WS Chronicle

The annual citywide Kwanzaa celebration will be held Dec. 26 – Jan. 1.  Festivities will open at the Winston-Salem Urban League on Wednesday, Dec. 26  at 6 p.m. with the celebration of Umoja (Unity). This is the first of the seven principles of Kwanzaa that will be celebrated throughout the weeklong event. 

The week will close out with the principle, Imani (Faith) at the annual Emancipation Day Service on Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

This year “The Black Candle,” a Kwanzaa documentary narrated by Maya Angelou, will be featured at a/perture Cinema.   Directed by award-winning author and filmmaker MK Asante, “The Black Candle” is an extraordinary, inspirational story about the struggle and triumph of family, community, and culture.  Showings will be held Wednesday, Dec. 26 – Friday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 29 – Sunday, Dec. 30 at 11 a.m.

On Friday, Dec. 28 to observe the principle of Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), volunteerism is encouraged to help build and maintain the community.  Get the family together and volunteer to help clean two of our historic African American graveyards. Cemetery clean-ups will be held from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: 

*Happy Hill Cemetery –  888 Willow Street (Corner of Pitts & Willow Street), Contact: Maurice Johnson – (336) 815-8417 or (336) 978-2866.

*Odd Fellows Cemetery – 2881 Shorefair Drive (next to Senior Services Building), Contact: Linda Dark – (336) 765-2284.

Among the Kwanzaa honorees this year are longtime community leaders Dr. Virginia Newell; newly elected sheriff Bobby Kimbrough; Randy Eaddy, president and CEO of the Arts Council; Ryan Wilson Sr., trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice; and Wayne Jones, president/artistic director, Greater Vision Dance Company.

Several community organizations have come together to sponsor a day of Kwanzaa.  The programs are family oriented and include African drumming, music, service recognitions, inspirational messages, food and fellowship.   Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits of the harvest” in the African language Kiswahili, is a unique African American celebration with focus on the traditional African values of: family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement.

Kwanzaa events are free and open to the public. A donation will be collected for the preservation efforts of local African American history.  For more information visit www.triadculture.org index.php/kwanzaa/ or call (336) 757-8556. 

2018-19 KWANZAA SCHEDULE:

*Wednesday, Dec. 26 – PRINCIPLE: UNITY (UMOJA), 2 p.m. – Snack and Learn – What is Kwanzaa? “THE BLACK CANDLE” – A Kwanzaa documentary narrated by Maya Angelou, Q&A following with Triad Cultural Arts at a/perture Cinema, 311 W. 4th Street, W-S, Tickets: $5

6 p.m. – Unity Celebration – Opening Ceremony – Opening ceremony with African drumming and dance, music and art and inspirational messages. Winston-Salem Urban League, 201 West Fifth St., Free, Open to the Public  Contact:  (336) 725-5614

*Thursday, Dec. 27 – PRINCIPLE: SELF-DETERMINATION (KUJICHAGULIA) 2 p.m. – Snack and Learn – What is Kwanzaa? “THE BLACK CANDLE” – A Kwanzaa documentary narrated by Maya Angelou — Q&A following with Triad Cultural Arts, a/perture Cinema, 311 W. 4th Street, W-S, Tickets: $5

6 p.m. – A Conversation on Self-Determination, Guest Speaker and Honoree: Randy Eaddy, President and CEO of the Arts Council, Display of Historical Photographs by The W-S Archive, Exhibition: Raw Edges 2: Textile Art by African-American Quilters, Delta Arts Center, 2611 New Walkertown Rd, W-S,, Free, Open to the Public   Contact:   (336) 722-2625

*Friday, Dec. 28 – PRINCIPLE: COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY (UJIMA), 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Cemetery Clean-up. Get the family together and volunteer to help clean one or our historic African American graveyards. 

Happy Hill Cemetery –  888 Willow Street (Corner of Pitts & Willow Street). Wear sturdy shoes and bring gloves. Call Maurice Johnson – (336) 815-8417 or (336) 978-2866

Odd Fellows Cemetery – 2881 Shorefair Dr. (Next to Senior Services Building). Call Linda Dark – (336) 765-2284

2 p.m. – Snack and Learn – What is Kwanzaa? “THE BLACK CANDLE” – A Kwanzaa documentary narrated by Maya Angelou — Q&A following with Triad Cultural Arts, a/perture Cinema, 311 W. 4th Street, W-S, Tickets: $5

6 p.m. – Ujima Celebration with the Big 4 Alumni   Dynamic Cultural Entertainment and Vendors! Honoring Dr. Virginia Newell and Saluting Sherriff Bobby Kimbrough, The Enterprise Center, 1922 S MLK Jr Drive, Winston-Salem. Free, Open to the Public      Contact: (336) 464-3137 

*Saturday, Dec. 29 – PRINCIPLE: COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS (UJAMAA), 11 a.m. – Snack and Learn – What is Kwanzaa? “THE BLACK CANDLE” – A Kwanzaa documentary narrated by Maya Angelou — Q&A following with Triad Cultural Arts, a/perture Cinema, 311 W. 4th Street, W-S, Tickets: $5

Shop at Black Businesses Today! (Contact Business for Hours)

–Other Suns, 414 N Laura Wall Blvd– Jewelry, Cosmetics, African Clothing

–Forsyth Seafood, 108 N MLK Jr. Drive

–Jeff’s Shared Treasures, 2608 New Walkertown Road– Consignment, Furniture, etc.

–Zesto Burgers & Ice Cream, 2600 New Walkertown Road

–Body and Soul, 545 Trade St. NW – Afrocentric  Boutique, Clothing, Jewelry, More!

–Sweet Potatoes Restaurant, 607 Trade St. NW

6 p.m. –  Ujamaa Market – African-American Business Showcase and Vendor’s Market, meet representatives from the Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce, Carl Russell Sr.  Recreation Center, 3521 Carver Road, Winston-Salem. Free, Open to the Public  Contact:  (336) 391-7690, or (336) 692-0258

*Sunday, Dec. 30 –  PRINCIPLE: PURPOSE (NIA), 11 a.m. – Snack and Learn – What is Kwanzaa? “THE BLACK CANDLE” – A Kwanzaa documentary narrated by Maya Angelou — Q&A following with Triad Cultural Arts, a/perture Cinema, 311 W. 4th Street, W-S, Tickets: $5

6 p.m. – Nia – What is Your Purpose! Featuring the Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble – African dance, drumming and spoken word. Honoree:  Ryan Wilson Sr., trial attorney, U.S. Department of Justice; Grace Presbyterian Church, 3901 Carver School Road, Winston-Salem. Free, Open to the Public   Contact: (336) 722-4399, (336) 767-7530

*Monday, Dec. 31 –  PRINCIPLE: CREATIVITY (KUUMBA) 2 p.m. – The Feast Day!  The Kwanzaa Karamu (Feast) An African feast of fine foods, music, dance, and poetry. N..C Black Repertory Company perform a scene from the play, “Black Don’t Crack” and excerpt from the “THE BLACK CANDLE.”

Honoree: Wayne Jones, President/Artistic Director, Greater Vision Dance  Company, Forsyth County Library, 600 West 5th Street, Winston-Salem. Free, Open to the Public   Contact: (336) 703-2953

*Tuesday, Jan. 1 – PRINCIPLE: FAITH (IMANI), 11 a.m. – Emancipation Day Service at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, 495 Crawford Place, Free, Open to the Public.    Speaker:  Bishop Sherwood Davis. Join the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Emancipation Association for the worship service commemoration the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Scholarships will be awarded to high school students. A Black candle will be lit to honor the ancestors. Contact: (336) 416-1428