WHAT IS KWANZAA?

What Is Kwanzaa?
From Encarta Africana

Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday that begins on Dec. 26 and continues through Jan. 1. The name of the holiday comes from the Swahili words matunda ya kwanza, which mean "first fruits." The holiday's roots are in harvest celebrations that are recorded from the earliest periods of African history. These celebrations bear various names that reflect the languages of the societies that have celebrated them as well as those that still celebrate them, including Pert-en-Min in ancient Egypt, Umkhosi in Zululand, Incwala in Swaziland, Odwira in Ashantiland, and Odu Ijesu in Yorubaland.

Kwanzaa was created in 1966 in the United States by Maulana Karenga, an activist/scholar who is currently professor and chair of the Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach. Rooted in ancient African history and culture, Kwanzaa was developed in the modern context of African American life and struggle as a reconstructed and expanded African tradition. It emerged during the Black Freedom Movement of the 1960s and thus reflects the movement's concern for self-determination, a "return to the source," and the reaffirmation of African identity and culture. Moreover, Kwanzaa is founded and framed in Kawaida philosophy, which stresses cultural grounding, value orientation, and an ongoing dialogue with African culture—both continental and diasporan—in pursuit of paradigms of human excellence and human possibility.

First celebrated by members and friends of the Organization Us (meaning us African people), which Karenga chairs, Kwanzaa is currently celebrated by an estimated 26 million people on every continent in the world.As explained in Karenga's 'Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture,' Kwanzaa is organized around five fundamental kinds of activities that originate from ancient African harvest or first-fruit celebrations.

These activities are (1) the ingathering of the people to reinforce the bonds between them, especially the bonds of family, community, and culture; (2) special reverence for the Creator and creation in gratitude for the bountifulness and goodness of the earth and in commitment to preserve and protect it; (3) commemoration of the past, to fulfill the obligation to remember and honor ancestors and to teach and reaffirm the mission and meaning of African history; (4) recommitment to the highest African cultural values — ethical and spiritual values that bring forth the best of what it means to be African and human; and (5) celebration of the good of life — that is, the good of family, community, and culture; of relationships; of old age and youth; of knowledge and sharing; of work and wonder; and of all things of benefit and blessing.

At the heart of the meaning and activities of Kwanzaa are the Nguzo Saba (the seven principles), which Karenga developed to reaffirm and strengthen family, community, and culture. These principles are umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith). Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the principles and is organized around activities and discussion to emphasize that principle.

At each evening meal during Kwanzaa, family members light one of seven candles to focus on the principles in a ritual called "lifting up the light that lasts." This lifting-up means upholding the Nguzo Saba and all the other life-affirming and enduring principles that reaffirm the good of life, enrich human relations, and support human flourishing. In addition to the mishumaa saba (seven candles), the other basic symbols of Kwanzaa are the mazao (crops), symbolic of African harvest celebrations and of the rewards of productive and collective labor; the mkeka (mat), symbolic of tradition and history and therefore the foundation on which to build; the kinara (candleholder), symbolic of ancestral roots and the parent people, or continental Africans; muhindi (corn), symbolic of children and the future of African people that they embody; the kikombe cha umoja (unity cup), symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity that makes all else possible; and zawadi (gifts), symbolic of the labor and love of parents and of the commitments made and kept by children.

There are also two supplemental symbols: a representation of the Nguzo Saba and the bendera (flag), which contains the colors black, red, and green. These colors are symbolic, respectively, of African people, their struggle, and the promise and future that come from their struggle. A central and culminating event of the holiday is the gathering of the community on Dec. 31 for an African karamu (feast). The karamu features libation and other ceremonies that honor ancestors, narratives, poetry, music, dance, and other performances to celebrate the goodness of life, relationships, and cultural grounding.

Kwanzaa ends Jan. 1 with the Siku ya Taamuli (Day of Meditation), which is dedicated to sober self-assessment and recommitment to the Nguzo Saba and all other African values that reaffirm commitment to the dignity and rights of the human person, the well-being of family and community, the integrity and value of the environment, and the reciprocal solidarity and common interests of humanity. One way that persons conduct this self-assessment is to ask themselves three questions: Who am I? Am I really who I am? Am I all I ought to be? In this way, they measure themselves in the mirror of the best of African culture and history and recommit themselves to standards and practices of human excellence that reflect and support those cultural ideals.

Contributed by Dr. Maulana Ndabezitha Karenga

THE FOUNDER
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Dr. Maulana Karenga Creator of KwanzaaChair, The Organization UsChair,

The National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO)

Dr. Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966.
Courtesy of The HistoryMakers

Related Links:
Official Kwanzaa Web Site
Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration
Kwanzaa Information Center
Everything About Kwanzaa

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Kwanzaa for Kids

Share the glories of this African-American holiday at home with your children
Rich in cultural and historical information about people of African descent, Kwanzaa is a perfect tradition to share with children.

Created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Black Studies at California State University at Long Beach, it’s a celebration that brings African-Americans together, acknowledges our talents and achievements, and reveres the Creator. The holiday, observed from December 26 through January 1, reinforces basic values--the Seven Principles, termed Nguzo Saba in Swahili--that support the African-American community.

Kwanzaa continues to gain recognition, with more than 15 million people worldwide now celebrating it. To me, Kwanzaa is how you live, how you make a commitment to your Black culture," says Eric Copage, author of Kwanzaa: An African-American Celebration of Culture and Cooking (Quill; $15). "I got involved with Kwanzaa because of my son. I was looking for a way to instill in him a positive sense of his African-American heritage."

Andrea Davis Pinkney, author of the children’s book Seven Candles for Kwanzaa (Dial; $15.99), has a number of tips for parents who want to share Kwanzaa with their children. While not every tip is tied to a specific Principle, they all celebrate the spirit of the holiday.

