At the Black Student Union’s annual Kwanzaa celebration Saturday night, green, black and red balloons floated around the EMU Ballroom-green the color of earth, black the color of skin, red the color of blood. Together, more than 100 people celebrated the holiday devoted to family, community and culture.
“I think a lot of people, especially the white people you meet, think that Kwanzaa is a replacement of Christmas. But it’s not. It’s not at all,” University student Paul Kammerzelt said. “It’s a celebration of African-American culture and heritage.”
Helen Kidane, a freshman in the BSU, said Kwanzaa is “a way to look back on our ancestry.”
To clear up misconceptions and to relate the seven principles of Kwanzaa to University students on a personal level, the BSU organized seven interactive presentations on the seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, creativity, purpose and faith.
The night of entertainment began with a short skit performed by the evening’s emcees. A classroom-like setup allowed two students to correct their instructor about the myths of Kwanzaa. Five minutes into the ceremony, the audience had already learned that Kwanzaa is not an African holiday, that it’s only been around for 40 years and that it is by no means a substitute for Christmas.
Kwanzaa actually began in 1966 in the wake of the Watts Riot. During the civil rights struggle in the 1960s, scholar and leader of the black nationalist United Slaves Organization Maulana Karenga, proclaimed that black Americans should have a holiday that celebrated their own culture and heritage.
The first principle, unity, was addressed in the form of a video. The scenario depicted two managers and three aspiring singers. The three young women had much difficulty maintaining unity in their band. Through a series of mishaps and mistakes, the women were finally able to get their act together and perform.
The next principle, self-determination, featured students performing as Michael Jordan and Stevie Wonder. Two young men flashed pictures of their respective characters on the screen and detailed the necessary course of action to succeed. With uplifting music playing in the background, student Jonathan Wheatfall, who played Michael Jordan, energetically recapped the former Chicago Bull’s highlights and finished with inspiring words.
“I work at what I do. I don’t take nothing for granted. Whenever someone tells me I can’t do something, I do it. I’m here to prove you wrong. Who am I? I’m Michael Jordan.”
The BSU captured the third principle, collective work and responsibility, with photographs of black Americans affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The fourth principle, cooperative economics, was demonstrated by pulling members of the audience up onto the stage for an interactive game show. Questions for contestants ranged from what is a non-profit organization to the difference between Starbucks and small, locally owned coffee shops.
After the fourth principle, the BSU dismissed the group to retrieve dinner from the buffet line in the back. After hours of cooking the food themselves, everybody was finally able to enjoy the delicious foods. Dishes included salad, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, corn bread biscuits and sweet peach cobbler for dessert-all free of charge and open to the public.
The fifth principle, creativity, took the form of a slideshow entitled “Famous African-Americans, Past and Present” that featured biographies of such prominent figures as Toni Morrison, Oprah Winfrey and Rosa Parks.
BSU performed a skit to address the sixth principle, purpose. Two women reading a fashion magazine tried to persuade their friend to get breast implants with them, but she refused, stating her purpose in life was to be intelligent, successful and give back to the community.
In the seventh and final act that addressed the principle of faith, the students presented quotes they’d gathered from the University campus to illustrate what faith means for the black community.
Four BSU students alternated reading off responses from their peers.
“I have faith that we can empower our dreams,” one read.
“I have faith that we will abolish tolerance-tolerance of racism,” another read.
“I have faith in myself to accomplish what I want in life.”
“I have faith that one day racism will not be an issue.”
“I have faith that Africa will rise together in solidarity and rise as a nation.”
“I have faith Ghana will win the world cup.”
“I have faith that I will be somebody and that my life will be fulfilling.”
Sophomore and BSU member McCall Hall attended last year’s Kwanzaa celebration and was back for more this year. She helped with the presentations and enjoyed learning about the culture.
“Kwanzaa is about spending time with family and reflecting, sharing a meal. It’s about being together and it’s about unity,” Hall said. She continued that unlike Christmas, the whole purpose is to come together and embrace the festivities. “You can’t just send a card, she said. “You can’t do Kwanzaa alone.”