Stamp dedicated to honor cultural celebration Kwanzaa

Jet, Nov 17, 1997

A stamp commemorating the cultural celebration of Kwanzaa has been released by The Postal Service in time for this holiday season.

The Kwanzaa stamp, a part of the postal service's Holiday Celebration stamp series, was designed by Synthia Saint James, an internationally-recognized artist and author. She is the first Black woman commissioned to do a stamp, she told the Los Angeles Times.

Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits" in the African language of Swahili, was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, professor and chair of the department of Black Studies at California State University at Long Beach.

Kwanzaa, observed Dec. 26-Jan. 1, celebrates and reinforces the importance of family, community and culture through practices and affirmations related to seven principles. Each day a candle representing one of the principles is lit and the principle is observed by the family.

The seven principles of Kwanzaa are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).