Kwanzaa's Lights Go Dim

The answer is the principle of the day. The formal celebrations center on a table decorated with African cloth. A woven mat, which stands for history and tradition, is placed on the table. Ears of corn, which symbolize children, are placed around the mat, along with a chalice for pouring libations to the ancestors.

The place of honor belongs to the kinara, a candleholder whose seven branches represent the holiday's principles. Each day, the candle is lit, and those gathered discuss the principle for the day. The last day is usually marked with a big community party.

This Christian sees no conflict between saying "merry Christmas" on Dec. 25 and "habari gani" on Dec. 26. I've seen Kwanzaa's ethical principles work in many little ways. When I remind the fifth-graders I teach that they aren't practicing "umoja" when they disturb their friends, they quiet down. This is the power of the Nguzo Saba at work.

When I see neighbors turning vacant lots into community gardens, I'm watching a practical application of both "nia" and "kuumba." As a journalist and a writer, exemplifying "kujichagulia" has become a personal mission as I work to speak my truth and help others find their voices.

Yes, I could observe Kwanzaa in my home with my friends. And many do. But then I would be weakening my connections to those around me, and diminishing myself as well. Going to Kwanzaa gatherings and reciting the principles in unison with others reminds me that I belong to something much larger than myself.

I hope, as the years pass, that our voices will swell and fill the air, not echo into emptiness.

afiscruggs@yahoo.com

Afi-Odelia E. Scruggs is a writer who lives near Cleveland.