Kwanzaa is an African American holiday celebrated from December 26 to January 1, while celebrating Kwanzaa people eat delicious foods, wear special clothes, sing, dance, and celebrate their ancestors.

Since 1966, Kwanzaa has been celebrated as a black holiday tradition – an annual recognition of cultural pride in the African American community. But how did this holiday originate, and what is its broader cultural significance? Kwanzaa: Black Power and the Making of the African-American Holiday Tradition explores the political beginning and later expansion of Kwanzaa, from its start as a Black Power holiday, to its current place as one of the most mainstream of the black holiday traditions. For those wanting to learn more about this alternative observance practiced by countless African Americans and how Kwanzaa fits into the larger black holiday tradition, Keith A. Mayes gives an accessible and definitive account of the movements and individuals that pushed to make this annual celebration a reality, and shows how African-Americans brought the black freedom struggle to the American calendar. Clear and thoughtful, Kwanzaa is the perfect introduction to what is now the quintessential African American holiday.

Revisit your favorite stores and memories of innovative Northland Mall in Michigan, once heralded as the future of shopping. When the Northland Mall opened in Michigan on March 22, 1954, it was the world's largest shopping center. Its innovative design was the vision of architect Victor Gruen and the Webbers, nephews of Joseph Lowthian Hudson and executives of the J.L. Hudson Company. Northland featured Hudson's flagship suburban store surrounded by other businesses selling a variety of merchandise and services. More than just a shopping destination, Northland Mall was a total experience of activity and relaxation, with colorful courtyards displaying sculptures such as the famous The Boy and Bear.

EBONY is the flagship magazine of Johnson Publishing. Founded in 1945 by John H. Johnson, it still maintains the highest global circulation of any African American-focused magazine.

It wouldn't be Christmas without the "things." How they came to mean so much, and to play such a prominent role in America's central holiday, is the tale told in this delightful and edifying book. In a style characteristically engaging and erudite, Karal Ann Marling, one of our most trenchant observers of American culture, describes the outsize spectacle that Christmas has become.

Hundreds of proven hands-on activities, carefully outlined and using inexpensive materials, emphasize learning by doing, encourage creativity, and afford opportunities to develop responsibility. Organized into 19 thematic units (from "Marvelous Me" to "Summertime and the Sun") and correlated to the school-year calendar, the activities cover key curriculum areas such as language arts, math, and science; they also involve art, music, cooking, movement, block play, and role plays. Jargon-free and clearly written, the book is also a great resource for parents. Grades preK-K. 302 pages. Good Year Books. Second Edition.