Kwanzaa con't

in

Kuumba, or creativity, marks the sixth day of Kwanzaa. "To do as much as we can the way that we can to leave our community more beautiful and more beneficial than when we inherited it." This day celebrates our people's tradition of excelling in all arts, from opera to weaving. This day also honors the generations of Black womyn who, with remarkable ingenuity and the barest means, have had to reconstruct items they were unable to buy.

The feast, or Karamu, is held on the sixth day. Friends enjoy each other amongst music, dancing and good eating. An mzee, elder womon, together with a young womon, share their remembrances of the year and the previous five days of Kwanzaa. A guest speaker then gives her opinions concerning how far we've come and what she feels are Our next steps toward freedom.

After praising our ancestors, the mzee pours wine or grape the juice into kikumbi cha umoja, drinks from it and passes it to the next oldest, and so on until the cup reaches the youngest celebrant. At this point, the mzee initiates the Kwanzaa shout "Harambe", which is always said in rounds of seven. "Harambe" means, "let's all pull together".

The theme for the final day of Kwanzaa is Imani, faith. "To believe with all our hearts

n

in

Our and

the

the

people and righteousness victory in struggle. Celebrated quietly in one's own home, this day's purpose is to foster the belief that when Black people act in unison we do have the strength to lead our lives according to Our collective decisions. For the Kwanzaa observer, this seventh day is a time for recalling the events of the holiday. It is also a time for planning ways to incorporate the Nguzo Saba into her life for the new year. Despite my attempt to describe the Kwanzaa holiday, some womyn may find it hard to give up the Christmas tree, cards and gifts. Fortunately, Kwanzaa is a non-denominational celebration. Whether you be witch or fundamental baptist, if you believe in Black people's fight for liberation, you welcome participate in this unique holiday of our

Own!

are

to

a Kwanzaa

То get information on celebration in the San Francisco-Bay Area, call Marlene (415) 540-0671.

*Quotes are from the Nguzo Saba by Ron Karenga.

@1983 Sarita Johnson

GLOBAL LESBIANISM

2-

Make connections with lesbians around the world...

Connexions #10, the second Global Lesbianism issue brings you a view of the world through the voices of lesbians internationally.

A year's subscription to Connexions is only $10. Single issues-$3.50. Connexions, an international women's quarterly, 4228 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA 94609.

Connexions

THE ABOLITIONIST, 9979 (for my sisters)

i want to free your minds from centuries of slime

semantic disenfranchisement

and semen.

from seeing yourselves as others do free you from the prisons of the penis people.

i want to loosen the chains

of pettiness, pretense, & distorted perceptions.

i need to see you free.

see you running

thinking

flying

being

so i will have

some company.

6

from its like this, poems by doris davenport, @ 1980