Martina, African American - Kwanzaa, Southern Roots, & Growing Up in San Francisco

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Kwanzaa is more than a holiday — it’s a living tradition shaped by family, history, and intention.

In this Season 2 finale of Cultureful, Jess Lin sits down with Martina to explore Kwanzaa as a living tradition shaped by family, history, and community. Martina reflects on growing up in San Francisco, her family’s roots in the U.S. South, and how her grandmother’s stories influenced her early student activism and relationship with Black identity.

Together, they talk about the origins and meaning of Kwanzaa, how Martina celebrates it today as an adult and parent, and why cultural traditions matter in a world that’s constantly changing. This conversation is about heritage, memory, and the ways we create and pass down meaning—across generations and across communities.

🎥 Watch the full video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O74Z-I7CpMk

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