The African American Men of Unity group offered its 25th annual Kwanzaa Celebration at the Prisco Community Center in Aurora on Saturday night.
Organizers said the event, “a celebration of family, community and culture,” offered music, storytelling, entertainment, food and more.
Kwanzaa, observed daily from Friday, Dec. 26, through Thursday, Jan. 1, celebrates African-American culture and was launched in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor and activist, following the Watts Riots in Los Angeles the previous year.
Ricky Rodgers of Aurora, director of African American Men of Unity, spoke about the origins of the celebration as well as some of the seven principles of Kwanzaa and “how important it is to apply them to daily life.”
“This was something that Dr. Karenga created in order for the African-American community to have a holiday of its own that it could share with other people,” he said.
“There are principles that include unity, self-determination, purpose, responsibility, creativity and faith,” Rodgers added of the week-long celebration. “Kwanzaa takes place over seven days and it starts on Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 and we light a candle each day.”
Rodgers said Aurora’s event always stresses “how important it is for us to embrace culture.”
“That’s definitely a critical component of this celebration and just giving people hope,” he said. “This year, it’s no mystery that we get the victory – that’s going to be our theme for this fiscal year and having a connection to the most-high God – that’s the main thing that we have to focus on. In 2026, that’s going to help us overcome and get through anything that we’re going to encounter because there is a lot going on and what people are going through.”
Saturday’s program began with the Black National Anthem followed by an invocation and then the lighting of candles, with music and dancing afterwards.
David Smith of Aurora said he has partnered “with Ricky Rodgers and the African American Men of Unity for many years and this has been a great, awesome program in our community.”
“I’m excited to be here. To be a part of it again and I hope we break records,” Smith said on Saturday as he watched the crowd fill the room at the Prisco Center. “I think the Kwanzaa principles are more important than ever because of what they represent. Right now, more than ever, they’re necessary because unity is something that we all need because we’re fighting against so many pressures and powers that are trying to destroy and distract and break us apart. It’s all about unity and hopefully we’ll bring that all home here in the city of Aurora.”
Smith said for him, the highlight each year “is seeing all the people that come out. The different ethnicities that come out.”
“It’s all about unity and coming together,” he said.
Terry Smith of Aurora said this was the fourth time she has come to the Kwanzaa celebration in Aurora.
“I look forward to learning more about our history. I love it,” she said. “I believe we need our seven principles more than ever and I look forward to everything about this. It’s special. It’s almost like another Christmas for me.”
Terry Smith, left, and Sharon Woodson, both of Aurora, share a moment Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, during the annual Kwanzaa Celebration at the Prisco Community Center in Aurora. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)
Sharon Woodson of Aurora likewise said this was her fourth year at the event and that she “comes out every year to see the African dance and learn about the history.”
“I love the African dance and the storytellers,” she said. “Having the Pan-African event is very important because our children need to know our history as well because, if they don’t know our history they don’t know where we come from.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
