Crown Heights residents kick off annual ‘Kwanzaa Crawl’

December 30, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Ayodele Kofie lights the first two candles of the Kwanzaa holiday that represent the days for unity and self-determination, Dec. 27, 2013. Photo: Kyle Kurlick/The Commercial Appeal via AP

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CROWN HEIGHTS — THE SEVENTH ANNUAL KWANZAA CRAWL kicked off without a hitch in Crown Heights on Thursday, with 24 storefronts and 70 teams participating, according to News12 The Bronx. The event attracted thousands of people of African descent to shop in Crown Heights. Launched in 2016, the annual crawl celebrates Black history, community and culture. Event founder Kerry Coddett, called the Crawl the largest celebration of Black-owned businesses in the world. “In Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, Prospect Heights, look out your window — if you see Kwanzaa crawlers, you will know the vibe,” said one participant to News12.

The holiday of Kwanzaa was established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, according to the Armistad Center for Arts & Culture. It runs from Dec. 26 – Jan. 1.