AUBURN - Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, was founded in 1966 by Ron Karenga.
Jennifer Meyers / The Citizen
Zayd Muntaqim introduces the meaning of Kwanzaa during the annual Kwanzaa dinner at Booker T. Washington Center Thursday.
Zayd Muntaqim introduces the meaning of Kwanzaa during the annual Kwanzaa dinner at Booker T. Washington Center Thursday.
In those 40 years it has grown into a celebration of African-American culture and heritage. For more than a decade, it also has been an annual tradition at the Booker T. Washington Center to stop and celebrate that proud holiday with a gathering and a meal.
“It has grown a lot,” said Rebecca McLaurin, event coordinator at the Booker T. Washington Center. “The first year I was here, we only had 10 kids, last year we had 200 people, it has really become a very big thing that we do during the holiday season.”
The celebration got many of the children, who attend afterschool programs at the center, involved with readings, poems and singing.
“We are presenting a lot of different groups of kids,” said Merritt Fletcher, afterschool supervisor. “The kids from our teen scene, explorers and tweens have all been working on songs and poems and presentation on the meaning of Kwanzaa and what the celebration is about and they have been working really hard all week and we're very proud of them.”
The children were joined by Zayd Muntaqim, who gave a concise presentation on some of the important symbols and meanings of this celebration.
“When Ron Karenga founded this, he wanted a holiday for African-American people,” Muntaqim said. “The cup means unity; the meal and the fruits represent the harvest that is bringing people together. The colors, green represents the Earth, red is the blood of the people and black is the color of the African-American people. The seven candles we light represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.”
Following Muntaqim, were seven groups of boys and girls, each reading off one of the seven virtues of Kwanzaa and lighting one of the candles.
These seven virtues are all ideals that Karenga saw as important as the celebration was establishing itself during the civil rights movement and include, umoja - unity, kujichagulia - self determination, ujima - collective work and responsibility, ujamaa - cooperative economics, nia - purpose, kuumba - creativity and imani - faith, ideals and goals that are just as applicable today for all people as they were 40 years ago.
“You are supposed to light one candle each day,” McLaurin said. “And each day represents one of the principles and each one is different and means something different that it is important to stop and think about as all the candles get lit by the end of the week.”
The reading the children presented got many of them to stop and think about the meaning behind these words.
“They asked me to read,” Jamie Nwajei, said. “Creativity is something that we celebrate and it means things like how we celebrate it and all the different things that we can do that are creative and how we celebrate those things.”
While part of the goal of the Booker T. Washington celebration was to educate people on the holiday's meaning, it was also a time to bring people together and few things can do that like food.
Seeing people enjoy the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and other comfort food she had spent several days preparing made all the hours in the kitchen worthwhile for cook Naomi Hopson.
“I love to cook,” Hopson said. “We make a lot of the same things but try to add something a little different each year. But to see everyone, that is why I do it; if people didn't enjoy what I cook I wouldn't do it. It is all worth it to see people happy.”
From the food to the readings and singing, this year's celebration was well received.
“I think it is wonderful,” Leslie Walker said. “I especially think it is wonderful that they got the children so involved. This is a holiday that helps them learn about their heritage and where they come from. I think they have done a great job and that this is a great Kwanzaa celebration.” been working really hard all week and we're very proud of them.”
The children were joined by Zayd Muntaqim, who gave a concise presentation on some of the important symbols and meanings of this celebration.
“When Ron Karenga founded this, he wanted a holiday for African-American people,” Muntaqim said. “The cup means unity; the meal and the fruits represent the harvest that is bringing people together. The colors: green represents the Earth, red is the blood of the people and black is the color of the African-American people. The seven candles we light represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.”
Following Muntaqim were seven groups of boys and girls, each reading off one of the seven virtues of Kwanzaa and lighting one of the candles.
These seven virtues are all ideals that Karenga saw as important as the celebration was establishing itself during the civil rights movement and include umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith) - ideals and goals that are just as applicable today for all people as they were 40 years ago.
“You are supposed to light one candle each day,” McLaurin said. “And each day represents one of the principles and each one is different and means something different that it is important to stop and think about as all the candles get lit by the end of the week.”
The reading the children presented got many of them to stop and think about the meaning behind these words.
“They asked me to read,” Jamie Nwajei, said. “Creativity is something that we celebrate and it means things like how we celebrate it and all the different things that we can do that are creative and how we celebrate those things.”
While part of the goal of the Booker T. Washington celebration was to educate people on the holiday's meaning, it was also a time to bring people together and few things can do that like food.
Seeing people enjoy the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and other comfort food she had spent several days preparing made all the hours in the kitchen worthwhile for cook Naomi Hopson.
“I love to cook,” Hopson said. “We make a lot of the same things but try to add something a little different each year. But to see everyone, that is why I do it; if people didn't enjoy what I cook I wouldn't do it. It is all worth it to see people happy.”
