Joyous KuchuQwanzaa

December 26 - January 1
Celebrating our communities. Honoring its creators Marcus & Louis.

About KuchuQwanzaa

KuchuQwanzaa was created in December 2009 by the late Marcus R. White and the late Dr. Louis F. Graham. The two Black, gay men were feeling isolated from the traditional holidays and desired to center the contributions and legacies of Black LGBTQIA+ folks within the season. Kwanzaa was the starting point. The founders did not want to create a religious holiday but instead something that spoke to the needs of their communities. Thus, KuchuQwanzaa was born.

Learn More About KQ

About the Website

My name is Joshua Henry Jenkins. My dear friend was the late Marcus White. However, both Marcus and Louis were pivotal in my life and their joint creation of KuchuQwanzaa in 2009 is one that deserves to be preserved even as they’ve journeyed to the land of ancestors.

This website is a preservation of the very important work that Marcus and Louis completed during the specific years of 2009-2011. This is meant to be an adaptable framework for Black LGBTQIA+ identifying folx to use during the Kwanzaa season as a way to affirm, celebrate, and anchor ourselves in the unique identities and experiences we share - to reflect, to grow, to see one other.

The development of KuchuQwanzaa was a small part of Louis and Marcus’ rich, vital, powerful work but the preservation of this one piece of their lives is one of the many ways I hope to ensure their names live on.