There’s One Holiday That Isn’t On Our Calendars But Should Be

In 1971 Edwards Sims, Jr., was looking for a Thanksgiving alternative centered on the Black family. 

Swahili for “unity feast,” Umoja Karamu is a ceremonial meal rich in Blackness. 

The meal begins with a prayer and pouring of libations to honor the ancestors. The five foods, each represented by a color, symbolize a different era of the Black American experience. 

Family members take turns reading about the history of each time period.

Food #1, black-eyed peas, symbolizes the African families before slavery. Food #2, white rice, symbolizes the resilience of enslaved families. Some families don’t season the rice, eating it plain to honor the ancestors who had so little. 

Food #3,  tomatoes, are red in memory of the blood that we shed in the fight for emancipation. Food #4, collard greens, pays homage to our ancestors' continued struggle after emancipation. Food #5, sweet potatoes and corn are orange and gold, expressing hope for a better future for Black families. 

At the end of the meal there’s space to express gratitude for how far we’ve come as a people.  How do you celebrate your Blackness during this time of year?