California State Capitol Kwanzaa Umoja Celebration

Kwanzaa is our “California Grown” holiday celebrated from December 26 to January 1 and is based upon Pan African agricultural celebrations know as the “first fruits of the harvest.”

California Black Agricultural Working Group continues to utilize the symbols and principles of Kwanzaa to help restore agriculture as the foundation of our culture, highlighting new opportunity expanding Urban Agriculture during Kwanzaa celebrations throughout the California Central Valley, "the greatest garden in the world."

Before the turn of the century, we have partnered with the California Department of Food and Agriculture along with the United States Department of Agriculture, helping to slowly break down systemic institutional racism, economic and cultural barriers from “America’s Last Plantation."

2014 Kwanzaa, we prepare for our Sesquicentennial Celebrations, remembering, announcing and honoring ratification of the 13th amendment to the US Constitution, ending slavery here in California and throughout America. The traumatic experience many suffered from during chattel slavery continue to impact considering the plethora of opportunity today in the Agriculture industries.

Kwanzaa, “first fruits of the harvest,” is uniquely qualified to allow the authentic contributions by people of African ancestry to take center stage, reflecting and honoring our historic contribution to the forward flow of humanity. Our slow and steady journey towards freedom, in America, is measured by quantifying and qualifying equity and equal opportunity.

Nationally and in California, Black Agriculture producers have never been declared an endangered species, or targeted to receive the appropriate governmental protection and support for the egregious environmental conditions. 

Today, the 2012 Census of Agriculture quantifies the current reality and measures the effect as a direct manifestation since the hostile takeover of our ‘New Farmers in America.’ We prepare for the 2017 Census of Agriculture seeking special tabulations that measure unique public policy outcomes.

When our US Senate and House Agriculture Committees convenes during the 114th Congress after the Kwanzaa holiday, we will submit specific remedies to ongoing challenges unique to people of African ancestry while showcasing our past, present and future contributions to global agriculture production.  Our collaborative partners, global agriculture leaders, will lead the value in building a positive new way forward, healing what is hurting our communities.

Job creation, career advancement and community economic development utilizing conventional and urban agriculture specialty crop production will continue to open up new opportunities for product diversity in California, Africa, South America and the Caribbean expanding ethnic products to reach the global marketplace of 3 billion consumers.

In California, our handful of Black Agriculture producers are finally slowing growing, back from a near extinction, rising from less than 1/3 of 1% of all farmers in California.  We will seek California legislative action, judicial review and executive direction following this 2014 Kwanzaa season. In the #1 Agriculture region of the nation, the legacy, experience and contribution of Black Agriculture remains an open secret and under wicked attack.

New opportunity within the California State Capitol shines a bright flickering light in the midst of darkness where tangible “first fruits of an actual harvest” is beyond cognition, yet the reason for the 7 day celebration created by a wonderful memory from a young Maryland chicken farmer in historical context of his family heritage. Today, our master teacher is still laborering well in the vineyard.

California is named after an African Queen Califia. The African Founding Father of California created Agriculture Export in California; his steam vessel is seen on our California State Seal.  The floors within the California State Capitol reflect the colors of Kwanzaa, red, black and green for a reason.

Yes, we as a state and nation have come a long way and indeed have a long way to go. Together, we expand providing basic healthy food, clean water and security for people of African ancestry, beginning in West Africa in collaborative partnership facing the epidemic Ebola challenge.

“Umoja” is the first and foundational principle of the Nguzo Saba, for without it, all the other principles suffer.