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December 15,1999
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Page 5
KwANzAA;celebrating the days w ith meaning
BY
C l W E
W,
F ord
E Q g J jlt_ E Q B I L A C lB -i2 B S £ 8 iiK
I first re m e m b e r c e le b ra tin g
Kwanzaa during the tumultuous
60’s. A Kwanzaa “industry” has
now matured, boasting everything
from Kwanzaa cards to “Kwanzaa
Sales" at major department stores
to Kwanzaa dolls decked out in
A frican garb. I look at these
developments with a mixture of
pride and skepticism. On one hand,
it is gratifying to see Kwanzaa
accepted into American culture.
Still, 1 worry this very acceptance is
gutting the holiday o f its intended
meaning and purpose. 1 do believe
it is possible to celebrate Kwanzaa
in a way which keeps the meaning
o f the holiday alive in your life.
The Bridge Builders Third Annual
Kwanzaa Gala and Gentlemen’s
Ball will be held at 7 p.m. on
S unday, D ecem b er 26 at the
Portland Marriott Hotel, located at
1401 SW Naito Parkway (formerly
Front Avenue).
The Bridge Builders is a rites o f
passage program for A frican-
American male teens in the Portland
metropolitan area. The program
teach es m ale teen s the tools
necessary to become men. Those
tools are spirituality, scholarship,
c u ltu ra l
a w a re n e ss,
tim e
m anagem ent, tim e spent w ith
positive adults, community service
and respect.
Like any holiday,
K w an zaa
is
identified with a
set o f principles,
sy m b o ls
and
rituals.
Over the years,
I ’ve b eg u n to
observe Kwanzaa
by embracing the
basic principles
and symbols, but
d isc a rd in g the
“p re-p ack ag ed ”
in te rp re ta tio n s
and instructions.
I b eg in w ith
Nguzo Saba, the
sev en
d a ily
principles which are the pillars of
Kwanzaa. Rather than just reread
T he K w an zaa G ala and
G e n tle m e n ’s B all is the
culmination o f a four year rites o f
passage program.
The program challenges African-
American high school males to
ex cel
a c a d e m ic a lly
and
personally.
All youths in the program are
required to complete a rigorous
skill-building curriculum and
abide by a strict code o f conduct.
During their senior year, each
student is expected to demonstrate
growth in harmony with the seven
barometers o f manhood.
L a st y e a r, m ore th an 700
community residents attended the
the basis o f a question that I ask
m yself during Kwanzaa.
Day 1 UMOJA (UNITY). Umoja,a
Swahili word, is also translated as
oneness or wholeness and my first
question is: How do I experience
wholeness and oneness in my life?
H ere my thoughts turn to my
physical, emotional and spiritual
health; my relationship to nature
and the earth; and my connectedness
to life.
Day 2 KUJICHAGUL1A (SELF-
DETERMINATION). This Swahili
word has an original meaning closer
to self-selection, self-chosen or
authentic. I ask myselfon this second
day: In wh«iat ways am I leading an
the traditional definitions o f these
principles, I use each principle as
second annual Kwanzaa Gala and
Gentlem en’s Ball. That meant that
Bridge Builders were able to
present more than $10,000 to 11
college freshmen.
T ic k e ts a re a v a ila b le at all
Ticketmaster locations including
GI Joe’s and M eir & Frank or
charge by phone at 503/224-4400.
Tickets are also available at Best o f
All worlds, M ona’s Ethnic Fabrics
and Fashions, Mrs. C ’s Wigs, Naira
& K obo A frican Im ports and
Sheba’s House o f Elegance.
For more information about Bridge
Builders and the Kwanzaa Gala
Gentlemen’s Ball, please call 503/
285-1165.
authentic life? 1 reaffirm my
commitment to try to live my life by
the dictates o f my own conscience,
and not by dogmas and doctrines
supplied to me from some external
source.
Day 3 UJIMA (COLLECTIVE
W O RK
AND
RESPONSIBILITY). On day three,
the question that informs my is:
How can I lead a life o f service to
others? I would like to feel that the
actions I take in my life bring some
benefit, no matter how small, to the
lives o f others.
Day 4 UJAMAA (COOPERATIVE
ECONOMICS). In Swahili, the
w ord
m eans
fam ily h o o d ,
brotherhood, and relationship. So,
on this fourth day o f Kwanzaa, I
question: Who is my family, and
what are the important relationships
in my life? My definition of family
is very broad. It includes my
biological and ethnic family, but it
extends beyond both to encompass
the family o f humankind.
I reflect upon the sig n ifican t
relationships in my life and how
Love is that important force which
b inds to g e th e r all hum an
relationships.
Day 5 NIA (PURPOSE). This fifth
day of Kwanzaa I query: Where do
I find meaning and purpose in my
life? I want to know to what extent
my passions are my pursuits in life.
Am I doing the work I love, or the
(Please see K w anzaa page 9)
J o i n u s fo r a C h r is tm a s C o n c e r t with
G o s p e l r e c o r d in g a r t i s t a n d
a w a r d w inning v o c a lis t
Vickie W inans
Wednesday, December 15th 7:00 pm
at
New Beginnings Christian Center
7600 NE Glisan St.
Portland, OR 97213
(503) 256-6050
ADMISSION FREE
Ring in the M illennium at *
M cM enam ins Kennedy School
♦
Dance Party
with live R&B artist
Norman Sylvester and his band
♦
*
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K in n rd v School
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