Eleanor Qadirah believes Salisbury’s sons and daughters embody the second of the Seven Guiding Principles of Kwanzaa: kujichagulia, or self determination, which “requires that we define the common interests and make decisions that are in the best interest of our family and community.”
Her hope is that more people would demonstrate it.
In the near-empty Miller Recreation Center — while a busy basketball tournament was going on next door at Hall Gym — Qadirah, Louis Jefferies, of the Pride of Salisbury Elks, and Rodney Harrison, the Miller Center’s recreation coordinator, waited for community members to flood the building and embrace the “new millenium’s” first Kwanzaa celebration, which focuses on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce and self improvement.
Only a few trickled in.
“No matter what we try to do, it seems like it’s difficult to get people to participate,” Jefferies said. “They constantly talk about nobody’s doing anything, but once you put something together, they won’t come. I can’t put my finger on it.”
The organizers illuminated the building with the many colors of the seven-day Kwanzaa celebration, established in 1966 in the midst of the Black Freedom Movement by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chair of the Department of Black Studies at California State University-Long Beach.
At a table decorated with kente cloth, a bold kinara — a candle holder not to be confused with a menorah — held seven mishumaa (candles) in black, red and green.
Black represents the skin of African-Americans and their ancestors, red stands for the blood they shed and green represents hope and the future, as well as the color of Africa.
Each candle is symbolic of the Seven Guiding Principles:the single black candle, one of two lit on the first night, symbolizes umoja or unity.
The next, a red candle on the left, is kujichagulia, or self determination. Ujima, the first green candle on the right, is collective work and responsibility and is usually lit on the third day.
Ujamaa, or cooperative economics; nia, or purpose; kuumba, or creativity; and imani, or faith, are lit alternately until Dec. 31 when Karamu, the Kwanzaa feast, takes place.
The table continued to burst into color with a head of lettuce that represents mazao, or crops; muhindi, an ear of corn, which represents the number of children in a household; kikombe cha umoja, the unity cup; and books, which represented zawadi or gifts that are educational and artistic.
Qadirah has been organizing the celebrations for the past four years at the Dunbar and Miller centers and has seen as many as 25 people on the first night. Though the cultural holiday was created 33 years ago, many people still don’t know about it.
“I have some friends in California who were so surprised that so many African-Americanss had never even heard of Kwanzaa,” she said. “But no matter what you’re doing, you’re going to see a flash because all during Christmas holidays they start talking about Kwanzaa and that’s different. That’s good.“
Kwanzaa is neither a political nor a religious holiday nor is it a “substitute”for Christmas.
It is a time of reaffirming African-Americans people, their ancestors and their culture. Kwanzaa means “first fruits of the harvest”in Kiswahili, an African language.
“It’s not ‘African,’ either. This was created in America for African-Americans in America,”Qadirah said.
And, added Qadirah and Jefferies, any family can practice the Kwanzaa principles.
“It’s not foreign, and you won’t be punished because you want some unity in your family or your family or business is working on a purpose or you’re becoming responsible.”
“I don’t think people understand the principles,”Jefferies said. “But we have to keep doing it and make them understand that if you practice these principles in your life, you’ll be better as a community and a family.”
During tonight’s celebration, which embraces the ujima principle of collective work, the Rowan Blues and Jazz Society and seniors from the Miller Recreation Center will participate. Sponsors KFC, Hardees, Food Lion and Winn Dixie also are providing food. Lowes also donated door prizes.
Qadirah and Jefferies encourage parents and guardians to bring children so they can learn more about Kwanzaa and to “bridge the gap between anything that’s African and American blacks. They … need to know how that impacts us now, that we’re an extension of that,” Jefferies explained.
“We have papers to educate,” Qadirah said. “The children are excited. It’s the adults who don’t bring them out. You have choices.”
“It’s discouraging, but you can’t stop,”Jefferies said. “It’s the second principle, kujichagulia, of self determination.”
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