Kwanzaa | A memoir by Andrea King Collier

A few years back, my husband, two children and I were invited to a friend’s home to kick off the seven days of Kwanzaa. I was reluctant to go because I am a Christmas baby through and through — even my birthday is the day after Christmas. Many of my fondest holiday memories are tied to the tradition and preparation that goes with the Christmas festivities, and mistakenly, I thought I was being asked to choose.

What I learned that night is that Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits" in Swahili, is not about discarding Christmas, but rather making a space in our family’s holiday traditions to celebrate and honor black America’s rich, cultural past through our food, music and stories. It only asks us to remember and to recommit ourselves to our values, community and our future.

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• Moroccan-Rubbed Grilled Steak and Sweet Potatoes
• Kumquat Tagine
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• North African Spiced Carrots
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• Frothy Hot Chocolate
• Get more EatingWell recipes for Kwanzaa