Brooklyn’s Annual Kwanzaa Crawl: A Festive Celebration
Brooklyn’s streets and bars were teeming with people on Thursday, all coming together to celebrate Kwanzaa in a unique and vibrant way. The annual Kwanzaa Crawl, co-founded by Kerry Coddett, a Brooklyn native with Caribbean roots, transformed the borough into a hub of cultural celebration and community support.
A New Way to Celebrate
This one-day event, which has become a beloved tradition in the area, is not your typical Kwanzaa celebration. The Kwanzaa Crawl is part bar crawl, part cultural celebration, aimed at bringing together individuals from the African diaspora to support Black-owned businesses. Over the years, it has raised an impressive $500,000 for local Black-owned bars and restaurants.
Kerry Coddett, the visionary behind the Kwanzaa Crawl, emphasized the importance of defining Black identity on their terms. “Traditionally this is not how people would have celebrated Kwanzaa, but this is how we’ve chosen to celebrate Kwanzaa,” said Coddett. “We get to define who we are as Black people, what’s important to us, and what that looks like.”
A Day of Unity and Celebration
The festivities kicked off at the Crown Hill Theater in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where participants gathered to learn about the seven principles of Kwanzaa. These principles, including unity, faith, self-determination, and cooperative economics, were symbolized by seven candles on a Pan-African flag, representing Black liberation.
Marlon Rice, the director of programming for Bed-Stuy Restoration Corporation, led the ceremony, highlighting the importance of unity among people of African descent. “Whether you come from Barbados or Jamaica or Ghana or Nigeria, Dominican Republic from down south, we are one nation,” said Rice as the candles were lit.
A Meaningful Experience
After the ceremony, 46 teams of around 25 individuals each set out to explore various Brooklyn neighborhoods, spreading the spirit of Kwanzaa throughout the borough. Popular Black-owned establishments like Brooklyn Bank in Bed-Stuy, Prospect BK in Prospect Heights, and Damballa in Bushwick welcomed the lively crowds with open arms.
For many attendees, the Kwanzaa Crawl was more than just a fun day out – it was a meaningful way to celebrate Black identity in America. Kahlia Hines, reflecting on her experience outside Sugarcane on Flatbush Avenue, shared, “It’s not always positive experiences, but it’s great to have this positive experience so we’re celebrating for what it is.”
Prince Allen, another participant, emphasized the theme of unity that resonated throughout the day. “One of the things about Kwanzaa is unity, and that’s what we’re celebrating today,” said Allen. “It’s a day to come together and have fun with friends and family.”
The Kwanzaa Crawl not only brought people together for a day of celebration but also highlighted the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses and redefining cultural traditions in a modern context. As the event continues to grow in popularity, it serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of Brooklyn’s diverse community.
