ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, December 27, 1996              TAG: 9612270064
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-5  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JON CAWLEY STAFF WRITER

FIRST DAY OF 'FIRST FRUITS' IS CELEBRATED IN ROANOKE

Celebration of the "first fruits" of the harvest began in Roanoke Thursday night.

About 100 people, including many who wore traditional African Buba garments, decorated with colorful designs, celebrated the first day of the week-long Kwanzaa holiday in a public program at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.

Kwanzaa is Swahili for first fruits - a celebration of the harvest. Dr. Maulana Karenga started the tradition in the United States in 1966 as a way to help black people grow together.

The Kwanzaa program was heavy with symbolism and included a traditional dance program by the Malachi group, composed of William Fleming High School students. The group's name means "power." There were also activities - each with a meaning - such as the lighting of the Kinara candles. The candles are red (symbolizing struggle), black (for people) and green (showing reverence for the land).

The event's organizer, Roma Turner, summed up the theme of the evening during the program: "If you want to make things better, do it yourself."

The celebration, which is often mistaken as a black version of Christmas, traditionally lasts for seven days. Swahili principles designed to bring the community together set the tone each day. The principles are translated as unity, self determination, responsibility, cooperative or community economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

"Every day you do something that relates to unity and determination not to give up," Turner said. "Be in control of who you are."

Although the Kwanzaa celebration lasts only seven days, it is designed to instill values that can be followed the rest of the year.

"It lasts forever for me," Turner said. "Most importantly, people need to read about it. Like the candles, if you let it melt into you, the children would be better and there would be peace."

According to Turner, millions of people celebrate Kwanzaa, and not only in the United States.

"No matter if you are rich or poor, everyone is included," said King Harvey, a member of the Harrison Museum board of directors.

"It's been growing every year. It's a great opportunity to pass on heritage to young African Americans ... and to let them know there is something positive about life," he said.

And it's not just for African Americans, but for any children, Harvey said.

The crowd was diverse in its Kwanzaa experience. Those new to the celebration mingled with those who have followed the tradition since the 1960s.

Sharon Cook traveled from Franklin County to the program for the first time after hearing about it at a festival at Lime Kiln.

"It's a link back to my roots and a way to show my child," she said. "A family tradition with time to sit and talk to each other."

"It makes people understand other people's backgrounds and cultures. Everyone needs to understand their culture," said Denise Carlton, who recently moved to Roanoke from New York. She has been celebrating Kwanzaa since the '60s.

"Black people don't know enough about their own history in America," Carlton said.

LENGTH: Medium:   68 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  ALAN KIM/Staff. 1. Myra Brown puts the finishing touches
          on a table lined with items used in the Kwanzaa program Thursday 
          night. 2. One-year-old Ishmel Paige joins the crowd in applauding 
          one of the presentations.