More than 50 years ago in 1970, Harvard did not have a space like Kuumba for Black students. Racial tensions on campus and around the country were at an all-time high, as Black students found themselves on a campus that had not imagined or made room for their presence or their inevitable excellence. These Black students saw the need to create a home where they could celebrate who they were and where they came from without fear or apology. Thus, Kuumba was born. Kuumba is a Swahili word that means "to create." In our community, we take that to mean doing what we can with what we have to leave a space better than we found it. This mission permeates and motivates our performances, our community work, and our unabashed celebration of Black art and spirituality. Black music is a manifestation of the Black spirit - it speaks to our every emotion. We firmly believe that Black music and Black artistry helps sustain and direct our culture; it reminds us of our past, makes us mindful of the present, and gives us hope and guidance for the future. And we are committed—now more than ever before—to celebrating and magnifying it wherever we go. As we celebrate 55 years of existence and the more than 1,500 members who have passed through the organization, we hope to continue to renew and revive this commitment.
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