* Savor important family moments. Pinkney recalls, "One year we made a memory quilt. We designate one person as the maker of the quilt, and each person brings fabric from something that’s important to her. Each person’s piece of fabric is incorporated into the quilt. Our quilt contains a piece of my daughter’s christening gown and a piece of the sweater I wore when I went into labor with my daughter."

* Pay homage to our loved ones. Pinkney suggests, "We’ve done an ancestral circle where we get together as a family, light a candle, and form a circle around it." Pinkney explains how this works: "When the spirit moves you to speak, call out the name of someone who has passed on, and say something nice about them." This ritual is especially suitable for older children.
* Preserve the traditions of Kwanzaa. There are many tools used to celebrate Kwanzaa, and children can help make them. Pinkney suggests, "Kids can use construction paper to make the traditional Kwanzaa mats that are used for holding fruit and corn."

* Teach your child the importance of community support. "My family has made an ’Ujamaa box,’ " says Pinkney. (Ujamaa, Swahili for Cooperative Economics, is the Fourth Principle: "to build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and profit from them together.") "We help the children find and cut out pictures of Black icons--everyone from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Oprah--and paste them on the box. Throughout the year, we all put money in the box, and during the holiday season, we use the money to make a purchase at a Black-owned business in the community." Pinkney adds, "This year we plan to donate the money to charity."

* Celebrate with music. Many types of music are an integral part of African-American culture. Pinkney shares her family’s way of celebrating our rich musical tradition: "Throughout the year, we encourage the kids to collect songs that they like. Each child chooses a spiritual, we help them get the words, and we put all the songs together to make a hymnal. Then we get together as a family and sing the songs."

* Encourage and express creativity and talent. Pinkney suggests, "Let the kids put on a little show; they can perform a puppet show with finger puppets that they make." (The Sixth Principle--Kuumba, or Creativity--encourages us "to do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.")

* Share family memories. Remembering the past is a crucial part of celebrating Kwanzaa.

--Tonya Adams is the channel producer of Feel at Home

What is Kwanzaa? juiceenewsdaily - 4 hours agoKwanzaa (sometimes spelled Kwaanza) is a week-long secular holiday ...

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THE FEAST

Find everything you need to prepare for your Kwanzaa feast.
Crafts
Recipes
Decorating Ideas
Shopping
Kwanzaa Recipe Watch
Greens With Smoked Turkey, Apples and Walnuts
3 tbsp walnuts, pieces
2 tbsp sugar
8 cups red leaf lettuce, torn into small pieces
Read Entire Recipe
More on BV’s Cooking Board

All articles courtesy of www.aol.com black voices

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Submitted by: Shelle'

EMBRACING CHANGE CONFRONTING THE FEAR - LIVING AND BEYOND

This Week our Blog will be dedicated to the Memory of Richard Pryor. A phenomenal entertainer and black activist. Mr Pryor was a pioneer of uncensored black comedy. He has gone on to join all of the great ones before him Moms Mabley, Redd Foxx, and countless others who never lived to achieve the type of respect which Richard Pryor had received.

He faced down many demons, with humiliation and then humbly accepting his drug problem making a film about his life Jo Jo Dancer Your Life is calling later to find out that he had developed Multiple Sclerosis, in my opinion he was a GIANT. Well respected in the black community and crossed over with many fans in mainstream who loved his comedic genius too. With this year winding down in 2005 we watched many great ones leaders and legends pass away and we honor them all; Luther Vandross, Ray Charles, and Ossie Davis just to name a few. The beautiful and graceful Ms Rosa Parks. We should pause and honor those who paved the way for many of us in all venues of the spectrum.

A special prayer goes out because at midnight as this blog is being published we also will lose another brother a different type of leader. His acclaim to fame was being a Crip. A gang leader, a teacher and a man who clung to hope beyond hope. Inspite of alot of best efforts clemency was denied Tookie Williams. May they all rest peacefully with GOD Almighty because they truly all fought the good fight. Right or wrong I say well done.

moderator's comments by: Shelle'

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Daily Christian Wisdom

Let everyone understand that the real love of God does not consist in tear-shedding...but in serving God by serving those around us, in justice, fortitude of soul, and humility.













Submitted by: Robyn from Calli

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Updated: 2005-12-11 22:55:44
Remembering Richard Pryor: A True Friend And Comic Genius
By Cecil Brown, Special to AOL Black Voices

Richard Pryor 1940 - 2005

In 1971, Richard Pryor was already a legend. It was his outrageous humor, his satire, that one heard about. But nobody I knew had actually seen him. There was a rumor that he was going to appear at the Mandrake. After being an hour late he strolled across the dim stage. He was of average height, almost skinny, in a green sweater, grinning, holding a cigarette. His face was open, sincere, and genuine.

In 1966, when critic Phil Elwood (San Francisco Examiner) saw him he thought he was "unfunny and not original." Pryor had already been on at least three major TV shows, but despite such exposure, Richard appeared to be "insecure and ill at ease, despite his projected hipness." But that night when I saw him he was able to handle his nervousness -- and he was very hip.
He stood, looking out, his eyes moving over the audience, stopping at me. I was one of the few blacks in the place. Pryor had already been discovered by a black audience, and now it was the hip white youth's turn to discover this comic genius. "I used to smoke weed, but I gave that up," he said, "it made me paranoid. Then I snorted cocaine. I had to give that up too. 'Cause I got so paranoid, I used to wake up my wife in the middle of the night and ask, you f----g the paper boy?'"

