� observances
incorporate the seven Kwanzaa symbols. Fruits and vegetables, for instance, stand
for the product of unified effort, a straw place mat for reverence for tradition and
an ear of corn symbolizes each child in the family. Other symbol� are: a communal
cup for the libation; and a seven·branched candleholder with the seven candles.
The candles symbolize the seven principles Black Americans should live by. A family
member lights a candle each day, then discusses one of the scv�n principles: unity,
self·determlnation, collective work & rcsponsibility, cooperativc economics, purpose,
creativity and faith. During Kwanzaa, families share dinners and exchange gifts with
a Black theme an album of African.music for example. December 31st is marked by a
feast, which in keeping with the theme of Black unity, may draw on the cuisines of
the Caribbean, Africa, South America ... wherever Africans have settled.
Until recently my family, like many others who celebrate xvervzee, took a "pick &
choose" approach to the holiday. At first, we omitted the cOlMlunal cup and the
candleholder on the dinner tablc, preferring to use free-standing candles. Now,
however, we've grown into the ho�iday and celebrate it all the way. Throughout the
seven days I read biographies of Black men and women, Black folk tales, myths and
historical events that illustrate the seven principles.
And, of course, there is the feast, which is called a Karamu. Since my wife does the
Christmas cooking, the challenge of orchestrating the Kwanzaa meal is in my hands.
In adapting Kwanzaa lnto our life, I decided we'd have one Kwanzaa meal during one of
the weekend days durihg the holiday. My first Kwanzaa dinners were comprised of
'dishes from my childhood (collard grecns and cornbread) and memories of my trip to
Ghana (peanut butt�r soup). This year I wi 11 cook an upd.rt.ed vr- r s i on of a c l o o s i c
e s t African dish, Jolof Rice, taken from my I book on Kwanzaa. My Jolo[ Rice reCI(1
comes from Brooklyn caterer Dee Dee Dailey.
Of course, celebrating Kwanzaa is not an end in itself. What most Black Americans are
doing with Kwanzaa is usinq the best of the culture as an ideal to live up to on a
daily basis .. For me, that is the ultimate benefit of Kwanzaa. As a friend of mine
said recently, "You take the principles of Kwanzaa and use them all year, and by the
end of the year you will be a'changed person."
FAITI-I.
When life seems to bring nothing but a string of defeats and disappointments, we've got to have faith that somelhiD"ood
is still in store for us. With this faith, we can forge abead and continue to put forth our best effort. Without it. we ,ive up and acoept
what comes OlU way.,ood or bad. Our precious dreams begin to seem abswditJes.
It is imperative that we see ourselves as worthy and deserving 0( a good life. Then: may be rejections; it may take us a
while; but as 100, as we stay to the ,ame. there's every chance we'lI score. On the sidelines, we can only walCh as.others do the
work and the winn.ln ••
On tilt. dau. IIDfU jpendJlve minute. to ,.Ia.x and vbual
• UOCIeU in acllimng 0,.. of "'II. QOG ....
NEW TRADITION JOWF RICE
Selves 8
1 cup dried black-eyed peas. rinsed and picked over
3 qlW1S water
1{3 cup vegetable oil
I (3-pound) chicken. cut into 8 pieces
2 lar,e oeioes, chopped
4 Sarlic cloves. minced
3 tablespoons g.rakd fresh ginger
1 tablespoon cuny powder
Ifll.easpOOn cayenne pepper
1 1(2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspooD sal t
2 1(2 cups long-grain brown rice
8 medium canoes, cut into 1(2-incb-thick rounds
1(2 pound green beans, trimmed, cut into 2-inch lengths
1. Combine the black-eyed peas with enough wala 10 cover by 1 inch in a larJe
saucepan. Bring to a boil over high beat. and cook foe 1 minute. Remove the pan
from the .beat.. cover tightly and let stand for 1 hour. Drain the peas well.
2. Place black-eyed peas in a S-quart Dutch oven and add the 3 quarts water.
Brio, to a boil over higb beat. reduce beat to medium, and cook for IS miDutes.
Drain the peas in a colander set over a large bowl. ftSeI'Ving both the peas and ..
CUp5 of the cooking liquid; discard remaining cooking liquid.
3. Heat the oil in a S-quart flameproof casserole. In batches, add the chicken and
cook over medium-high beat. turning often. until browned.on all sides. about 6
minutes per batch. Transfer the chicken 10 a plate and set aside.
4. Add onions. garlic and ginger to the casserole and cook over medium-high beat.
stirring often, until softened. about 4 minutes. Add cuny powder and cayeooe, and
stir for 1 minute. Stir in reserved cooking liquid. ausbed IoDlatoes. IoDlato pate.
and salt; bring 10 a boil. Stir in brown rice, reserved black-eyed peas. aod,carroCs,
and return to a boil. Reduce beat 10 medium-low. cover, and cook 10 miautes .
Return chicken-to the casserole. cover. and cook for IS minutes.
S. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
6. Stir green beans into the rice mixture, cover and transfer the casserole to the
oven. Bake until the rice is tender and the chicken shows DO sign of pink at !be
bone wben prodded with the tip of a sharp knife. aOOut30 minutes. Rcm<JIIIe from
the oven and let stand IS minutes before saving. .
Eric V. Copage is the author of -K wanzaa: An African-
American Celebration of Culture and Cooking- ($12) and "Black
Pearls: Daily Meditations, Affinnations and Inspirations for
African-Americans- ($10). both published by Wm. Morrow and
Company. y� may purchase the books by calling 1-800-S32-3674 •