By
MARCIA MOXAM COMRIE
Even as the dishes were being cleared from one holiday celebration,
African Americans in Southeast Queens were preparing the feasts of Kwanzaa or "first
fruits of the harvest" for the annual seven-day seven-principle observation.
With the number of celebrations growing each year,
Kwanzaa and its symbols are becoming more and more a part of life in Southeast Queens.
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The Guy R. Brewer United Democratic
Club Kwanzaa celebration was hosted by United Black Women for Change (UBWC) featured young
dancers and other performers. The ceremony officiated by Peter Bethea Wilds and Wesley
Parrott was a dignified, solemn and moving affair.
Parrott explained the importance of the
holiday to
his community. "Kwanzaa is an organization established to create black pride. It
celebrates each [of the seven days] telling people to be full citizens and to be proud of
themselves. I always enjoyed the seven principles they’re uplifting to us as a people
and that’s why I participate every year."
Parrott also espouses the principles as
food for thought for young people to nourish their minds. "It’s a teaching tool
for our young people," he explained. "It teaches cooperation, brotherhood and
love for community. This is one ritual that addresses a lot of issues."
Indeed, for 14 year-old Latisha Williams
who read the second principle at the ceremony it was an interesting expereince.
Jade Hall (left), learns about Kwanzaa’s
principals from Wesley Parrot at at celebration in Jamaica this week.
PRESS photo by Dee Richard |
"It was really nice and I really
liked when Mr. Wilde read in Swahili," she said. I had never heard anyone speak
Swahali before. I like the seven principles and the food was good too," she said.
Founded in 1966 by Professor Maulina
Karenga of California State University, the celebration with the Swahili name has grown in
popularity to the tune of approximately 20 million celebrants annually.
According to John Watusi Branch, Executive
Director of the African Poetry Theatre in Jamaica, it harks back to agricultural history.
"If you go back in agricultural
history, people gathered and thanked God and each other for a successful harvest,"
said Branch. "I do a lot of presentations on Kwanzaa and even published a book called
A Story of Kwanzaa back in the ‘70s.
According to Richmond Nelson, chairperson
of New York Educational Service Team, Inc. (NYEST), "For some it is symbolic but we
should live it everyday throughout the course of our lives. We cannot use weaponry,
that’s slavery, we need to use our minds, we must be proud of who we are.
"In growing up I heard so many
derogatory expressions for different groups," he said. "There were a derogatory
names in reference to many other groups. There was a name for Hispanics; Chinese, Italians
and blacks but you don’t hear any of the others anymore. Only one remains – the
"N" word. We have kept it. We sing it we say it and we make excuse for using it
but it degrades us!
"Kwanzaa is something every other group indulges
in," Nelson said, "They just don’t call it that but it works."