He told jokes about Richard Nixon who loomed in our minds like Bush does today -- "I think President Nixon's a lesbian! And Agnew is his man!" He told jokes about police brutality. He told jokes about show business. The audience easily fell under the spell of Richard's voices. Next he added the Wino "who knew Jesus personally."
"Jesus Christ? That boy ain't shit. He lives right down here on 3rd street. She was carrying that boy. She carried him low, that's how we knew she had a boy."

for more on this article
Whoopi Goldberg & Others on Pryor's Passing
Photos from Pryor's Life Work
See 1995 Interview With Richard Pryor
Share Your Favorite Pryor Moments
Condolences For the Pryor Family
go to www.aol.com - see black voices

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EMBRACING CHANGE CONFRONTING THE FEAR - LIVING AND BEYOND

Key Scripture: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7) Key Thought: Fear knocked at the door Faith answered. No one was there.

Many years ago I listened as a friend of mine shared in a anonymous meeting he was very articulate and said that prior to getting clean the one thing he feared most was change, but being a man meant standing perpendicular before GOD and when he had made a decision to turn his will and life over to the care of GOD that replaced all of his fear. Then he said something that most people don't say in those closed meetings instead using the term "God of my understanding" or "Higher Power" he said the name of Jesus Christ. The room was quiet as he spoke loudly, boldy and later those comments were made people refer to him as a spiritual giant he begged to differ by responding to them by simply saying "I'm no spiritual giant but there is a GIANT in my spirit."
That takes a lot of courage for anyone to admit to have any fears at all publicly, but many of us do. We often become complacent or get comfortable with our lives then don't realize that when we aren't challenging ourselves often we become stale, stagnate, and we stunt our growth. It's like eating the same thing for dinner every other day because it's routine quick and easy then on Saturday you treat yourself to fast food at McDonald's at the same spot order the same thing and every time it tastes good until one day it loses the appeal and taste. 
Change comes often and people evolve just as quickly as the seasons change. We work hard at perfecting a routine with our friends, lovers, or spouses only to look up one day and find that they have drifted off in another direction and many times instead of accepting the fact we either run or walk quickly in the opposite direction because we lose the stamina to embrace them where they are at and the same thing holds true when we experience changes in our lives a need to shift gears or do something different to improve ourselves. We can also shift into reverse gear and do some things that destroy our character and ruin relationships.

But one thing that is constant in change, if nothing changes, nothing changes. As the saying goes where ever you go there you are. So you can't be afraid of what we understand or don't understand in life or death, sometimes it has no explanation. So many of us are never prepared financially, mentally, or spiritually and the end result is devastation.

When we are young their is a feeling that we will live forever or are invincible, can leap tall buildings in a single bound. As we mature and experience life we get some hard knocks and realize that some of those buildings just a tad to steep to leap across. That's when we become more practical in some cases people just ignore the facts. Some die young or live miserably because they foolishly believe they can trick life and end up the trick. Pay now or pay later the bill is always in the mail and one day you have to pay. So if you living in a comfort zone, maybe it's time to raise the bar a little, you can always become better - strive for change. Remain teachable, humble, and lovable. Don't be afraid to embrace change - because if you living a fruitful life you can surely count on an eternal peace when you exit the building (your body) a living temple.

We never know what God's plan is for us - remember that it's okay to make the plan but you can never plan the outcome. Faith and hope is your best weapon to overcoming fear. Prayer is your insurance policy. Love is unconditional keep an open heart and willing mind. Even when it seems like your down you might be down but not out. Like my friend said look straight up stand perpendicular to GOD. Fear not. As Human beings we fall short and have many shortcomings but GOD has never failed or come up short. Fact we can count on the sunrise and sunset. Fact we know that there is a moon and will always come out in a way shape or form. We know that the seasons will change and we always prepare for those changes. Just like us we go through many seasons in life, but If we can trust GOD to do all of that, we can trust Him with our own changes that affect our lives today. Just for today, we can hope for a tomorrow and plan ahead. But no matter how it all turns out we embrace it with humility without beating our chest in vain glory.

Our faith shows us what we cannot see.

An idea begins with a thought and then is brought forward into reality. An artist sees the painting in his mind before it ever touches the canvas. He touches the canvas until what was inside of his mind sets before him and the passion makes him more eager to bring it forth. Imagination is just an image in our mind we decide when begin - to make it a reality. Most of us go to bed at night convinced that surely they are waking up in the morning and that's okay too. That's called having faith.

Faith without works is dead being alone - change should not be feared but reverenced. It takes courage to color outside the lines step outside the box- change is an inside job with you the individual and often has a ripple effect on others. If Hallie Berry wakes up in the morning and decided to go long, blond, and curly. Just by changing her mind she will influence females to go blond, long, and curly too because it looks so good on her, they are convinced that look surely will look good on me too.

Change allows you the luxury of knowing who really is for you and whoever stays around to see that person evolve til the end are the ones you come to love and trust. These are the people who are not afraid to be honest with you right or wrong, good or bad. They are your mirror, mirror on the wall. Always have one friend that won't lie to you even when it hurts and you can be reciprocal in love, spirit, and truth. Nine times out of ten this is the person you probably have even taken for granted along the way. Embracing Change brings you face to face with love, love of self, life, and GOD.

submitted by: Shelle

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Updated: 03:47 PM EST
Governor Refuses to Stay Gang Leader's ExecutionBy DAVID KRAVETS

SAN FRANCISCO (Dec. 12) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday refused to spare the life of Stanley Tookie Williams, the founder of the murderous Crips gang who awaited execution after midnight in a case that stirred debate over capital punishment and the possibility of redemption on death row.
Schwarzenegger was unswayed by pleas from Hollywood stars and petitions from more than 50,000 people who said that Williams had made amends during more than two decades in prison by writing a memoir and children's books about the dangers of gangs.

