Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 12 January 1995 — Page 5

The Muncie Times, Thursday, 12 January 1995, Page 5

Muncie celebrates 3rd annual Kwanzaa with speeches, luncheon

by The Editor Munsonians celebrate their third annual Kwanzaa with a keynote speech, fashion contest and art exhibit at the Horizon Center. About 150 people attended the late afternoon function that was sponsored by the Muncie chapter of Indiana Black Expo. Judy Mays, coordinator of the 1993 and 1994 Kwanzaa activities, said she was pleased by the turnout. ( “I wish we had had more people coming to learn about themselves and about what Kwanzaa is all about,” she said. “Each year we seem to attract more people and we seem to keep growing, although I would still like to see more people coming to this activity.” Kwanzaa is a 7-day African American and African holiday which starts Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1. It is based on seven principles popularized by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga, chair of the department of black studies at California State University, Long Beach. He initiated the celebration in 1966, based on African principles that center around festivities marking the first fruits or first

Phyillies Burks

harvest. From those modest beginnings, Kwanzaa has spread and grown. Today it is celebrated by more than 15 million people of African descent in the United States, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe. The opening day keynote speaker was C. Kazakiyah Hardy-Dia,a graduate student who is president of the Ball State African Student Association. Hardy-Dia, a dual citizen of the United States and his native Senegal, in West Africa, exhorted his listeners to work together for the betterment of their communities. He also said it was time to African and African American leaders accountable for their actions. He said too many times leaders made promises which they failed to fulfill. “It is our duty and responsibility to make sure that our leaders are accountable to us,” he said. In addition to the speech, there was some African drumming, an African fashion contest that was judged by African Student Association members, a skit, narrated by Tendayi Kumbula Jr., on evolving attitudes about

Otee Stills

how blacks view them- Gold Coast Boutique of survived the harsh and unselves, a poem recited by Indianapolis entertained healthy conditions on ships Stacy Edwards and a dis- guests with colorful one- that had transported them play of borrowed African °f‘ a kind fashions. The for their native Africa to art and artifacts. Elder fashions ranged from ele- slavery in North America. James Lawson provided the gant to formal evening and “Don’t let anyone misinvocation and benedic- ev en bridal wear. Gold lead you. Don’t you forget

L-R: JoAnne Johnson, Simply Red Hair Care; Jason Johnson, Mobile Wash; Joan Lawson, (accepting for her daughter Renee Wagner), DRW Designs; Kay Ross, T&T Ross Services; Dr. Dinwiddie, Physician; Carl Kizer, Kizefs Carpet Care; Odell Scott, Bail Bondsman Several other black businesses were recognized and will be listed in the next issue.

tion, while Mandinema Kumbula was the mistress of cere-monies. The Kwanzaa celebrations ended Dec. 31 with a community luncheon at Mount Zion Fellowship Center, where local business people were honored. The well-attended luncheon featured African and African American cuisine.

Sandra Bridges

Coast Boutique specializes in unique fashions using authentic African materials Closing speaker Dr. Tendayi Kumbula, a Ball State journalism professor, reminded his audience that unity was the key to success. He also told them that they were the descendants of a strong stockof ancestors who had braved and

Jerome Johnson

your own history. Remember that you are the descendants from one of the earliest civilizations in the world. “Don’t forget that you are the descendants of people who were packed as sardines in the slave ships, people who were brought to a strange country, where they tried to dehumanize you, destroy your culture and your language. “You must be strong because you come from strong roots. To continue to survive, we have to learn to work hard, strengthen our families, use Kwanzaa as an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and we have to inculcate in our young the importance of education and the importance of working to-gether to improve our communities. “If we can resolve to do (See KWANZAA on page 8)