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A Return to Reverence
Observing Kwanzaa ranges from community celebration to personal reflection
by Molly Kincaid
Most of us have come to equate the holidays with hassle. The onslaught of commercialism along with the headache of family gatherings thrusts us into a tizzy of stress that often makes us forget what the holidays are really supposed to be about. Kwanzaa, a primarily African-American tradition, serves as a post-holiday reflection; a time to return to the basic principles of humanity.
Developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Kwanzaa is an observance of African-American family and culture. Borrowing much from the ancient African tradition celebrating “first fruit” (the literal meaning of “kwanzaa”), it boils down to a set of principles and tenets with Swahili names that are meant to guide one in a spiritual (but not religious) appreciation of that culture.
In addition to moral reflection, Kwanzaa serves as an homage to African-American history. “The purpose was to find a way to salute the struggles of African Americans,” says Avon Rollins, director of the Beck Cultural Center.
“It’s a time of the year to examine oneself, one’s family, and one’s community,” says Rollins, who has a good deal to reflect upon during Kwanzaa. He was instrumental during the civil rights movement in Knoxville. The Beck Center, which recently moved into the former Knoxville Regional Visitors Center building on Volunteer Landing, houses photos of a much younger Rollins and other activists participating in sit-ins and protests and rubbing elbows with national civil rights figures like Marion Barry and Nina Simone.
Though Rollins acknowledges the many positive changes since the height of the movement, he cites Kwanzaa as a time to assess the current problems of racial inequality. “Fifty years later, we still have a long way to go as far as what Martin Luther King and others said,” he says.
The reasoning behind Kwanzaa is clear, but it doesn’t seem to have caught on in Knoxville to the extent that it has in other areas. Latravia Williams of the Beck Center says, “We celebrate it here at Beck, and my family recognizes it, but we don’t really celebrate it at home.” Most Knoxvillians who acknowledge Kwanzaa tend to think of it in terms of an observation, rather than having extensive ceremonies and gatherings.
In contrast, Dr. Wornie Reed, UT’s new head of African-American Studies, refers to many areas where Kwanzaa has caught on like wildfire. Reed has lived all over the United States, and was involved in the Black Power Movement in Washington D.C. and New York, at one point meeting Karenga in person. “Kwanzaa is a pretty big deal in Cleveland, Ohio, where I just came from. Churches have big gatherings; there are community celebrations, and public celebrations,” he says.
In addition to community events, Reed says, “I have participated in Kwanzaa for years by having celebrations in my home. We invite many people over. A celebration may be held on any or all of the days of Kwanzaa, and there is some discussion about the principle for that day.”
There are seven principles to correspond with each day of Kwanzaa, which spans from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. Accordingly, there are seven candles in the Kinara (a ceremonial candleholder similar to Hanukkah’s Menorah), which are lit for each day of Kwanzaa. While the Menorah’s candles signify the seven days of creation, the candles of Kwanzaa signify its principles, such as Umoja (unity), Kuumba (creativity), and Nia (purpose). Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to rumination of its specific principle by various means, from personal meditation to community recognition.
Reed often has a speaker at his celebrations to expound on the day’s principle. Like other holidays, there is usually feasting, decoration and gift giving. “We decorate the whole room in red, black and green, which is a variation of the Marcus Garvey flag,” says Reed.
“Traditional foods and homemade gifts is what I remember. Nothing is ever really bought,” says Williams.
Reed’s celebrations also reflect upon African-American history and struggles, usually in the form of casual conversation among guests. “A key part that I always include is remembering our ancestors, from prominent national figures, local figures, as well as relatives who have passed on throughout the year,” he says.
Because Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday and devoid of religious implications, Reed says that some staunchly religious areas like Knoxville are initially wary of it. He says, “In some places where it hasn’t caught on, it was hard for people to understand that it isn’t a counter to Christmas.... It’s really a complement. For many people who celebrate it, it really enhances the whole season.”
Most Kwanzaa observers also celebrate religious holidays such as Christmas or Hanukkah. When stripped down, Kwanzaa’s basic teachings are not all that different from those of other holidays; but unlike other holidays of the season, it hasn’t become bogged down by its own market value. Reed hopes to raise awareness about Kwanzaa as he begins to settle down in Knoxville, saying, “It has grown so large elsewhere, and it’ll grow here too. I’ll be interested in helping people to push it in the future.”
December 16, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 51
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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