"After studying the evidence, searching the history, listening to the arguments and wrestling with the profound consequences, I could find no justification for granting clemency," Schwarzenegger said, less than 12 hours before the execution. "The facts do not justify overturning the jury's verdict or the decisions of the courts in this case."
Schwarzenegger could have commuted the death sentence to life in prison without parole.
With a reprieve from the federal courts considered unlikely, Williams, 51, was set to die by injection at San Quentin State Prison early Tuesday for murdering four people in two 1979 holdups.




Williams became one of the nation's biggest death-row cause celeb's in decades.
Prosecutors and victims' advocates contended Williams was undeserving of clemency from the governor because he did not own up to his crimes and refused to inform on fellow gang members. They also argued that the Crips gang that Williams co-founded in Los Angeles in 1971 is responsible for hundreds of deaths, many of them in battles with the rival Bloods for turf and control of the drug trade.
Williams stood to become the 12th California condemned inmate executed since lawmakers reinstated the death penalty in 1977 after a brief hiatus.
Williams was condemned in 1981 for gunning down a clerk in a convenience store holdup and a mother, father and daughter in a motel robbery weeks later. Williams claimed he was innocent.
The last time a California governor granted clemency was in 1967, when Ronald Reagan spared a mentally infirm killer. Schwarzenegger - a Republican who has come under fire from members of his own party as too accommodating to liberals - rejected clemency twice before during his two years in office.
Just before the governor announced his decision on clemency, the 9th U.S. Circuit of Appeals denied Williams' request for a reprieve, saying among other things that there was no "clear and convincing evidence of actual innocence."
In his last-ditch appeal, Williams claimed that he should have been allowed to argue at his trial that someone else killed one of the four victims, and that shoddy forensics connected him to the other killings.
Williams was convicted of killing Yen-I Yang, 76, Tsai-Shai Chen Yang, 63, and Yu-Chin Yang Lin, 43, at a Los Angeles motel the family owned, and Albert Owens, 26, a 7-Eleven clerk gunned down in Whittier.
Among the celebrities who took up Williams' cause were Jamie Foxx, who played the gang leader in a cable movie about Williams; rapper Snoop Dogg, himself a former Crip; Sister Helen Prejean, the nun depicted in "Dead Man Walking"; Bianca Jagger; and former "M*A*S*H" star Mike Farrell. During Williams' 24 years on death row, a Swiss legislator, college professors and others nominated him for the Nobel Prizes in peace and literature.
"If Stanley Williams does not merit clemency," defense attorney Peter Fleming Jr. asked, "what meaning does clemency retain in this state?"
The impending execution resulted in feverish preparations over the weekend by those on both sides of the debate, with the California Highway Patrol planning to tighten security outside the prison, where hundreds of protesters were expected.
A group of about three dozen death penalty protesters were joined by the Rev. Jesse Jackson as they marched across the Golden Gate Bridge after dawn Monday en route to the gates of San Quentin, where they were expected to rally with hundreds of people.
At least publicly, the person apparently least occupied with his fate seemed to be Williams himself.
"Me fearing what I'm facing, what possible good is it going to do for me? How is that going to benefit me?" Williams said in a recent interview. "If it's my time to be executed, what's all the ranting and raving going to do?"
article courtesy of www.aol.com12-12-05 15:43 EST
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Understanding Black Manhood in America
This subject matter of this book seems interesting and a must especially to those of us with young black boys and in light of the current situation all across this country with respect to our young African-American men killing one another. I thought I would pass it along. I love the Diversity Inc. Bookstore. I think one of the most powerful things that one can do is give someone a book to read. A book is something I always give my children for Christmas. The struggle is getting them to read it. It’s hard to instill the love of reading into children or into anyone for that matter. I must admit as I get older my concentration is not as good as it use to be, but reading is one of the most powerful things one can do. Over 50% of African-Americans do not read as much as they should and it greatly impacts their awareness and their role in society. However, we can work to change that.
What is Cool?
Understanding Black Manhood in America
Marlene Kim Connor’s anatomy of cool reveals it as a vital code of behaviors and attitudes that plays an often disregarded role in shaping the conception of manhood among young black boys. Connor uncovers cool’s history, explores its essence, and explains why, even though it deserves praise, cool often becomes an insidious force affecting black American life today.
For More Information www.diversityinc.com
Submitted by: Robyn from Calli
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Updated: 2005-12-12 05:42:36
Florida Woman Offers Help, Holiday CheerBy Stacy Gilliam, Special to AOL Black Voices

Desrene Williams-Allen
For Christmas, Desrene Williams-Allen's organization, Compassion Connection, will buy toys for 150 Florida kids with imprisoned parents.
The world is full of givers. Yet some possess a special dedication that makes them continue even after going the extra mile.
Desrene Williams-Allen belongs in that group.
That altruism has her playing Mrs. Santa and collecting toys for needy kids this holiday season. For the third year in a row, her non-profit Compassion Connection International (CCI), whose mission, among many, is to support at-risk families and individuals, will help provide Christmas presents to kids of incarcerated men and women. This year, she expanded the program to include children of families displaced by Hurricane Wilma. Allen and her volunteers delivered gifts to about 50 kids at a Red Cross shelter last weekend. She'll also support families in the Caribbean by sending toys to Kingston, Jamaica.
"I have a tender heart for the unfortunate," says Allen, a native of Jamaica, who in 1994 started CCI based in Coral Springs, Fla. "God has blessed me and it's time to give back."
She gives back and then some. In addition to the holiday gift-giving program, Allen has led projects to feed and clothe hundreds of homeless people. The group aids Florida's Broward County by cleaning up local neighborhoods. They provide back-to-school items for children locally and abroad to the Caribbean. Allen has organized missions to transport much-needed hospital supplies, including a donation of 100 hospital beds, food, and clothing back to Jamaica. And this time of year, CCI partners with Angel Tree Network, the Christian-based group that provides them with the names of children of imprisoned parents.
"I normally have 50 kids on my list. But their caretakers will recommend other kids whose parents are in jail. I usually end up with between 100 and 150 kids," says Allen, also a foster mom of two. CCI gets a wish list of items from each child. Many are requesting jackets, but others ask for toys, electronics, stuffed animals or jewelry. The group will then look for sponsors for the children or hunt for toy donations from the public to assist them. On Dec. 16, the gifts will be wrapped and waiting for pick-up by the guardians. Allen makes sure to send parents who are in prison Christmas cards.
"She's just got a heart for people," says Sharnette Cherrington, a volunteer for four-and-a-half years with CCI, who plans to go back to her home in Jamaica to work as a liaison for the organization. "She opens her home. She's self-sacrificing. It's just in her heart to see people do better than they are."
article courtesy of aol black voices
submitted by: Shelle
Your comments are welcome!