From the food to the readings and singing, this year's celebration was well received.
“I think it is wonderful,” Leslie Walker said. “I especially think it is wonderful that they got the children so involved. This is a holiday that helps them learn about their heritage and where they come from. I think they have done a great job and that this is a great Kwanzaa celebration.”
“It has grown a lot,” said Rebecca McLaurin, event coordinator at the Booker T. Washington Center. “The first year I was here, we only had 10 kids, last year we had 200 people, it has really become a very big thing that we do during the holiday season.”
The celebration got many of the children, who attend afterschool programs at the center, involved with readings, poems and singing.
“We are presenting a lot of different groups of kids,” said Merritt Fletcher, afterschool supervisor. “The kids from our teen scene, explorers and tweens have all been working on songs and poems and presentation on the meaning of Kwanzaa and what the celebration is about and they have been working really hard all week and we're very proud of them.”
The children were joined by Zayd Muntaqim, who gave a concise presentation on some of the important symbols and meanings of this celebration.
“When Ron Karenga founded this, he wanted a holiday for African-American people,” Muntaqim said. “The cup means unity; the meal and the fruits represent the harvest that is bringing people together. The colors, green represents the Earth, red is the blood of the people and black is the color of the African-American people. The seven candles we light represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.”
Following Muntaqim, were seven groups of boys and girls, each reading off one of the seven virtues of Kwanzaa and lighting one of the candles.
These seven virtues are all ideals that Karenga saw as important as the celebration was establishing itself during the civil rights movement and include, umoja - unity, kujichagulia - self determination, ujima - collective work and responsibility, ujamaa - cooperative economics, nia - purpose, kuumba - creativity and imani - faith, ideals and goals that are just as applicable today for all people as they were 40 years ago.
“You are supposed to light one candle each day,” McLaurin said. “And each day represents one of the principles and each one is different and means something different that it is important to stop and think about as all the candles get lit by the end of the week.”
The reading the children presented got many of them to stop and think about the meaning behind these words.
“They asked me to read,” Jamie Nwajei, said. “Creativity is something that we celebrate and it means things like how we celebrate it and all the different things that we can do that are creative and how we celebrate those things.”
While part of the goal of the Booker T. Washington celebration was to educate people on the holiday's meaning, it was also a time to bring people together and few things can do that like food.
Seeing people enjoy the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and other comfort food she had spent several days preparing made all the hours in the kitchen worthwhile for cook Naomi Hopson.
“I love to cook,” Hopson said. “We make a lot of the same things but try to add something a little different each year. But to see everyone, that is why I do it; if people didn't enjoy what I cook I wouldn't do it. It is all worth it to see people happy.”
From the food to the readings and singing, this year's celebration was well received.
“I think it is wonderful,” Leslie Walker said. “I especially think it is wonderful that they got the children so involved. This is a holiday that helps them learn about their heritage and where they come from. I think they have done a great job and that this is a great Kwanzaa celebration.” been working really hard all week and we're very proud of them.”
The children were joined by Zayd Muntaqim, who gave a concise presentation on some of the important symbols and meanings of this celebration.
“When Ron Karenga founded this, he wanted a holiday for African-American people,” Muntaqim said. “The cup means unity; the meal and the fruits represent the harvest that is bringing people together. The colors: green represents the Earth, red is the blood of the people and black is the color of the African-American people. The seven candles we light represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.”
Following Muntaqim were seven groups of boys and girls, each reading off one of the seven virtues of Kwanzaa and lighting one of the candles.
These seven virtues are all ideals that Karenga saw as important as the celebration was establishing itself during the civil rights movement and include umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith) - ideals and goals that are just as applicable today for all people as they were 40 years ago.
“You are supposed to light one candle each day,” McLaurin said. “And each day represents one of the principles and each one is different and means something different that it is important to stop and think about as all the candles get lit by the end of the week.”
The reading the children presented got many of them to stop and think about the meaning behind these words.
“They asked me to read,” Jamie Nwajei, said. “Creativity is something that we celebrate and it means things like how we celebrate it and all the different things that we can do that are creative and how we celebrate those things.”
While part of the goal of the Booker T. Washington celebration was to educate people on the holiday's meaning, it was also a time to bring people together and few things can do that like food.
Seeing people enjoy the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and other comfort food she had spent several days preparing made all the hours in the kitchen worthwhile for cook Naomi Hopson.
“I love to cook,” Hopson said. “We make a lot of the same things but try to add something a little different each year. But to see everyone, that is why I do it; if people didn't enjoy what I cook I wouldn't do it. It is all worth it to see people happy.”
From the food to the readings and singing, this year's celebration was well received.
“I think it is wonderful,” Leslie Walker said. “I especially think it is wonderful that they got the children so involved. This is a holiday that helps them learn about their heritage and where they come from. I think they have done a great job and that this is a great Kwanzaa celebration.”
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