Dr. Maulana KARENGA

The founder of Kwanzaa and an activist-scholar of national and international recognition, Karenga is one of the most important figures in recent African American history, having played a major role in Black political and intellectual culture since the 1960s. He has, along with his Organization Us, played a major role in such movements as Black Power, Black Arts, Black Studies, the Independent Schools, Afrocentricity, Ancient Egyptian Studies, the Million Person Marches and currently the Reparations Movement.


Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural holiday celebrated annually from December 26th to January 1st.

The first Kwanzaa was celebrated in 1966. Today, Kwanzaa is a global, pan-African holiday embraced by over 40 million celebrants.

The seven principles of Kwanzaa are:
- Umoja (Unity)
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
- Nia (Purpose)
- Kuumba (Creativity)
- Imani (Faith)

Celebrate your heritage with The Black Candle, the definitive film on Kwanzaa and the African-American experience. Help spread the movement:

- Organize screenings of The Black Candle at your university, school, cultural center, museum, or other cultural institution

- Bring the director of The Black Candle, acclaimed author/filmmaker M.K. Asante, Jr., to your screening for a discussion and Q+A

- Organize screenings of The Black Candle in your home

- Utilize The Black Candle in the classroom

- Program screenings all year round, especially during Kwanzaa and Black History Month