WEEKEND KALEIDOSCOPE

The Urban Spectrum Holiday Gift Giving And Community Event Listing
By Ta'Shia Asanti

One of principles of Kwanzaa, Ujamaa, which is defined as Cooperative Economics, speaks to the importance of communities of color actively participating in the circulation and sustaining of wealth in their own communities.

A study by the Recycling Black Dollars organization in Los Angeles reported that African Americans dollars barely circulate once in their community before leaving for good. African Americans are listed in various consumer guides as one of the top consumer groups in the country, yet African Americans are at the top of the list of the most economically challenged communities in America.

Part of the reasoning for this, according to economists, is that Black wealth primarily benefits other ethnic communities first. Blacks spend their money outside of the Black community. This article will attempt to provide communities of color with information on great gift ideas and business outlets where they can do their holiday shopping, and help sustain businesses owned and managed by people of color. This article will also offer listings of culturally-centered events and activities taking place during the holiday season.Culturally Competent Gift GivingWhile there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying designer and name brand products, it is important that we begin to recognize the inherent beauty and value of products and services crafted, designed, manufactured, and provided by other people of color.

There are many African American owned retail stores, products, and service providers that offer the same quality as other ethnic business owners.The benefits of shopping at home are many. By shopping in our own communities and spending money with our own people, we can develop connections with other Black business owners and partake in the many benefits of cooperative economics.

Gift Ideas for Him or HerSelf-Pampering for her or him – try the NaNina Ra Self-Indulgence Experience.NaNina Ra was founded in 1999 by NaNina Heard, President and CEO, in an effort to utilize the ancient medicinal and homeopathic teachings of her African ancestors to help heal, affirm and rejuvenate people of color and conscience.

NaNina Ra, based in Denver, offers a fragrant assortment of homemade shea butters, salt scrubs, organic perfumes, bubble baths, lotions, hair care products, and body oils crafted with love and social integrity. The Self-Indulgence Experience includes various products from the line such as NaNina’s famous Mango-Tangerine Body Butter & Salt Scrub, the Herbal-Environmental Detox Soak, NaNina’s famous Honey-Oshun Lotion, Kiwi Shampoo, Sage-Lavender Hair Sheen, NaNina Ra Oats, Milk and Herbs Facial Scrub, and NaNina’s own signature perfume called Ta’Shia.Products range in cost from $10 to $54. All products have been tested for shelf life and skin sensitivity.

As one of the premiere spas in Denver, Yaya’s, which is owned and managed by Makisha Boothe, offers scent-sensual signature treatments such as their Chocolate Sugar Foot Scrub & Lunch combination. You can also book a Couple’s Experience and spend a day being pampered while lavishing your significant other with a Yaya facial, nail and foot treatment, full body massage and feet rejuvenation session. This gift is great for men, too! Ask about the spa’s Girlfriend’s Day. Your church, sorority, or cultural group can have Yaya’s all to yourself for non-stop pampering and specialized attention. Proprietor Boothe suggests you book early to avoid the holiday rush.Yaya’s Spa & Salon is located at 130 West 11th Ave. in Denver. Call 303-333-5518 or visit the web site at http://www.yayaspa.com/.


Akente Express at Park Avenue West and Champa in Denver has authentic African art, gifts, fabric, jewelry and perfumed oils. Akente Express is a great place to shop for culturally centered gifts and home decorations. There is something for everyone at Akente Express.

Gifts for Under the Tree or the Kwanzaa AltarMusic is always a wonderful gift. Here are a few selections to choose from:Stevie Wonder’s new A Time to Love has it all--to die for ballads, sexy love songs, dance tunes, and a couple of revolutionary tunes that let listeners know Stevie’s been keeping up with the times. Tracks seven and eight had me hitting the replay button, but true to his legacy, Stevie’s entire album is full of timeless hits.

The Shout Factory has a wonderful library of Doo Wop songs. From the Platters to the Moonglows, you and your family will be sidestepping or slow dragging all night long. Visit http://www.shoutfactory.com/ for more information.
Time Life also has a great new Holiday collection called Body and Soul: Down Home Soul. All the greats are featured on this CD – James Brown, Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, Millie Jackson, Otis Redding, and many more. Visit www.timelife.com/home.jsp for more information. Denver singer and guitarist Santemu Aakhu is at it again with a second CD called Love Notes.

Santemu brings traditional R&B sounds together with jazz, percussion, and folk music to create a unique sound for her audience. She writes her own lyrics, too. My favorite songs on the Love Notes CD are "Cowry Shells," "Straight From the Heart," and "Still Could Be Right."For Hip-Hop lovers, Public Enemy just dropped their new album, the first in several years. It’s called New Whirl Odor. Don’t let the title fool you, they’re still the nation’s hardest rap group and this album certainly lives up to their legacy of delivering cutting edge, thought-provoking lyrics. It hit the streets Nov. 1. Check it out at your local neighborhood record store.

