Macon Magazine

have a strong unity bond and that we want to move forward as a community, a family and a people," said Hodges. The need for black healing and practical solutions from generational wounds of European exploitation and chattel slavery, the Jim Crow years, the devastating turmoil of the 1960s and subsequent decades of systemic racial crisis still raging today, is what makes the holiday so invaluable socially. "Kwanzaa to me means a celebration of our people. It's a coming together of the Diaspora of our people from all points in the world," said Ashley Pointer. "Kwanzaa is an opportunity to celebrate and honor my ancestors. It's important simply because it has roots and meanings far beyond what we have here. When you connect with the meanings, it gives a lot of depth and there is a lot of cultural bridging to other important traditions. Globally and in America, it is important because it offers a lot of what we should know and it's important for people outside of our community to appreciate as well." The essence of Kwanzaa includes daily reflections of the Nguzo Saba, or Seven Principles: Unity (Umoja), Self-Determination (Kujichagulia), Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima), Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa), Purpose (Nia), Creativity (Kuumba) and Faith (Imani). They are to be practiced year-round beyond the seven days. Kwanzaa includes celebrations of live music, dance, film, poetry, visual and dramatic arts, historical exploration, community improvement projects and the sharing of delicious foods. It includes intimate family ceremonies commemorating ancestors at home. It is a launching pad potentially for a very productive new year and the seven principles are to be practiced daily throughout the year. "My husband and I celebrate Kwanzaa at home. Kwanzaa in Macon is a community event, and I enjoy seeing young kids perform, and the ceremony, even though it's ritual," said dance choreographer/founder Marquita Redd of Redd Arts. "I enjoy seeing each year a new person put their spin on it, and African-American history is important. We can't move forward without knowing our past." TRADITIONS Tradition is a major theme in Kwanzaa, symbolized by the mkeka (straw mat) as the foundation upon which sits the kinara, or seven-holed candle holder, symbolic of our ancient ancestors, the Earth's earliest civilization of people, standing on the success of tradition. The mishumaa saba, (seven candles in the kinara) are the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) that grew out of and were created by them. Tradition is additionally important because it is a pillar of culture undergirding our beliefs, customs, values, language, arts, sciences and way of life that are passed on to each new generation. In his book, Karenga wrote, "Tradition and culture are foundations for correct knowledge and understanding of self, society and the world. In recognition of this fact, all other Kwanzaa symbols are placed on the mkeka and it too becomes a foundation. The ancestors expressed clearly the relevance of tradition and history as foundation in these proverbs: 'No matter how high a house is built, it must stand on something, and if you know the beginning well, the end will not trouble you.'" The black, red and green colors of Kwanzaa are embraced from the early 86 maconmagazine.com | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2022

• Cover