The African American holidays discussed herein are not all holidays in the true since of the word. Such is the case with Black History Month and Kwanzaa, which are better described and celebrations or special observances. This book was not meant to be a history book, though it has largely become one. This was unavoidable because the holidays shared here are a reflection of the historical journey of Blacks in America, and therefore provides the necessary context for understanding how the holidays started and why they are relevant to us today.