Great Book Gifts Any library that doesn’t have a copy of these books is not complete. Yellow Black: The First Twenty-one Years of a Poet’s Life, a memoir by literary icon, Dr. Haki R. Madhubuti, is one of my number one picks for Black literature. This book will change your life! Available at http://www.thirdworldpress.com/.

Where the Apple Falls by nationally celebrated poet and editor Samiya Bashir, is a warm-spirited yet powerful collection of poetry and prose perfect for evenings by the fire or over coffee. Bashir’s poems make you think! Available at http://www.redbonepress.com/.

Need a little spice in your life? Laurinda D. Brown’s Walk Like A Man combines erotica and fiction to deliver a book full of sensual and sexual short stories. This book is not for the faint of heart or those who don’t have an open mind to diverse expressions of sexuality. I call Walk Like a Man adult bedtime stories. For ordering information, call 757-660-8104.

Need great conversation material? Check out Akil Houston’s Beyond Black Face: Africana Images in U.S. Media. Akil is the son of a Denver activist and domestic violence program director. In Beyond Black Face, Houston writes about radio, TV, and film media outlets and offers thought-provoking essays on the careers of media giants such as Oprah Winfrey. The book is published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company in Iowa and it comes with a CD-Rom.

Holiday EventsLooking for great places to hang out during the holidays? Check out one or all of the below events.A Holiday Jazz Party will be Sunday, Dec. 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. Hosted by Hampton & Tuskegee Alumni, the event will be held at the Walker Fine Arts Gallery, 300 West 11th Ave. in Denver, http://www.walkerfineart.com/. Tickets are $40 in advance and space is limited. The event will offer food, wine and live music by Ron Ivory and Friends. Visit http://www.walkerfineart.com/ for more information call Winston Walker at 303-469-0941.

Shadow Theatre Company presents Emergence-See!, written and performed by Daniel Beaty. A slave ship rises ghostlike out of the water beside the Statue of Liberty and New Yorkers are abuzz at the vision. This occurs on the day that a poetry slam is being held, and by the time Beaty is through he has touched on reparations, ethnic identity, street vendors, and dozens of other topics. Four performances only at the DU Newman. Performances are Dec. 1-4.

For those of you not familiar with this show, Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum by Cleo Parker Robinson, is a wonderful celebration of winter festivities around the world. The play begins Dec. 3 and runs weekends at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in the Space Theatre. Using the code word DRUM, patrons may purchase one ticket at full price for $35, and a second ticket at half-price, $17.50. Visit the Denver Center for Performing Arts web site for listings of plays and theatre events at www.denvercenter.org/home.cfm.


Nightlife Agenda

By Fritz Hahn, Rhome Anderson and David Malitz
washingtonpost.com Staff Writers Wednesday, December 7, 2005


Thursday, Dec. 8
The 12th anniversary of Club Heaven's weekly '80s Dance Party gives us another chance to point out a lovely piece of irony: The event has been running longer than the decade it celebrates! A favorite of bachelorettes, clubbers recapturing their youth and folks who've watched waaaaay too much VH1, the Thursday-night '80spalooza has been providing its customers with a reliable source of Madonna, Prince and Duran Duran as well as costume contests and theme nights. Innovation has never been the objective; Show up two weeks in a row and you're likely to hear the same songs and see many of the same faces, but the '80s Dance Party has the formula down pat. Check it out tonight, beginning at 9; arrive early for drink specials and stick around to sing all your favorite songs from all your favorite John Hughes films.
Venus and Serena Williams are in town to raise money for charity by sparring at the MCI Center, delighting the young and old alike with their athleticism and the wattage of their star power. It's only right that our local nightlife tries to get a piece of the celebrity action. Yuca is the spot tonight for what promoters call "the Grand Finale of the Williams Sisters' Charity Tour."

Here's where we play amateur oddsmakers on whether or not the Amazonian siblings will actually show up. The fact that Serena loves attention (and clubs) works in our favor, as does the possibility of other local athletes being present. Think of the photo ops! Wasn't one of them briefly seeing Lavar Arrington? Some WPGC-FM involvement also lends legitimacy for the promotional possibilities. We'll tentatively give a thumbs-up. At the very least you'll be able to enjoy the sounds of jazz saxophonist and Jill Scott labelmate Mike Phillips, who's performing after 9 p.m. Get the hookup action from eVIPlist.com or FlowInsiders.com.,'Thursday, Dec. 8 The 12th anniversary of Club Heaven\'s weekly \'80s Dance Party gives us another chance to point out a lovely piece of irony: The event has been running longer than the decade it celebrates! A favorite of bachelorettes, clubbers recapturing their youth and folks who\'ve watched waaaaay...','Fritz Hahn, Rhome Anderson and David Malitz') ;
document.

It's holiday season, so many venues and performers are getting into the spirit of the season by putting together benefit shows. One area staple is the annual Santa Jam, now in its ninth year at the State Theatre. The concert always features many top veterans of the local music scene and this year is no different; Bluesman Linwood Taylor, members of bar band stalwarts the Nighthawks and 14-time WAMMIE winner Mary Ann Redmond will be among the performers. The show is a benefit for homeless women and children and victims of domestic violence, and an unwrapped children's gift gets you in, although extra donations will be accepted.

Eastern European ex-pats and truly adventurous music fans will want to check out the new East Euro Night at Eyebar, a chance to hear Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and other dance tunes from the eastern bloc while sipping vodka or a cold Russian beer. DJs George (Romania) and Vinny (Ukraine) are spinning "the hottest East Euro and house music" in the lounge's upstairs room, while DJ Pat sticks to the usual radio-friendly hip-hop and Top-40 on the main level. Get on the guest list at www.RedSkiesParty.com, then arrive between 9 and 10 for a free shooter and a free drink for ladies. All-night drink specials include $6 martinis and $4 Belvedere drinks (it's Polish, after all).

