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Spelmani
THE VOICE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMANHOOD
VOLUME XXXVI - NO. 5
DECEMBER 3, 1992
By Robyn Best
As the holidays approach,
Christians worldwide look forward to
their traditional Christmas gifts and
celebrations. College students pack up
and return to the "cozy - comforts" of
home to enjoy the holiday season with
loved ones. For more than two
decades, however, this global
perspective has somewhat shifted. Over
18 million people worldwide now
celebrate what is known as Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa is a celebration created
by an African scholar and revolutinary
named Dr. Maulana Karenga. Dr.
Karenga was a direct influence on
Illustration by Maleka Ingram
many of the civil rights crusades
during the 1960’s. He helped build
independent schools, black studies
departments and black student unions.
In 1966, Dr. Karenga created and
began the holiday called Kwanzaa.
Since then Kwanzaa is learned and
celebrated by African Americans as
well as Africans that helped to spread
it abroad.
Kwanzaa literally means "first
fruits" in Swahili (a language spoken in
many African countries). Kwanzaa is a
means of oberving and commemorating
African unity. It is founded upon seven
What’s It About?
basic principles called Nguzo Saba,
which are celebrated daily between
Dec. 26 and Jan. 1.
- The first principle, Umoja (unity)
promotes unity among families,
communities and races.
- The second, Kujuchagulia (self
determination), emphasizes the
importance of our ability to be
knowledgeable of and confident in
ourselves.
- The third principle, Ujima (to work
collectively), promotes the need for us
to help one another to be the best that
we can be.
- The fourth, Ujamaa (cooperative
economics), encourages our race to
build our own establishments in order
that we may support one another.
- The fifth principle, Nia (purpose),
emphasizes the need for us to work to
build our race back to our full potential
of greatness.
- The sixth principle, Kuumba
(creativity), advocates incorporation of
beauty and enrichment into our
communities.
- The seventh and final principle,
Imani (faith), promotes our need to
believe in one another and our
accomplishments; and our need to
continue to achieve as well as our
ability to do so.
The Kwanzaa celebration can also
include other traditions and symbols of
African culture. For example, the
laying of a straw mat, Makeka
symbolizes a foundation of history and
culture. A candle holder (kinara) holds
7 candles - 3 green, 1 black and 3 red.
The green candles represent a
prosperous future; the black represents
black unity and the red candles
represent the African struggle. A red,
black and green flag can also represent
the same concept.
The Kwanzaa feast called Karamu
contains Caribbean, American and
African foods- all of which have a
distinct African influence. This holiday
distinguishes itself from Christmas in
that the gift-giving is primarily geared
toward children and the Kwanzaa gift
is usually a book or a symbol of
African culture. Hopefully, this
celebration will continue to grow in
popularity. It reinforces, remembers and
celebrates our culture.
Perhaps during this holiday season,
we can all observe the principles of
Kwanzaa and awaken our minds' for
the new year to come.
Dr. Cole Accepts Clinton's Appointment
Spelman Still 'Primary Responsibility'
Reprinted from "The President’s Open Line
President-Elect Bill Clinton
announced additional appointments to
his transition operation. Ten cluster
leaders were named, each assigned to
lead a group studying specific
departments and agencies in an area of
the Federal government. I have been
asked to serve as the Cluster Leader
for the Department of Education, the
Department of Labor, and various Arts
and Humanities agencies. The specific
work of each team (for example the
team assigned to study the Department
of Education, the team assigned to the
Justice Department) is to gather and
synthesize critical data on the
department or agency, to present it in
a coherent form to President-Elect
Clinton’s new appointees, and to assist
the new appointees in their efforts to
familiarize themselves with their new
agency.
I see my appointment as an honor
to our college. I certainly know that I
will not be able to carry out my
responsibilities as a Cluster Leader
without your support.
To do the work we have been
asked to complete by President-Elect
Clinton’s Inauguration on January 20, it
will be necessary for me to spend a
good deal of time in Washington, D.C.
However, please be assured that as
usual, when I am away from campus,
I will be in close touch with Spelman
affairs, and the Provost will act, when
necessary, in lieu of the President.
Let me take this opportunity to say
how pleased I am that my primary
responsibility is to serve as the
President of our great college. I look
forward to our ongoing efforts to make
Spelman an even greater college.