The Weekly Muse: Our Kwanzaa Picks
Happy Kwanzaa! We extend warm wishes to all who celebrate this meaningful and reflective festival of African-American culture and heritage.
Kwanzaa, a Swahili word meaning ‘first fruits,’ is a week-long celebration from December 26th to January 1st. This is a time to honor the seven principles (Nguzo Saba) that guide toward unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Embracing this celebration we have some recommendations that amplify the voices and stories of the African-American community.
May this holiday season bring reflection, joy, and a renewed commitment to understanding each other on a deeper level.
Bursting with energy, this exploration of Black identity and celebration of African ancestry is a can’t-miss for music lovers.
A visual masterpiece curated by Beyoncé, “Black is King” reimagines the lessons from Disney’s “The Lion King” for today’s kings and queens. Celebrate the beauty of Black culture through this empowering visual album.
Stories gathered from oral traditions focus on strong, brave, and clever women and girls, both human and supernatural.
Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales: A positive reminder of life worth celebrating — this collection of African-American stories celebrates strong, brave, and clever women and girls. Offering unexpected story arcs and beautiful language and features beautiful illustrations that we felt captured the deep cultural significance of each tale.
Whoopi Goldberg’s documentary tells the incredible story of Moms Mabley, one of the first African American women of comedy, who made people laugh and think with her sharp wit.
Moms Mabley: I Got Somethin’ to Tell You: With her gravelly voice and sharp wit, Moms made people laugh and made them think. Her famous song, “Abraham, Martin and John,” is a tribute to four assassinated Americans who were symbols of social justice and whose deaths changed the course of history. She was a woman with something to say, and Whoopi Goldberg reminds us that Moms and her story are as powerful now as they’ve ever been.
Want more recommendations like these? Explore Narrative Muse and discover new stories by (and about) intersectional underrepresented folks.
P.S. Have a story you think more people should know about and want to share with your fellow Musers? Sign up to be a curator!
P.P.S. Share this article with someone you think might enjoy these recommendations and let’s explore the vast universe of genres together.