Friday, Dec. 9
Just in time to provide a bit of tropical escapism from wintery weather, Yerba Buena is back at the Black Cat. Touching on modern Latin dancefloor rhythms like reggaeton while still steeped in classic cumbia, son and Afrobeat, Yerba Buena shows go over well with fans of Ozomatli or Los Amigos Invisibles -- i.e., those for whom a concert is a participatory dance event and not a spectator sport.

We will admit up front that we don't really "get" free jazz. Something about the lack of a discernable melody or rhythm that just sort of throws us off. But the genre has some super-devoted fans and they will no doubt be at Twins Jazz this weekend for its Free Jazz Festival. Saxophonist David Bond is the featured performer on both nights, and critics' fave Marshall Allen and members of the Sun Ra Arkestra will also be on hand. If you're looking to impress an uber-intellectual this weekend, this might be your best bet.

Saturday, Dec. 10
There are kids growing up in the D.C. area right now who might not know modern rock radio giant WHFS ever existed, let alone that it was one of the best stations in the country. The once-influential station officially went off the air at the beginning of this year, but it's still kicking around online, and its annual Nutcracker shows live on, albeit in a much smaller form. It will be a "Classic Cracker" at Rams Head Live featuring '80s radio staples the Psychedelic Furs and the Violent Femmes (but no Cracker). We have a sneaking suspicion that the Furs might play "Pretty in Pink" and the Femmes might break out "Blister in the Sun." Call it a hunch. The show is 18 and over, but come on -- that's like the same thing as making a Dashboard Confessional show 21 and under.

An event that's fun for families and young professionals alike, the annual Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade features at least 50 fantastically decorated boats cruising around Annapolis, through the harbor, along the Naval Academy, down Spa Creek and around Eastport. The display lasts from 6 to 8, and afterwards, we'll suggest two courses of action. Many nautical buffs will join the ships' captains and crew members in Eastport at such boat-friendly hangouts as the Boatyard Bar and Grill (where both beers and rum drinks arrive in pint glasses) and the delightfully divey Davis' Pub. If you'd rather stick to the tried and true, a number of Irish pubs and traditional saloons await. The bars right on the City Dock will probably be packed, so slip down to Galway Bay, a delightful Celtic spot on relatively quiet Maryland Avenue, or head for West Street, where the Rams Head Tavern and Sean Donlon await.

Just because it's the season for giving doesn't mean you can't receive a little bit in the process. Kegs For Kids is an annual party that benefits Toys For Tots, and this year the organizers are taking over the Hawk and Dove from 8 to close. A $20 donation at the door gets you all-you-can-drink Budweiser Select drafts until 11. The only downside we can see is the questionable inclusion of local band Los Pimpos -- as bad as their name suggests -- who start playing upstairs at 10:30. You might want to use Kegs For Kids as your pre-game event, doing a good deed and having a few drinks before moving on to spend the witching hour somewhere else.

If you ask us, the perfect venue for a rockin' Man In Black cover band like Cold Hard Cash would be a local correctional facility, but we'd settle for a rowdy little roadhouse like JV's, too, where customers sip cheap longnecks, smoke Marlboros and listen to traditional country and rockabilly. Catch Cold Hard Cash -- featuring Rob Petrie of local bluegrass standouts the Dixie Cannonballs -- from 5 to 8 tonight for free at JVs, or, if you must, pay $8 to see them on Tuesday at the smoke-free, atmosphere-free Jammin' Java.

It's been a good couple of months for area indie-pop fans. Swedish buzz band Love Is All came to DC9 last month, and tonight we get Austin, Tex., quintet Voxtrot at the Warehouse Next Door. The Smiths are a major influence on this band's debut EP, especially on a song like "The Start of Something," where singer Ramesh Srivastava croons like a less-flamboyant Morrissey (could there be a more flamboyant Morrissey?) and the guitars jingle and jangle all the way. This is the definition of toe-tapping music and it should make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside on a cold (almost) winter's eve. Make sure to get there in time to catch openers the Antiques, who know a thing or two about jangly pop themselves.

Free Jazz Festival at Twins Jazz (See Friday listing)

Sunday, Dec. 11
Why wait until Dec. 25 to celebrate Hanukkah? Professionals in the City is getting a jump on the holiday tonight with its annual Hanukkah bash, held at the Barking Dog in Bethesda. Besides dancing and plenty of mingling, the party includes free appetizers and one free cocktail per person. Doll yourself up in "dressy casual" before heading out, though. Tickets are $10 in advance from prosinthecity.com or $20 at the door, and guests are asked to bring an unopened toy, which will be donated to local children.

Memphis hip-hop artists Three 6 Mafia try to "Tear Da Club Up" tonight at the Crossroads, bringing durrty beats in support of recent album "The Most Known Unknown" and the inescapable radio hit "Still Fly." Problem is, that song relies on verses from guests like Young Buck and Eightball, while the remix features Slim Thug, Project Pat and Trick Daddy. Still, you'll almost certainly hear "Ridin' Spinners" and "Sippin' on Some Syrup" at this show, hosted by WPGC-FM's Rane. Fans of the Crossroads' usual Dancehall Sundays need not be disappointed, as Dem Franchize Boyz perform live in another part of the club.

