KWANZAA

Let me tell you what it is,
And what it isn’t too,
It ain’t a religion,
Ain’t here to compete with you.

It started back in sixty-six,
When culture needed ground,
When people wanted roots again,
Not just lost-and-found.

It’s family, it’s memory,
It’s stories handed down,
It’s learning who we really are
When the noise gets loud.

Kwanzaa, seven nights of light,
Seven lessons we can use,
Teaching how to stand together,
Teaching how to choose.

Some celebrate, some recognize,
Some just learn the name,
But understanding where we’re from
Is how we light the flame.

It starts the day after Christmas,
Runs through New Year’s Day,
Seven principles, one each night,
To help us find our way.

Unity and purpose,
Working side by side,
Building something bigger
Than just getting by.

It ain’t about the gifts or hype,
Or what you buy or show,
It’s about what you pass along
To the ones who grow.

Kwanzaa, seven nights of light,
Different days, same hope,
Teaching how to lift each other,
Teaching how to cope.

Some light candles, some don’t,
Some already knew,
But knowing why it matters
Changes how you view.

Some folks celebrate it fully,
Some just honor the space,
Some already have traditions
But still respect the place.

Because learning don’t replace
What you already hold,
You can keep your own beliefs
And still let others be told.

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,
Different stories shared,
But all of them are asking
How much we really care.

It’s not about dividing lines,
Or choosing one side’s right,
It’s about seeing your neighbor
Standing in their light.

Kwanzaa, seven nights of light,
That’s really all it is,
A moment to remember
How we live and how we give.

Some celebrate, some recognize,
Some just hear the song,
But understanding each other
Is how we all belong.