Synergy - Luther College

Synergy
PUBLICATION OF LUTHER DIVERSITY CENTER
THE VOICE,VISIBILITY AND LEADERSHIP FOR DIVERSITY
CONVERSATIONS WITH SHEILA
I happen to be one who believes that
the old ideas about race in the US
have all but given way to a more
inclusive America. At the same time,
I do not agree with those who claim
that we live in a post-racial society.
In my view, the nation hasn’t done
the hard work it needs to do in order
for our democracy to treat all of its
citizens with fairness and respect.
Americans should carefully analyze
what the country has learned from
the process of racialization. Using
race as a stigma continues to affect
African-Americans, Native
Americans, and Latinos who cannot
or do not assimilate. We also
stigmatize immigrants, often using
processes similar to those created
through our legacy of racialization.
around the globe to reflect, renew, and
reclaim the power of heritage.
Celebrating Kwanzaa guides collective
reflections about the power of history,
identity, and faith. The holiday was
originally meant as a strategy for
promoting black people’s pride and
solidarity. But in the 40 years since its
founding, the holiday has evolved into an
international celebration of common
cultural values based in African and
African-American spiritual aspirations.
When we celebrate Kwanzaa at Luther,
our community honors African and
African-American heritage and
rededicates itself to a world where we all
can live together in peace, no matter
what differences we acknowledge.
Each day of the commemoration asks us
to reflect on a different principle of
building a peaceful and prosperous
Out of the hard work that needs to be nation. These principles reflect an
done, I think we could construct a
appreciation for the African ancestry of
more relevant discourse about race, African-Americans and offer guidance
religion, gender, and class—one that for those who desire to help the nations
meets present conditions and
of the world reach their full potential.
explores new opportunities. I am
proud of the work and sacrifice that The principles known as the Nguzo Saba
has gotten our nation to this place but are outlined below:
I know there is unfinished business. Umoja—Unity
What America needs to do now
Kujichagulia—Self-Determination
requires its people to engage in the
Ujima—Collective Work and
work of peace and reconciliation; we Responsibility
should work for peace wherever
Ujamaa —Cooperative Economics
there is tension and strife fostered by Nia—Purpose
mutual mistrust and an unhealthy
Kuumba—Creativity
view of differences.
Imani—Faith
Kwanzaa celebrates African and black
All of these ideas remind me of why cultural heritage while urging everyone
I really appreciate ‘old school’
to reflect on the gift of heritage and
Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is an African- engage with other cultures and
American and Pan-African holiday
communities in a principled and fair
that commemorates the ‘first fruits’ way.
of the harvest by inviting people
December 2009
Volume 8, Issue 4
At Luther, we celebrate
Kwanzaa because we understand
that culture is dynamic, complex,
and evolving. We honor the idea
of cultural heritage while
recognizing that our personal
growth and development is
accelerated through contact with
other cultures, provided that the
exchange is done in a manner
that respects what each culture
has to offer. Kwanzaa reminds
us that we are free to embrace
the cultural identities that give
purpose and meaning to our
lives. Happy Kwanzaa!
Inside This Issue
Winter Clothing Drive
2
MLK Day 2010
2
Upcoming Events
2
Emergency Contacts
3
International Corner
3
Winter Survival guide
3
Kwanzaa Information
4
Upcoming Birthdays
4
Quotable Minds
4
Contact Us
In case of an emergency during
the holiday season, please
contact:
Amy Webber at 563) 382-8594
Or call Campus security at:
x2111
Winter Clothing Drive
Congratulations
Sponsored by Beta Theta Omega
(BTQ)
We'd like to congratulate the
following students who participated in
the American Model United Nations
(AMUN) conference held in Chicago,
November 21-24.
Tyler Berry
Deborah Mukaz
Junette Maxis
Kipp Hanson
Andrew Peterson
Antonia Literas
Michael Byrd
Jeremy Roets
Michael Crusinberry
Thomas Burman
Kiley Rose
Victoria Blanco
Katie Daugherty
Greg Siems
Rachel Loeffler-Kemp
Gina Rumpel
Beth Ann Tuller
Katie Goodroad
Liz Archer
Kayla Norman
Rangana Wanniarachchi
William Montoya
Alexis Meade
Warm, clean clothing articles in
new or gently- used condition are
being collected by BTQ for
donation to the Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation in North Dakota.
Suggested items include:
Coats Jackets Hooded Sweatshirts Gloves Sweaters Hats
Pajamas Nightgowns Scarves
Socks/Slippers Pants Shirts
Shoes Blankets
Donations can be brought to the
designated locations in the
Residence Halls or the LDC from
now until December 13th.
Any contribution will assist the
broader effort of helping to meet
clothing needs during winter
months for the reservation
citizens!
Contact Darlene Fossum-Martin
(x1014) for more information.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DAY
MLK Day is a US federal holiday
celebrated every year on the third
Monday in January. In 2010, it will be
held on January 18th. King was the
chief spokesman of the nonviolent civil
rights movement, which successfully
protested racial discrimination in
federal and state law. He was
assassinated in 1968.
Luther College will host a public lecture
and a chapel to commemorate MLK
Day. Mr. Raoul Cunningham, the
president of the Louisville chapter of
the NAACP (National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People)
will be at the college on January 18th to
deliver the MLK public lecture and
will preach during chapel.
Volume 8, Issue 4
Congratulations!
You’ve made it through
another semester, (or
maybe it’s your first one)
Just a couple of weeks
until you can take a
good, long rest.
Happy Holidays!
We would like to wish all our
students, allies, friends,
partners and colleagues a
wonderful holiday season.
Merry Christmas
Happy Kwanzaa
Happy Eid-ul-Adha
Happy Hanukkah
...and a very happy and
prosperous new year!
DECEMBER
3RD
Ethnic Arts Holiday Bazaar*
9:00 AM-6:00 PM, Union
11TH
Kwanzaa Chapel*
10:30 AM, CFL
12TH
Kwanzaa Festival*
4:00-7:00 PM, Peace Dining
JANUARY
14TH
Soup’s On
3:30-5:00 PM, Farwell Lounge
18TH
MLK Lecture*
7:00 PM, CFL
*Open to the campus and wider
community
THANK YOU!
The Luther Diversity Center, Student
Support Services in conjunction with the
Luther Women’s Club hosted two Soup’s
On events this semester. This provides a
relaxed atmosphere for students to
interact and fellowship while enjoying
wonderful home-made soups and breads.
We appreciate the Luther Women’s Club
for their continued dedication to the
Soup’s On program.
The program will
continue with an
event on January
18th.
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International Corner
Surviving Winter In Decorah!
Volume 8, Issue 4
Page 3
Kwanzaa: Roots and Branches
Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan
-African holiday which celebrates family,
community and culture. Celebrated
from 26 December thru 1 January, its
origins are in the first harvest
celebrations of Africa from which it
takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is
derived from the phrase "matunda ya
kwanza" which means "first fruits" in
Swahili, a Pan-African language which is
the most widely spoken African
language.
First-fruits celebrations are recorded in
African history as far back as ancient
Egypt and Nubia and appear in ancient
and modern times in other classical
African civilizations such as Ashantiland
and Yorubaland. These celebrations
were found among societies as large as
empires (the Zulu or kingdoms
(Swaziland) or smaller societies and
groups like the Matabele, Thonga and
Lovedu, all of southeastern Africa.
Kwanzaa builds on the five fundamental
activities of Continental African "first
fruit" celebrations: ingathering;
reverence; commemoration;
recommitment; and celebration.
Kwanzaa, then, is:





