Program will teach first-graders about Kwanzaa

by Karlie Dunsky
Staff Writer

First graders from East Elementary will listen to stories, have their faces painted, work on group beading projects, and play games to learn about the values celebrated by Kwanzaa in the annual program 'K is for Kwanzaa' Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Lindley Cultural Center.

The program will consist of stations with arts and crafts and other activities, including stories told by Ayanna Jordan. Jordan is the assistant director of Upward Bound, a program at Ohio University that works to matriculate high school students in southeast Ohio into post-secondary education. She participated in 'K is for Kwanzaa' two years ago as a storyteller.

Jordan will be telling stories with morals that emphasize the values celebrated by Kwanzaa. Many of the stories will be African and African-American folktales, such as the Brer Rabbit and Anansi stories. Jordan said these stories are interactive and fun for small children.

Jordan said Kwanzaa is a holiday that is a reminder for people to live the principles they value throughout the year and throughout their lives. The principles celebrated at Kwanzaa are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. The seven days of Kwanzaa, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, each celebrate one principle.

The station activities also will encourage these principles. The beading station is designed to encourage cooperation through working in a group, and the arts and crafts stations promote creativity.

Tiffany Romine, the cultural arts director for the Black Students Cultural Programming Board, has been in charge of organizing this year's 'K is for Kwanzaa' event, which her organization sponsors. 

"By teaching children at a younger age, these principles will stay with them as they grow up," said Romine, a sophomore majoring in legal communications.

James Hamilton was in charge of the program for the past two years and said it has drawn high interest from students at East Elementary.

"I think they like coming and being around older students and learning about Kwanzaa. The way we teach it to them, I think, is a way that they can relate to," Hamilton said.

Although approximately 90 students visited for the event last year, Romine has designed this year's 'K is for Kwanzaa' to have only 30 attendants. Romine said the group of attendants is smaller this year because last year both first and second grades attended.

Romine said although the majority of East Elementary students are white, all students can appreciate the program because the principles of Kwanzaa are applicable to everyone. Jordan, who has worked with students at East Elementary before, said students there are exposed to a variety of cultures.

"I think (Kwanzaa) is a positive celebration of African-American culture, not just for African-Americans, but to give all people an idea of what we as African descendants celebrate," Jordan said.

Dr. Mulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966. His overall purpose was to try focus the African-American community on looking to the past to influence their choices for the future, Jordan said. The holiday piggybacks off of harvest celebrations that are traditionally held in Africa during this time of the year.