by guest blogger Deborah Barabino of New Orleans, LA, Black Cultural Nationalist, 25 year literacy instructor, avid reader and Kwanzaa lover
When I lived in Ft. Lauderdale, I hosted Kujichagulia every year at the branch libraries. I loved it because I was always more fond of the red candle nights than the green. The crowds were intimate enough to discuss and network with each other so much so that they looked for each other every year.
The biggest nights were always Umoja and Kuumba. There would be hundreds of nattily attired black folks out at them. They would be held at large forum places like the Main Library or the old school museum. Both of these nights would be almost circus like with entertainment and speakers. However, the most solemn was Imani where my women's group would have a luncheon for a women's rehab half-way house. It was solemn because there would be no program, no long winded speeches, just food, talk and gifts given for no reason other than to be happy to be alive and sane while living in America.
The other nights--Ujima, Ujamaa, and Nia--seemed to have their built in audience where I felt skipping them a year or two wouldn't matter much, and to be honest it certainly didn't. I mean, I always felt that one was business night and the other was social workers and activists nights. While Nia always was designated children's night, it rang more like a night at the Apollo.
I miss that so very much. It is always this time of the year that I miss my Florida sisters. Kwanzaa was our finest time!
"Kwanzaa, not a holiday but, a cultural celebration."
Deb
Other Kwanzaa posts throughout the blogosphere
Posted by perry032 at December 27, 2005 08:01 AM | TrackBack