Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.