Kwanzaa: Each day represents a key value
Continued from page 1
entertainment will begin at 7 p.m.
“There is a huge conception that
Kwanzaa is religious,” Wheatfall said.
She said she wants to dispel this myth
and share the holiday with the Univer
sity as a way of showing black culture
in a positive light.
Seven different groups of BSU
students will act out seven skits,
each one a representation of the
seven separate Kwanzaa principles.
The holiday is celebrated from
Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, and every
day one candle is lit to celebrate
each key idea: Unity, self determina
tion, collective work and responsi
bility, cooperative economics,
purpose, creativity and faith.
These are key values in African
American culture and it is “important
for the UO to see our culture in a posi
tive light and acknowledge the values
we share,” WheatfaU wrote an e-mail
to the Emerald.
Although Kwanzaa’s origins are
ancient, the holiday was created in
the United States in 1966. Maulana
Karenga, a professor in the Depart
ment of Black Studies at California
State University, Long Beach, estab
lished the holiday in effort to pre
serve and revitalize African-Ameri
can culture. Kwanzaa is now a
widely celebrated African-American
and Pan-African holiday.
According to the official Kwanzaa
Web site, the word “kwanzaa” is de
rived from the phrase “matunda ya
kwanza,” or “first fruits” in Swahili,
the most widely spoken language
in Africa.
Karenga states in a 2004 message
on the Web site that Kwanzaa is a
way for Pan-Africans and African
Americans to come together like
their ancestors and elders before
them and “reinforce the bonds” be
tween each other. It is a way to
“give thanks for the harvest of good
we have gathered from the fertile
fields of lands, the fruitful fields
of our lives, and the bruising
and blood-stained battlefields of
our struggles. ”
Kwanzaa is just one of many ways
that Karenga has contributed to U.S.
history. During the 1960s, he served on
the founding and executive committee
of the Black Power Conferences, and
helped to organize and wrote the mis
sion statement for the Million Man
March/Day of Absence. He was also
active in many other prominent organ
izations in the black liberation move
ment, and he has earned two doctor
ates and authored numerous scholarly
articles and 12 books, according to
www.africawithin.com.
esmith@ daily emerald, com
Your place for
Mi-m»oreader polls
NEWS _
classifieds
nd more
__
www.dailyemerald.com
BOWL PREVIEW
[ Bowl Preview on stands December 5, 2005 ]
Oregon Daily Emerald
SECTION B
All OR NOTHING! Seasons are on the line
when the Ducks host the Beavers Saturday
Long' lacklesarct>rd hooks, sets
sights onjiatfd beavers I 315
Severafkey game* that w ill
factor hacks 'bowl plans | 915
Column face off: Fofget the green and
gold, black and orange-we see red I 1615
PLUS
Oregon Sou- notes ) ili m
Oregon notes ! SB
Pje-IOOamcoflheWcek I SB
Par !0 SumdingsAP Pull i 20B
IN BRIEF
Bird flies into power lines,
cutting-off area electricity
A bird that flew into power lines
knocked out electricity west of cam
pus Thursday night, cutting short
an annual faculty, staff and gradu
ate teaching fellows appreciation
party at the University Bookstore
that drew about 1,000 people over
the course of the evening, according
to a bookstore press release.
The bird flew into a set of elec
trical wires in the alley between
East 12th and East 13th avenues
near the bookstore at about 6
p.m., knocking out power for half
the block and dimming lights in
the other half, according to the re
lease. The bookstore was fully
evacuated by about 8 p.m. before
Eugene Water & Electric Board
crews fully shut down power to
make repairs.
The annual party included live
music and food.
Jared Paben
Buy 1 breakfast and receive a second
breakfast of equal or lesser value 1/2 off.
■Sam's Place Tavern
■
I Valid December 3-4 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
| One coupon per person.
■ Hair of Dog Breakfast Deal
® Come design your own bloody mary
| at our bar.
■ M-F 11 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.
~ Sat 9 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.
I Sun 9 a.m. - midnight
| 825 Wilson St. I 541-484-4455
|023
023838
022838
Stuff your pie-hole with tasty wholesome foods like our Big Bulging
Burritos, Hot Heaping Bowls, Kickin' Quesadillas, Fresh Soups, Salads,
Salsas and Smoothies. While you're here enjoy the organic juice bar,
vegan-baked goodies, local microbrews, art, music and general mischief.
760 Blair Blvd., Eugene
541.868.0668
Vegetarian, Vegan, Omnivore-friendly menu
Quick non-surly Service & Take-out • Food Alliance Member
SHAPE k
5 FUTURE
pstiiili
APPLY NOW FOR FA AND RA POSITIONS
APPLICATIONS DUE 5:00 P.M. JANUARY 25
Applications available online for RAs at http://housin3.uoregon.edu studentstaff.
(RA candidates must have a minimum GPA of 2.5).'
Applications available online for FAs at for http firstyear.uoregon.edu
(FA candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3,2)
GOT A STORY IDEA?