The Bronzeville Children’s Museum Hosted its Annual Kwanzaa Celebration Following COVID Mandates

Bronzeville Children’s Museum hosted its annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Monday, Dec. 27. The museum has been hosting the event for 22 years.
Bronzeville Children’s Museum hosted its annual Kwanzaa Celebration on Monday, Dec. 27. The museum has been hosting the event for 22 years.

 The Bronzeville Children’s Museum Hosted its Annual Kwanzaa Celebration Following COVID Mandates

By Tia Carol Jones

The king entered the room and greeted everyone with “Habari Gani” to which people responded Kujichagulia.
Bronzeville Children’s Museum, located at 9301 S. Stony Island Ave., hosted a Kwanzaa celebration on Monday, Dec. 27. The museum was founded by Peggy Montes, who also serves as its president. It has been located on Stony Island since 2008.

The first day of Kwanzaa was Sunday, December 26, and the last day was Saturday, Jan. 1. The holiday has seven principles of Kwanzaa. Umoja (Unity), kujichagulia (Self-determintation), Ujima (Collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). Each day, families light a candle on the Kinara.

The Bronzeville Children’s Museum has hosted a Kwanzaa celebration for 22 years. It was wonderful for Montes to bring back the celebration this year since last year it didn’t take place because of COVID-19.

“Everybody has been waiting for us to come back. Not only with the Kwanzaa, but also with our different exhibits,” she said. Montes continues to host the Kwanzaa celebration because she says it is a part of Black history and it is important for Black children to understand their history. To Montes, the seven principles are the guiding light to what the Black community should be about. She feels Kwanzaa and its principles are something that are needed beyond the seven days of the holiday, they are needed all through the year.

Margaret Galloway is a docent at the Bronzeville Children’s Museum. Every year, she facilitates the Kwanzaa celebration. She likes doing it because as a child, she didn’t know about Black history.  She wants to give back and put back what was missing in her as a child. “I am very enthusiastic about letting the children know how great they truly are and how much they can offer to this world and country,” she said.

It feels great for Galloway to be able to use her time to pour into the children who come into the museum. It also feels great for her to see the children being receptive. She hopes the celebration gave the children who attended an opportunity to be joyous and learn about their history.

Crystal Royal brought her five-year-old daughter to the Bronzeville Children’s Museum Kwanzaa celebration because she wants her to have a quality understanding of what Kwanzaa means to the African American community. Royal wants her daughter to understand what the values of Kwanzaa mean for the community and mean for her identity. It was their third time coming to the celebration.

“This has been part of her cultural experience. We just always love it.  It’s really a tradition for us. She really loves the crafts, the face painting and it just gives her an opportunity to really engage with her community,” she said.

The Bronzeville Children’s Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. The Cost is $5 per person and free for members. For more information about the Bronzeville Children’s Museum, visit www.bronzevillechildrensmuseum.com, or call 773-721-9301.

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