Kwanzaa a time for learning, honoring ancestors
Published 2:54 pm Monday, December 30, 2024
Charles Prince lights the candles as Mata Quarshie, left, and Gail Pellum look on during a Kwanzaa event at Rock Island Baptist Church. (LD Ray/Special to The News)
Ladonna Ambers take part in the Kwanzaa celebration. (LD Ray/Special to The News)
Johnny Hulin take part in the Kwanzaa celebration. (LD Ray/Special to The News)
A scene from the event at Rock Island Missionary Baptist Church. (LD Ray/Special to The News)
The Kwanzaa table features items representing Kwanzaa such as corn to represent children, fruit to represent the harvest, zawdi (gifts) and candleholder (kinara). (LD Ray/Special to The News)
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Members of the African American Culture Club and others gathered over the course of several days to celebrate Kwanzaa.
Celebrations were held at the Port Arthur Public Library and Rock Island Missionary Baptist Church.
According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Kwanzaa is a time where families and communities come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them and to celebrate African and African American culture.
A candle is lit each day of Kwanzaa, which is usually a seven-day event. The candles stand for umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith).
