Public Policy Polling found that 12.5 million Americans celebrate Kwanzaa.
Karenga, who originally offered Kwanzaa as an alternative to Christmas, declared Kwanzaa as a non-religious celebration of family, community, and culture so that people wouldn't feel alienated and would be able to celebrate both Christmas and Kwanzaa.
The first Kwanzaa Hallmark card was sold.
Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa as a response to the Watts riots.
