(New York, NY) On an alter was a kinara with seven candles, three green, three red and one solitary black in the middle; an African statuette and a varied collection of fruits. Close to 300 people gathered for the 21st Annual Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Kwanza celebration, which was held on Dec 27, in the Michael Lerner room at the LGBT Community Center. The celebration was the culmination of a day of activities which included an African market, a cultural program and a Karamu or community feast.


 

Above: Kwanza altar with kinara and fruits.   Below: Members of the Akoben Drumming Circle
During the cultural celebration, the program of events was hosted by Leslie "Buttaflysoul" Taylor, poet and spoken word artist and Fabian Burrell, writer and founder of Aziza Public Relations; and featured drumming performances by the Akoben Drumming Circle, a dual invocation by Rev. Joseph Tolten, pastor, Rehoboth Temple Christ Conscious Church (RTCCC) and Rev. Gale Jones, pastor, Renewed Life Ministries; cultural expressions by singer and song writer Nedra Johnson, entertainer DC Carpice, also known as Pat Cleveland, and performance artist Diamond Saunders; presentations of the seven principles by members of the community, and a key note speech by Marjorie Hill, Ph.D., CEO, Gay Men's Health Crises.
Members of the audience at the Karamu or feast
This year's Kwanza celebration was presented by a collection of 13 community-based organizations, which included: ADODI, New York; African Ancestral Lesbians United for Societal Change; The Audre Lord Project; The Black Men's Xchange, New York; Circle of Voices, Inc.; FIERCE; Freedom Train Productions; Less AIDS Lesotho; None on Record: Stories of Queer Africa; RTCCC; Sistahs in Search of Truth, Alliance and Harmony; Sistas of Caribbean Ancestry; and The Inner Child Experience. Eugene Howell, an ADODI faciliator, said that his organization, like many of those presenting the celebration contributed time to planning and financial support. In the past, he said, while the celebration was mainly heterosexual, it is now more applicable to the LGBT community.
Diamond Saunders performing at LGBT Kwanza celebration
"When you look at the seven principles of Kwanza and at the number of organizations participating, each with their own principles, here we're all one under the same celebration," said Howell. But, when asked why the celebrations weren't held in Harlem or in a predominantly Black neighborhood, Howell said that the planning committee had looked all over and the LGBT Center was the most affordable location. Jean Wimberly, executive director, Circle of Voices, said that Kwanza celebrations have been held at the LGBT Center for 21 years and people look forward to it and it wouldn't be the same if it was held some place else. But, she added, that after the number of people who attended, many of whom were turned away at the door to avoid standing room or fire code violations, the organizers may have to look for a bigger space for the 2009 celebrations.
Referring to the African-American Juneteenth celebrations held in June, Kaz Mitchell, director, Circle of Voices, said that it was important for this celebration to be brought to the LGBT Center and since many brothers and sisters have lost their jobs, it is an opportunity to reconnect with the people.
	Marjorie Hill, Ph.D., CEO, GMHC, presenting a Kwanza principle.
As the crowd of people, many men and women, and a few children dressed in various adaptations of African styles, using different Kente cloth patterns and designs, listened to the presentations of the seven Kwanza Principles, they murmured their approval, clapped or laughed. Kwanza is a Swahili word from the phrase, "matunda ya kwanza", meaning "first fruits." As a week long commemoration and celebration, from Dec 26 to Jan 1, by and for African-Americans, it was introduced by Ron Karenga and first enacted in 1967. The celebration, similar to Judeo-Christian Christmas and Hannuka practices, is marked by lighting the kinara, a variation of the menorah, ceremonies where libations are poured, and feasting and gift giving.
John Matey Young, Ph.D., lighting one of the candles after presenting a Kwanza principle
According to the online source, Wikipedia, the use of the Swahili word is reflective and reminiscent of the Pan-Africanism of the 1960s, is intended to provide for Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday, and an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than to simply imitate the practice of their dominant society.
Eugene Howell, Facilitator, ADODI, NY lights a candle after his presentation of a Kwanza principle.
