Richards hosts first Kwanzaa as Queens borough president

African American Heritage Committee Planning Chair Andrew Jackson participated in the annual Kwanzaa celebration. Screenshot via Zoom

By Rachel Vick

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, the first Black man to hold that office, hosted the borough’s annual Kwanzaa celebration Tuesday.

The African American Heritage Committee and District Attorney Melinda Katz served as co-hosts of the event marking Kwanzaa, the yearly commemoration of African American history and culture. 

Kwanzaa is informed by seven key principles:  Umoja, or unity; Kujichagulia, or elf-determination; Ujima, or collective work and responsibility; Ujamaa, or cooperative economics; Nia, or purpose; and Kuumba, or creativity.

Richards said imani, or faith, was among the most powerful in a challenging 2020.

“This has been a dark time for our borough, for our communities,” Richards said. “But even through this dark time we are starting to see some sunlight.”

“We all have to keep the faith and to believe with all our heart in our people ... and the righteousness in victory over the struggle we find ourselves in, and that is imani in a nutshell.”

State Sen. Leroy Comrie and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul joined the celebration, echoing the importance of upholding the guiding principles of the holiday.

This was the first year that Katz co-hosted the event as Queens district attorney. 

“I find Kwanzaa to be an amazing holiday of great culture, and arts, and the heritage it comes from and what it means,” Katz said. “Economic development, culture, learning — all of that that comes with the lessons that make us whole.”

Members of the African American Heritage Committee described what the seven principles mean to them and discussed the Kwanzaa customs embraced people of African heritage living in the diaspora. The traditional harvest table features several important symbols, including seven red, green and black candles in the Kinara. The Kinara holds the candles, which represent the bloodshed, the land and the people.

“This year we’re harvesting the family, in many cases virtually,” said Andrew Jackson, chair of the planning committee. “Whenever you light the candles and you represent the principle of the day you start by lighting the black candle because we are celebrating the people of African ancestry. “

Though Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, the “principles of life and the value system that comes out of the continent of Africa, can be practiced any time during the year and celebrated any time of year.”