The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
CELEBRATING KWANZAA
Each candle on kinara represents one of the seven principles of the Nguzo Saba
The Harrison Cultural Community Center held its annual Kwanzaa celebration on Dec. 27
The ceremony, a yearly celebration of African-American culture, dates back to 1966 when the holiday was started by Dr. Maulana Karenga.
The ceremony got underway with Mistress of Ceremonies Joanne Eldridge Tucker leading guests in “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the black national anthem.
“Kwanzaa is a celebration. So we’re here to have fun,” Eldridge Tucker said.
The ceremony continued with pouring of water for libations serving as a tribute to ancestors who have had an impact.
“What we do in our AfricanAmerican traditions is, we pay
“Kwanzaa is a celebration. So we’re here to have fun.”
— Mistress of Ceremonies Joanne Eldridge Tucker
respect and honor to our ancestors,” Eldridge Tucker said. “Those who have struggled, who have done so much to get us where we are here today. We’ve come a very long way and we always want to be proud of who we are. And we celebrate our accomplishments at this time.”
“We are all standing on the shoulders of someone who has come before us. There’s nothing wrong with being proud of who you are and where you came from,” she added.
The lighting of kinara holds a great deal of significance. Each candle lit represents one of the seven principles of the Nguzo Saba which are umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose) and Imani (faith).
A performance of two traditional dances by the African Royalty Dancers complemented the evening in celebration of African roots and culture.
E. Jean Wrice spoke on Ujima and the importance of being able to learn to work with one another and staying away from drama, telling guests to know what you know is right and it all will work out.
“We really need to learn to come together. We really need to learn how to do that. That’s why I’m so proud of Harrison.
Lorain artist Jeff Pye encouraged people to embrace their inner kuumba and creative spirit.
“Here at Harrison we have creativity,” Pye said. “And we’re using our kids; we’re using our adults and the community and this is a place right here where they can express it. “We’re using that kuumba. And everybody has that kuumba in them. It doesn’t have to be artistic: some people have natural leadership, but the main thing is thinking outside the box.”
Kwanzaa celebrations take place around the country from Dec. 26-Jan. 1.