a time of ingathering of the people
to reaffirm the bonds between
them;
a time of special reverence for the
creator and creation in thanks and
respect for the blessings,
bountifulness and beauty of
creation;
a time for commemoration of the
past in pursuit of its lessons and in
honor of its models of human
excellence, our ancestors;
a time of recommitment to our
highest cultural ideals in our
ongoing effort to always bring forth
the best of African cultural thought
and practice; and
a time for celebration of the Good,
the good of life and of existence
itself, the good of family,
community and culture, the good of
the awesome and the ordinary, in a
Volume 8, Issue 4
word the good of the divine, natural
and social.
Kwanzaa was established in 1966 in the
midst of the Black Freedom Movement and
thus reflects its concern for cultural
groundedness in thought and practice, and
the unity and self-determination associated
with this. It was conceived and established
to serve several functions:



DECEMBER
1……….Elisa Vasquez
3……….Tyler Dryg
4……….Margie Starks
6……….Sydney Kjerstad
7……….Jacqueline Rivera
Bryan Cayabyab
To reaffirm and restore African
8……….Nicholas Clark
American/black people rootedness in
9………..Winda Rompas
African culture. It is, therefore, an
Anandita Mukherji
expression of recovery and
reconstruction of African culture which 12……..Mario Martinucci
Obi Ukabiala
was being conducted in the general
13……...Nnamdi Okolue
context of the Black Liberation
Movement of the '60's;
17……Nabby Baffour-Awuah
To serve as a regular communal
18……Sam Simataa
celebration to reaffirm and reinforce
19……….Stephanie Darus
the bonds between peoples of African
20……….Zukiswa Mpande
descent, to be an ingathering to
William Montoya
strengthen community and reaffirm
22……..Nickolas
Sanches
common identity, purpose and
23……..Evan Symons
direction as a people and a world
community;
Vivek Bisen
To introduce and reinforce the Nguzo
25……...Erin Saiof
Saba (the Seven Principles) Umoja
27……...Jemal Demmaj
(Unity), Kujichagulia (Self28……..Xueli Zhao
Determination), Ujima (Collective Work
29………Zhou Fang
and Responsibility), Ujamaa
31……..Scott Martin
(Cooperative Economics), Nia
Melchor Quezada
(Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and
Imani (Faith).
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/
origins1.shtml
The theme for this year’s celebration is
Principles and Practices of Kwanzaa:
Repairing and Renewing the World
Luther celebrates Kwanzaa with a special
chapel on Friday, December 11th in the CFL
at 10:30 am and on Saturday, December
12th with a festival in Peace at 4:00pm. The
community is invited. Tickets for the
festival are available in the Box Office,
$12.00 for adults, $5.00 for students with
caf and children under 10 years old.
Happy Birthday!
QUOTABLE MINDS
Every winter,
When the great sun has turned his
face away,
The earth goes down into a vale of
grief,
And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds
herself in sables,
Leaving her wedding-garlands to
decay Then leaps in spring to his
returning kisses.
Charles
Kingsley
1819-1875
Kwanzaa yenu iwe na heri!
(Happy Kwanzaa!)
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