In presenting the first principle, Ujoma, Gill Pritchett said that along with meaning unity, as a function in our society, it is a muscle in the lives of the community that has to be exercised daily and is more of oneness or one collective breath. The Black filmmaker, Olive Demetrius, presented the second principle, Kujichagulia, meaning self-determination and recited a short poem she prepared for the event. Robert Oba Cullins, during the presentation of Kushangilia, meaning rejoicing, while reciting phrases in Yoruba, performed a libation ritual and led the audience in an exercise of raising an arm straight up over the head, forming a fist and pulling the arm down to the body, shouting "Harambee."
As he presented Kukumbuka or remembering, Rev. Stacy Latimer, founder and CEO, Love Alive International, Inc., led the audience in calling out the names of their ancestors and mentioned the work of Black activists such as James Baldwin and Audre Lorde. Howell presented the third principle, Ujima, which means the cultural work and responsibility of the community, and to which he said that the gathering of people for this celebration was a testament to the true expression of Ujima.
	Nedra Johnson, performing one of her songs, “Testify.”
Presenting the fourth principle, Ujamaa, which means cooperative economics, John Martey Young, Ph.D., said that for the community to be able to build and maintain its own stores and shops is an embodiment of Ujamaa, and it means to use our own resources to support businesses and each other. He spoke of many of his friends who have become unemployed and how he has to think of ways to help and support them. As part of the program, GMHC's Hill, presenting the keynote speech spoke about reassessment and recommitment, and recalled the names of her female ancestors, without whom she would not have been present at the celebration. She said that much of what she learned, which led her to her present position, she obtained from the sisters, and the brothers of Gay Men of African Descent among many people. With this being a historic year and time for African-Americans, the entire community should recommit to going forward, said Hill, as she recalled remarking to her partner while watching the 2004 Democratic National Convention on television and hearing Barack Obama speaking that perhaps he should consider running for vice president.
(L. to r.) Master of Ceremony Leslie "Buttaflysoul" Taylor and Mistress of Ceremony Fabian Burrell.
But, today, Hill said, African-Americans should not sell themselves short. Happiness is no further than its reflection in a mirror and it is an inside job, for success comes from within, she added. "Somebody in this room was told they cannot do something or become someone, but we see that yes we can," she said. Hill said that she has been incredibly blessed by the people in her life who have looked beyond her faults and mistakes and saw what she was trying to do. "It's no accident that Obama is our president. It's no accident that our community is challenged. Obama's success won't mean anything if we don't do our part and don't say, yes we can," said Hill. Kwanza is a spiritual opportunity to reflect on a time passed and a gift as the community looks to the future, "tomorrow is already different, but only if you would lead, only if you would accept and say, yes we can," she said.
DC Carpice Carthans aka Pat Cleveland performing and entertaining the audience.
After Hill's speech, singer and performer Cleveland, performed two songs, during which the room was transformed into a semblance of a gospel church or revival: people stomping, clapping, cheering, singing along, waving money in the air, and at the close, gave her a standing ovation. Returning to the presentation of the Kwanza principles, Bishop Jacquelin Holland, offered the fifth Nia, which means purpose. She said it is one of the principles that forces people to become introspective, to think of who they want to be, want to do, and what are they doing in a particular place. "Purpose forces you to look inside yourself to see what you can do, bring to a situation. Purpose is who you want to be not what society says you should be," said Holland.
At extreme left, Andrea Vassell, chair, LGBT Kwanza Committee, and a section of the large audience.
Presenting the sixth principle, Kuumba, meaning creativity, Lorenzo Stewart, said that as he prepared for this event, he found himself doing more research into the principles of Kwanza and discovered that people should look inside themselves and in their environment to find ways of being creative. The final principle, Imani, meaning faith, was presented by namesake, Imani Rashid, who said that even though she was named Betty by her parents, she chose to adopt the Swahili name more than 30 years ago. But she said as she too was preparing for this celebration, she asked herself what faith meant for the Black community. "I learned that Imani also means hope, and that with out Imani, none of the principles would be possible," she said. She added that while Imani means belief, it is a time when the Black community needs to take its power back and is the principle on which everything rests. Following Rashid, performance artist Saunders and her two assistants, painted white face, performed a lip-synching mime to two songs, which again energized the audience, and which led to repeated encores. At the end of this cultural celebration, the entire audience was invited to share in a communal meal, which consisted of dishes such as macaroni and cheese, collard greens, fried chicken, roast pork, jerk chicken, and deserts including red velvet cake, pound cake and an assortment of cookies.