THE TRUE IMPORTANCE OF KWANZAA

The-News-Leader.com

True importance of Kwanzaa known to those who celebrate it

4 hours ago

I began celebrating Kwanzaa in the 1970s. Being the wife of a U.S. Army soldier for 20 years has afforded me the opportunity to participate in many Kwanzaa observances throughout the U.S. and Europe.

My most memorable Kwanzaa celebrations have been the programs I sponsored which were aimed at teaching the overseas U.S. military community about Kwanzaa, as well as the Kwanzaa events I hosted in my home for American soldiers and their families while stationed in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

My family relocated from Germany to the Cleveland area in 2003 and, being strangers in a new city, away from family and friends, I had no idea how to connect with local community groups that sponsor Kwanzaa events.

During a visit to the public library a few days before Christmas, I found a flier from the Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers. It was an open invitation to a Kwanzaa celebration.

An invitation to the White House could not have meant more to me.

This invitation represented the first principle of Kwanzaa's Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles), in action -- Umoja (Unity). Because of this principle, it was possible for my family to come together in unity with other members of our new community to observe this historical African-American holiday.

Since that Kwanzaa observance in Cleveland five years ago, I have witnessed Kwanzaa programs become more widespread throughout this city. There are community groups, churches and private families that have sponsored Kwanzaa programs in the Cleveland area for more than 15 years, and as interest and pride in this African-American celebration grows, more programs and observances emerge each year.

I remember a time in the early 1990s when my son was a junior high school student and he chose Kwanzaa as the subject of a writing project, but was discouraged when he could find no mention of this African-American holiday either in his school's library or the local library.

Change has come in 2008.

This week, I counted no less than 65 Internet Web sites dedicated to the seven-day celebration of Kwanzaa. Today there is information readily available to those interested in learning everything they've always wanted to know about Kwanzaa: The history of Kwanzaa, the symbols and meaning of Kwanzaa, how to decorate the home for Kwanzaa, how to cook Kwanzaa meals, etc.

Unlike during my son's junior high days, Kwanzaa is now widely celebrated, well-publicized and freely discussed in the media. Also, most Cleveland area schools now host Kwanzaa programs for students, their families and the community.

This year, Kwanzaa will be celebrated for the first time with an African-American president-elect. Barack Obama's election, his image and accomplishments have changed the stereotypes about black families and what they are capable of accomplishing. African-Americans are walking taller and speaking better about themselves.

Mr. Obama's election issued a challenge to African-American men and women. Barack Obama has called for a new spirit of service and responsibility and his messages embody the principles which the founder of Kwanzaa, Dr. Maulana Karenga, had in mind when the holiday was created in 1966.

President-elect Obama has given us the vision, now we must stand. The African-America community has a new faith, a new consciousness and a new commitment.

We must harness the energy that enabled us to achieve the extraordinary, historical feat of electing Obama.

And what better way to accomplish that than by embracing the spirit and the principles of Kwanzaa throughout the years to come.

Harambee!

Editor's note: Williams is a storyteller and a member of the Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers, a motivational speaker and one of the co-founders of the Cleveland-based non-profit organization Nyumba Moja/ONE HOUSE.