ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 22, 1996 TAG: 9604230086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
WITH EVERYTHING FROM South Korea native Hekyung Park's silk "hanbok" to Mayor David Bowers' lawyeresque pinstriped suit, downtown Roanoke was awash in color and culture Sunday.
Eleven-year-old Jack Slowikowski walked up to Leroy Lowe at Roanoke's Local Colors festival Sunday and asked:
"What country are you from?''
"I'm representing Kenya," said Lowe, a Roanoke drummer, singer and actor. "And you?''
"Poland," Jack said.
Lowe, dressed in the tones of Africa - kente cloth of brown, gold, maroon and green - extended his hand to Jack, who was outfitted in a billowy white shirt, an embroidered red vest and red-and-white striped pants tucked into black boots.
Lowe clasped his hand around Jack's, nearly covering it.
"Nice to meet you, Jack," Lowe said.
Local Colors was organized six years ago to celebrate Roanoke's cultural diversity and promote cross-cultural connections. Pearl Fu, Local Colors chairwoman and founder, has worked to bring together the city's growing ethnic mix.
Fu is known for her unabashed way of seeking out people from foreign countries. If she detects a foreign accent - in line at the grocery store or in an exercise class - she is not shy about approaching a person and encouraging his or her participation in Local Colors.
Her keen ear and bold approach have helped boost the number of participating countries - from four in 1990 to 36 this year.
The historic City Market area in downtown Roanoke was a swirl of cultural celebration Sunday. The early morning rain had cleared. The sun broke through the clouds less than an hour before the festival's scheduled start at noon.
It reflected off the delicate silk "hanbok" worn by South Korea native Hekyung Park and cans of "Guarana" - Brazil's most popular soft drink - that sat in a bin of ice.
It shone on the paintings by 12-year-old children from Pskov, Russia - one of Roanoke's six sister cities - and the metal handles of $4 "wheely racers," South African push toys.
"I had 36 countries praying it wouldn't rain," said Fu, who wore the traditional dress of her native China. The two-piece dress - an embroidered tunic, pleated skirt and large angular hat - was that of the Chinese "minority," she said.
Roanoke Mayor David Bowers said with so many people dressed in attire of their native land, he thought he'd wear the traditional dress of a city lawyer - a pinstriped suit.
Bowers recalled growing up in the late 1960s in a Roanoke where "when we talked about local color, we were talking about black or white." Roanoke "has changed over the years," he said. "How many different nationalities we have welcomed into what has become an international community.
"Now, instead of just two colors and a segregated society, we live in a very multicolored and integrated society."
Enisa Vugdalic watched her two daughters dance on a stage set up near Center in the Square. She, the children and her husband moved to Roanoke in 1994, after losing their home and belongings in war-ravaged Bosnia. They lost everything again last year in a fire that destroyed their Roanoke apartment.
"We are fine," she said, nodding and apologizing for her English. "We are fine."
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/Staff. 1. Mexican dancers Ana Rosa Arellano,by CNBJaime Torres and Christina Arellano (from top) perform during the
Local Colors festival Sunday on the City Market. 2. Drummer and
Washington, D.C., resident Baba Ngoma, representing Kenya, gets
ready for the Local Colors parade. color. 3. Pearl Fu, Local Colors
chairwoman and founder, has helped boost the number of countries in
the event from four in 1990 to 36 this year.