Kwanzaa Stamp Gets Local Unveiling

The U.S. Postal Service’s new stamp commemorating Kwanzaa, a seven-day African American cultural celebration, was unveiled Tuesday at Cal State Fullerton.

The local event marked the stamp’s debut in Orange County as it is introduced nationwide.

Post offices started selling the stamp a few days ago.

“This is well overdue,” said Lake Forest City Councilwoman Kathryn McCullogh, who attended the ceremony before a Cal State Fullerton-sponsored town hall meeting on issues affecting the African American community.

“Kwanzaa is an opportunity for all people to come together and for us to remember our morals, to reconfirm our morals and our commitment to our God, ourselves and to mankind,” she said.

The stamp, designed and illustrated by Los Angeles artist Synthia Saint James, features a family and seven candles--symbolic of the seven principles that are the foundation of the holiday: umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).

Kwanzaa, established in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, chairman of the black studies department at Cal State Long Beach, takes its name from the Swahili phrase that means “first fruits” and honors the African tradition of celebrating the harvest.

The holiday is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.

“I’m proud that the U.S. Postal Service did the stamp because it gives you the opportunity to learn,” said Bobby McDonald, president of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County.

“People will see the stamp and maybe somebody will ask questions and learn.”

Bob Lockovich, a spokesman for the Postal Service, said the stamp, which was requested by thousands of people, will help spread awareness of the holiday.

He said 133 million stamps were printed.

“If the whole world practiced the Kwanzaa principles, it would be a great world,” he said.