Each are traditional African values which are embraced in turn during the week-long cultural holiday of Kwanzaa. Each are also lessons one local resident believes should be instilled in the African-American community of Richmond County and the surrounding area.
County resident Gerard Morrison is spearheading an effort to share the Kwanzaa principles with the community at large for the second consecutive year.
He explained a ceremony is held on each of the seven days of Kwanzaa, which began Saturday. Community members come together to discuss one of the seven themes of Kwanzaa, and to reflect on past efforts to improve life for all.
“This is a cultural holiday, not a religious holiday,” Morrison explained Monday. “These seven principles are also universal, and apply to everyone everyday. While it is a time to reflect on past years, it’s also a time to project what we can do to improve our community in the future.”
This year’s Kwanzaa celebration kicked off Saturday at the Piney Grove Galestown Community Center in Rockingham, where the first Kwanzaa concept - unity - was discussed in an open forum of community members.
Celebrations will continue until New Year’s Day, at separate locations each day.
“The first one went really great,” Morrison said. “Of course, many people don’t really know what Kwanzaa is all about, but there were some who had already been to a Kwanzaa ceremony, which helped to move things along. There were some there who had their first Kwanzaa experience.”
Besides observing the lighting of the first of the traditional Kwanzaa candle holder, called a kinara, which is similar to the Hannukah Menorah celebrated by the Jewish people, the pouring of libations to the ancestors and other ceremonious traditions related to African culture, the group discussed the concept of unity.
“When we were talking about unity, one of the major themes we discussed dealt with Martin Luther King Jr.,” Morrison said. “We related that message also to the idea that unity does not always mean uniformity, and discussed the differences and strengths in the community.”
Even so, while discussion and the free exchange of ideas are important, Morrison said it is the goal of organizers to channel the ideas into physical improvements in their communities.
“I’ve seen that sense of pride when a community comes together around ideas like this, and that’s the example we want to set in our communities,” Morrison said. “You can give a lot of lectures, but examples are priceless.”
While this is only the second year of the CommUNITY Kwanzaa Celebration, Morrison pointed out previous observances were held at the Leak Street Community Center, until they ended around the middle of this decade.
Retired Richmond Senior High Math teacher Delores Foreman was one of those who was instrumental in putting those celebrations together, which she said began with students in afterschool programs at Leak Street but grew to include the community, as well.
“To me, it’s a bringing together of old and new trying to make the community more cohesive,” Foreman said. “And to show the various ways you can do that.”
While the group ceased to organize these events, she applauded Morrison for continuing the legacy, and said this is still a relevant message for local African-Americans.
“I think it’s very relevant,” she said, speaking of the message of unity Kwanzaa extolls. “That’s the only way you can survive, working together.”
The theme of Kwanzaa 2009 is “Principles and Practices of Kwanzaa: Repairing and Renewing the World,” according to the official Kwanzaa Web site and founder Dr. Maulana Karenga.
In his address for this year’s holiday, Karenga called Kwanzaa “ an audacious of self-determination,” for the African community.
“Each Kwanzaa we are called upon to think deeply about our lives and the world, and ask ourselves how do we as a person and people understand ourselves and address the critical issues of our times in ethical and effective ways,” he wrote in his address. “Then, we are to recommit ourselves to our highest ideals, our best values and visions, and to a sustained and transformative practice of these principles.”
Two observances remain:
n First, 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Hamlet Senior Center, during which the principle of purpose will be expounded upon.
n Second, 3 p.m. Friday at the K and B Club in Clio, South Carolina (Marlboro County). This celebration will wrap up the schedule of events.
All are invited to participate.
Staff Writer Philip D. Brown can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 32, or by e-mail at pbrown@yourdailyjournal.com.
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