Indie rock bands aren't the only exciting contributions that the UK is making to the modern music landscape. If you put the book down as the popularity of drum 'n' bass began to wane, you might want to gather some new study materials because there's been an explosion out of London that melds jazz fusion, soul and forward thinking electronic music. Sometimes it's called nu-jazz or broken beat, but the essential elements are ruthlessly danceable beats, jazzy arrangements and soulful vocals. London-by-way-of-New Zealand producer and keyboardist Mark de Clive-Lowe has become one of the cornerstones of this movement, along with acts like New Sector Movements and Bugz in the Attic. To whet Washington's appetite for these flavors, he'll be doing a DJ set at 14th Street restaurant and lounge Jin tonight, accompanied by singer Bembe Segue. Her totally unique style is as innovative as the beats.

Wednesday, Dec. 14
You couldn't be a hard rock fan in the Maryland suburbs in the late '80s and early '90s without knowing at least one Kix song. The Hagerstown quintet found MTV success and a huge number of local fans with AC/DC-style rockers like "Blow My Fuse" and the somber power ballad "Don't Close Your Eyes," which actually gave the band a taste of top-20 success, going to number 11 on the Billboard chart and staking a regular spot on "Headbanger's Ball." Kix broke up in 1995, but reunites annually for a couple of shows, including tonight's big concert at the State Theatre. Sure, you may look back at those pictures of your teenage self with long hair and black t-shirts and think, "Man, I can't believe I was ever into that stuff." But when you hear the chorus of "Cold Blood," you'll be singing along with Steve Whitman, just like you did at Ritchie Coliseum back in the day.

courtesy of www.washingtonpost.com www.urbanspectrum.net
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The daughter of former slaves was born Sarah Breedlove in 1867. Life and responsibilities were thrust on Madame Walker very early, she was orphaned at five, married by the time she was fourteen, a mother by 20 and left a widowed washerwoman soon after.

Her involvement in the hair industry began quite simply because she was trying to stop her own hair from falling out. Her concoction worked so well she shared it with friends. From this very humble beginning was founded a multimillion dollar industry. Not only did she become the first Black woman millionaire, she was probably one of the most famous African-American female business owners of the pre-World War II era.

Walker prided herself as "the Negro entrepreneur" whose goal it was to develop and employ African Americans in every aspect of her product manufacturing and distribution. She also expressed concern with non-minority owned hair products that used harsh chemicals that harmed Black hair.

Some of her products included: Wonderful Hair Grower, Vegetable Shampoo Soap and Glossine.

courtesy of www. afro.com

________________________

THE UGLY FACTS: African Americans need the Healthy Marriage Initiative
Wednesday, November 30, 2005

There are far too many children in the Black community born to unwed mothers, and if the new African American Healthy Marriage Initiative can reduce these numbers, then it could be a blessing to the entire country. Research tells us that the ideal way to raise children is to have two parents. A father in the home makes a difference in how children perform in school, relate to other children or feel about themselves. These statistics point to the crisis in the Black community:*Sixty-eight percent of African-American births are to unmarried women, compared to 29 percent for Whites and 44 percent for Hispanics.*Sixty-two percent of African-American households are headed by a single parent, compared to 27 percent for Whites and 35 percent for Hispanics.*Forty-two percent of African-American adults are married, compared to 61 percent of Whites and 59 percent of Hispanics. *There is a 12 percent divorce rate for African-American couples, compared to 10 percent for Whites and 7 percent for Hispanics. The AAHMI is a component of President Bush's ACF Healthy Marriage Initiative and, more specifically, promotes a culturally competent strategy for fostering healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood, improving child well-being and strengthening families within the African-American community. There are three parts to the program: education and communication, enhancement of partnerships and identifying resources.

Critics who claim that the Healthy Marriage Initiative will force low-income women into abusive marriages don't understand the program. No one will be forced to do anything. This is a voluntary program that emphasizes education, with the expectation that once women and men realize they have an obligation to raise children in a better environment, they will want to join the program.

Research by the Heritage Foundation has shown that "the decline of marriage is a prominent cause of child poverty, welfare dependence and many other social problems." The foundation also reported that the primary target groups for the healthy marriage programs would be couples unmarried at the time of a child's birth, or young, at-risk couples prior to a child's conception. The foundation says that "the rate of domestic abuse in these groups is extremely low -- around 2 percent." Supporting this fact is the Fragile Families Survey conducted by a team of researchers at Princeton University's Center for Research on Child Wellbeing and Columbia University's Social Indicators Survey Center. The study is based on a nationally representative sample of parents, both married and unmarried, at the time of a child's birth.

The survey revealed that:*Most out-of-wedlock births occur among young adult women, not teenagers in high school. The median age for women having children out of wedlock is 22. *Roughly half of unmarried mothers were co-habiting with the child's father at the time of the baby's birth. *Nearly 75 percent were romantically involved with the father at the time of the child's birth. *Very few unmarried fathers had drug or alcohol problems. *About 98 percent of fathers had been employed during the prior year. *Overall, the median annual income of the unmarried fathers was $17,500. *Most of the unmarried couples had a strong interest in marriage: Approximately 73 percent of mothers and 88 percent of fathers believed that they had at least a 50-50 chance of marrying each other in the future.

With these statistics in mind, it is gratifying to note that many churches in the Black community already have strong programs geared not only toward marriage counseling but also toward holding young married couples together. Many are quite successful in convincing young couples in their churches to prolong having children until they are married. This is a wonderful start.

As these institutions and others learn more about the new African American Health Marriage Initiative, they will be able to expand their programs and reach out to young unmarried mothers who can use all of the help they can get.

For info, contact David Lett, Region III regional administrator, 150 S. Independence Mall West, Suite 864, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106-3499, 215-861-4000 (for Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) or the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade S.W., Washington, D.C. 20447.

for more news and articles about black american current events vist www.afro.com

Submitted by: Shelle' - **Note also check out http://www.economicempire.com/