Stockton Kwanzaa Agriculture Celebration

Stockton Kwanzaa Ag Celebration
Noon, Wednesday, December 30, 2015

UC Yoga, Health and Wellness ~ Historic Stockton Waterfront
445 W.Weber Ave, Suite 128 Waterfront Studio

The Historic Stockton Waterfront will come alive with our annual Stockton Kwanzaa Celebration, showcasing the restoration of “Agriculture as the Foundation of our Culture.”

Kwanzaa is our “First Fruits of the Harvest” Celebration, found in the biblical account of Exodus 23:16. For generations, people of African ancestry labored as chattel slaves throughout agriculture America. Many enslaved and formerly enslaved human beings found a new beginning in the City of Stockton as early pioneers in a modern day Exodus.

In 1854, Reverend Jeremiah King founded the African Baptist Church on West Washington Street, in the Historic Stockton Waterfront District. The early Black pioneers in the City of Stockton were agriculturalists, educators and civic responsible citizens.

Near the end of the US Civil War, a 13th amendment to the Constitution of the United States was proposed by the Thirty-eighth Congress and signed by President Abraham Lincoln on February 1, 1865. After ratification by 27 of 36 States, US Secretary of State William Seward issued an official proclamation authorizing the beginning of the legal abolishment of slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime, dated December 18, 1865.

In 1965, as part of the Modern Civil Rights Movement, in the aftermath of the Watts Riot in California, the son of Black Farmer and Baptist preacher restored the ancient celebration of the "first fruits of the harvest" today's Pan African Holiday, our Kwanzaa Ag Celebration.

California remains the #1 Agriculture Economy in America, and many agriculture sectors of "California Grown" products are the world standard. California ranks No. 1 in U.S. fruit production, growing an overwhelming majority of the Nation’s grapes, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, avocados, raspberries, kiwifruit, olives, dates, and figs. California’s tree nut production supplies virtually all U.S. almonds, walnuts, and pistachios.

2016 Black Agriculture will share expanded equitable partnerships throughout the broader California Agriculture industry, with a focus on Urban Agriculture job creation, career advance and community economic development.

Nia, means purpose, the 5th principle of Kwanzaa. Today, we continue to honor the earliest Black pioneers in the City of Stockton, many interred within Block 27~Stockton Rural Cemetery in an ongoing separate and unequal way.

Our purpose, preparing for 2016 is to engage a new generation of Black Agriculturalists throughout the City of Stockton and throughout the State of California, ready to take advantage of expanding California ~ Pan African Agriculture Trade and Commerce, in the spirit of Kwanzaa.

Our Annual Stockton Kwanzaa Celebration continues to share the past, present and future contributions of Black Agriculture, honoring our rich agricultural heritage throughout the world. The California Black Agriculture Working Group remains steadfast, sharing our “California Grown” 49th Season of Kwanzaa Holiday Celebrations in the heart of the Central Valley, "the greatest garden in the world."

Dr. Maulana Karenga, founded Kwanzaa as a spiritual, festive, joyous celebration of the oneness and goodness of life. Kwanzaa celebrates agriculture as a way of life. Kwanzaa is a living social practice and Kwanzaa is a time of remembering, reassessing, recommitting, rewarding and rejoicing.

On this day, we pause and share with our friends globally, especially people of African Ancestry to consider a sustainable approach and scientific methodology toward expanding an ancient/future understanding of the "first fruits of the harvest."

7 Principles of the Nguzo Saba (n-Goo-zo Sah-bah)
Umoja (Oo-moh-jah) – Unity Kujichagulia (Koo-jee-ch-goo-lee-ah) – Self-Determination Ujima (Oo-jee-mah) Collective Work and Responsibility Ujamaa (Oo-jah-mah) Cooperative Economics Nia (Nee-yah) – Purpose Kuumba (Koo-oom-bah) – Creativity Imani (Ee-mah-nee) - Faith

7 Kwanzaa Symbols
Mkeka (Mm-kay-kah) – Straw mat (Symbolizing foundation – our tradition and history) Kinara (Ka-nah-rah) – Candleholder (Symbolizing our ancestors) Mishumaa Saba (Mee-shoo-mah) Seven candles (Symbolizing the seven principles) Vibunzi (Vee-boon-zee) - Ears of corn (Symbolizing our children) Mazao (Mah-zah-oh) - Fruit and vegetables (Symbolizing cultivation and productive labor) Kikombe Cha (Kee-khom-bay-cha ) - Unity cup (Symbolizing unity) Zawadi (Zah-wah-dee) – Gifts (Symbolizing commitments made and kept)

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