Ron Daniels, who held the first Kwanzaa celebration in Youngstown 50 years ago, speaks during a Kwanzaa celebration at New Bethel Baptist Church on Wednesday night. Credit: Emily Matthews, The Vindicator

By William K. Alcorn, The Vindicator —

Ron Daniels, former Youngstown community activist and television personality, introduced as one of the founders of Youngstown Kwanzaa 50 years ago, paid a surprise visit to the first day of this year’s weeklong event that celebrates African heritage in African-American culture.

“When we started Kwanzaa here in the former West Federal Street YMCA, we were among the first in the United States to celebrate Kwanzaa, which started in the United States 52 years ago,” said Daniels.

“It’s great to be back home and see that people are working together in unity; but when I see this community devastated, I know it hits black people the hardest,” Daniels said.

“I was almost moved to tears to see these young people,” he said, speaking of the dancers and drummers of the Youngstown Harambee Youth Organization.

Wednesday’s event at New Bethel Baptist Church was the first of several Kwanzaa ceremonies that are observed through Jan. 1, 2019, and culminate in a feast and gift-giving.

Kwanzaa, created by Maulana Karenga and first celebrated in 1966, has seven core principles collectively called Nguzo Saba. The principles are:

1

Umoja

(Unity)

To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.

2

Kujichagulia

(Self-determination)

To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

3

Ujima

(Collective work and responsibility)

To build and maintain our community together, make our brother’s and sister’s
problems our problems, and solve them together.

4

Ujamaa

(Cooperative economics)

To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them.

5

Nia

(Purpose)

To make as our collective vocation the building and developing of our
community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

6

Kuumba

(Creativity)

To do always as much as we can, in the way that we can, in order to leave our
community more beautiful than when we inherited it.

7

7. Imani

(Faith)

To believe with all our hearts in our parents, our teachers, our leaders, our
people and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

***

“Kawanzaa is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our history and culture through music, dancing and cultural expression,” as presented by the Harambee Youth Organization, said the Rev. Kenneth L. Simon, New Bethel’s pastor.

“Bless this celebration. May we leave here empowered,” he told the crowd.

The stars of the celebration were the members of the Harambee group, which was founded and led by Ron and Lynnette Miller.

The energetic dancing was offered by girls and women ranging from toddlers to young girls and young women. The drummers were no less enthusiastic and skillful and provided background for the dancers.

Among the other parts of the ceremony were the “Salute to the African-American Flag;” and the singing of the black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The evening ended with a covered-dish meal and shopping at the vendors’ tables in the church lobby.

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Community comes together to celebrate official start of Kwanzaa

Seven principles are celebrated each night with the lighting of a candle

 

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Wednesday marked the official start of Kwanzaa, which ends on Jan. 1.

The celebration lasts seven days and observes family, community and culture from African and African-American origins.

Seven principles are celebrated each night with the lighting of a candle, the first being Umoja, or “unity.”

“Kwanzaa itself is a Swahili word that means ‘first fruits’ and so, in general, it’s just a time for people in the black community to come together and reevaluate what has gone on in the year before and what we want to do moving forward into the next year,” said Zakiya Miller of the Harambe Youth Organization.

The six other principles are Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Kwanzaa in the city of Youngstown.

There are several events happening throughout the week to celebrate Kwanzaa across our community.

One event was held Wednesday evening at New Bethel Baptist Church on Hillman Street.

But if you missed that event, there’s another one on Friday at 6 p.m. for Ujima at the Beulah Baptist Church.

On Sunday at 3 p.m., you can spend the day celebrating Nia at Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church.