KWANZAA

In late October, early November, as the first sprinklings of red, white and green make their ways to storefront windows, we become aware of the ominous holiday season. With the commercialization of Christmas plus the strain most lesbians endure for traditional family gatherings, the holidays bring more depression than joy. For Black lesbians, this time of year can be even more isolating for our lack of a commonly rooted culture.

Between Christmas and New Year's however, there exists an age-old set of rituals called Kwanzaa. Designed to celebrate all Black people and our achievements, Kwanzaa can provide Black lesbians support and warm an otherwise dismal winter.

The

Kwanzaa (first fruit) originated in East Africa where the people celebrated themselves after a good harvest. The festivities stretch across a full week from December 26 to January 1. holiday, as it is celebrated in the United States, was adapted in 1966 by Ron Karenga, a Black Studies professor at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The seven days of Kwanzaa correspond to seven principles (Nguzo Saba) by which a Kwanzaa observer tries to live her life. Embellishing the celebration are seven symbols usually arranged on a low table. The first of these symbols is the mkeka, a mat that represents our traditions.

The mazao, tropical fruits, nuts and vegetables in a handsome basket, symbolizes the successful harvest of our political labors. Mazao also represents the coming together of Black people.

A candleholder of seven candles, the kinara, symbolizes our common ancestry and our responsibility to care for one another. Each candle stands for one of the Nguzo Saba. A Black candle is placed in the middle, with red ones to the left and green ones to the right. Each night

a new candle is lit, usually by the youngest member of a family.

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Finally, an empty cup, not to be filled until the sixth day, is placed on the table, it is known the Kikumbi Cha Umoja (unity cup), and symbolizes our common struggle as Black people.

The first five days of Kwanzaa are usually celebrated quietly with visiting friends and extended family members. Warm greetings are exchanged and the theme of the day is discussed. On the sixth day, parties are held. The seventh day is a calm day for reviewing the week.

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Umoja, or unity, is the theme for the first day of Kwanzaa. "To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. Divide-and-Conquer is our white oppressor's middle name, is obvious to us as Black lesbians that we can not allow ourselves to fall prey to such manipulation.

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The second day of Kwanzaa is devoted to Kugichagulia, self determination. "То define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves, instead of being defined, named, created for and spoken for by others." То come out as a Black lesbian is to continually shatter the assumptions that color is of no importance and that there's no such thing as a Black lesbian.

Our

On the third day, thoughts are directed toward Ujima, collective work and responsibility. "To build and maintain Our community together, to make Our (Brothers' and) Sisters' problems problems and solve them together." In this country most of us learn at an early age that to distrust everything that breathes is a national way of life. Unfortunately our closest recipients of this distrust are each other. Once we reshift our sites to a common and deserving target, we can build positive, helpful bonds with each other.

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Cooperative economics or Ujama, theme of the fourth day of Kwanzaa. build and maintain our stores, shops and other businesses and to profit together from them." Because our fight for money is the key to our survival, our jobs can become scenes for tension and unfriendly To support the purpose of competition. amongst our job (and not solely for the monetary carrot) and to feel at ease with the division of money amongst our co-workers would be a marvelous change.

Vibunzi, in the form of ears of corn, are placed on the table to represent each child in a family. Kwanzaa strongly emphasizes

positive bonding

family members. Lesbians, for whom Kwanzaa was not specifically designed, might find it hard to celebrate honestly with parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Nevertheless, the African assumption that all Black people are family, encourages us to "family" amongst Our friends.

Gifts,

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or

zawadi,

Our

are given to the children who've tried to incorporate the into their lives during the Nguzo Saba passing year.

The principle honored on the fifth day is Nia, meaning Since most purpose. half our waking

employers usurp over hours, many of us barely have time to restore ourselves after a long working But day, much less restoring a nation! to work,

if only for ten minutes each day, for a cause beneficial to

our

people, can give us a genuine self worth 5 which is something most daily jobs Cont. pg. 6

obliterate.