Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 December 1995 — Page 15

Tuesday, December 26

Thursday, December 28

Friday, December 29

Saturday, December 30

KWANZAA Kick-Off: Keynote Speaker Dr. Linda Keys Sponsored by Muncie Black Expo Minnetrista Cultural Center 6:30 p.m. Special Presentation by Motivate Our Minds (MOM’s) Sponsored by MOM’s MOM’s, Highland Ave. Open House 6-8:00 p.m. Kwanzaa Games, Art, Refreshments, etc. Naming Ceremony Sponsored by The Muncie Times Minnetrista Cultural Center 7:30 p.m. Special guests, African Prince Julius amd Terry Cobb-Davis, Kwanzaa lecturer African Fashion Show, Food and Program Sponsored by Muncie Black Expo Mt. Zion Community Center 12:00 Noon

Teen King/Queen Kwanzaa’95 Contest • Registration Forms are Available at The Muncie Times • Sponsored by Muncie Black Expo

Kwanzaa is an African American holiday established by Dr. Maulana Karenga, founder and chairman of the US Cultural Organization. Kwanzaa is a holiday for the first fruits. Traditionally, throughout African society, it was a time when Black people came together to celebrate the harvest of the fruits of the year, enjoy each other’s company and reinforce each other’s beliefs. It is through ourselves alone that we can truly know our way of life and both the beauty and benefits of it. It was a time of great celebration; or rhythm and dancing, of feasting and joy, of libations and love, and through all these things, a religious expression to our ancestors. For by living and enjoying life, since they were one with us, our ancestors were also happy. So, it was because of his commitment to creating, recreating, and circulating African culture, that Maulana Karenga felt the need to celebrate Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa starts on December 26th, the day after Christmas (which in itself is an expression on pure economic genius) and lasts until January 1 st. Even more important is the psychological significance that Kwanzaa has to Black people as a whole. Kwanzaa is a Black image and what Black people need more than anything at this time in the history of their development are successful Black images. Black people need to see an expression of themselves everywhere they turn. These must be new expressions of themselves, symbols of their tradition that have that have applied to their daily situations, not merely painting old white symbols brown but the creating of new Black images. Kwanzaa is such a creating. Psychological functions of holidays are important to all people, for it is through hohdays that we express and institutionalize the values that are of every day importance to us. Next, we must understand that holidays are of enormous political significance, for when we have the ability to celebrate a hohday of our own it also shows that we have enough unity to agree upon the holiday which we should celebrate. We have reached a level where we no longer depend on others for our symbols, but we create symbols, holidays, and institutions for our own needs. Jest as the rich soil of Africa created abundant crops for our ancestors, it is for these persons that Kwanzaa has taken root and grown larger each year in the soil of the African need to create a total culture of his own.

Kwanzaa candle holders are for sale at The Muncie Times. Two sizes are available. For additional information, call The Muncie Times, 741-0037 or visit the office at 1304 N. Broadway, Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.