BIRMINGHAM, Alabama--Celebration of the seven days of Kwanzaa began Thursday at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
Kwanzaa is an African-American cultural holiday celebrated from December 26 through January 1. It is based on traditional African "first fruits" celebrations.
Children, with the assistance of their parents and grandparents, assembled pencil holders with cork as they learned about the resources of Africa. Cork is a commodity grown in several African countries.
Then kids and adults gathered for a community Kwanzaa celebration. Members of the Nathifa Dance Company performed traditional African music and dances. Deceased family members and influential people were honored as their names were shouted. College students lit seven candles, one for each principle of Kwanzaa.
Thursday's principle was unity.
"Without unity we tear our society apart," said Elinor Burks who lead the children's workshop. "There is a need for coming together, a need for forgiveness and a need for working together," she said. "During Kwanzaa, it lets us focus on the fact that as people of color in particular, there are many shades of us here, but there is a unity we need to develop."
Burks linked the need for unity to recent deaths in Birmingham from shootings, fires and a gas explosion.
"We've seen, over the past few days, some serious tragedies in this city," she said. "But we've also seen people who are willing to help, really from the heart, they are willing to help.
The other principles are self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
"Kwanzaa is 47 years old," said Burks. "The children need to realize where they come from and realize some of the history that has taken place," she said. "The good thing about tonight is that the kids are having a chance to interact with older people."