Members from the Bethlehem Baptist Community Church, honorees, Mayor Joshua Garcia and residents gather to celebrate the first day of Kwanzaa in Holyoke.
Photo credit: Stephen Fay
HOLYOKE — The city of Holyoke hosted a Kwanzaa celebration on Dec. 26, the first day of Kwanzaa in City Hall.
The celebration in Holyoke was hosted by Theresa Cooper-Gordon, and included Pastor Bernard Smith from the Bethlehem Baptist Community Church; Willie Spradley Jr.; guest speaker Eshu Bumpus and Holyoke Mayor Joshua García who gave citations to two honorees, sister Jeanette Kennedy, and brother Joe Long, Sr.
Garcia said the honorees were recognized because they follow the seven principles for 365 days instead of just the seven days of Kwanzaa.
Kennedy is a longtime deacon, missionary and member of Bethlehem Baptist Community Church. Kennedy has served as head chef for the church’s soup kitchen ministry for 11 years providing anywhere from 100 to 200 lunchtime meals.
Long is a missionary, a soup kitchen volunteer, a men’s group leader and a member of the congregation of Bethlehem Baptist Community Church. Long stepped forward when the community church needed major repairs, abatement and renovations.
Long, who founded and runs his own construction company, volunteered his time and professional expertise for several months, expediting the renovations while helping to hold down costs.
The event also featured a brief history of Kwanzaa, a moment to recognize honorees from Holyoke and performances.
Kwanzaa is an African American cultural holiday and is celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan.1. It was founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 and honors African American heritage and culture through seven core principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
Although Kwanzaa is seven days, Cooper-Gordon said, “Kwanzaa is a holiday that should be served 365 days a year because the seven principles are universal and they mean something for every day in our lives. So even though we only celebrate them seven days here, you should start rotating every seven days.”
Cooper-Gordon said for a tradition to continue, it is important to educate people and give them the information they need so that it can go on.
She also set a goal for next year’s celebration. “I really want our children to be a part of Kwanzaa. We’re also working on that we’re going to start Kwanzaa here [in Holyoke], which is Umoja. Our goal next year is to be able to light a candle each day of the seven principles, not just one day.”
Garcia said that he tries his best as a human and as mayor to practice the seven principles. He talked about his favorite principle that he thinks can help the city thrive.
“My favorite day is Ujima, collective work and shared responsibility because government, you know, it’s what we have to do is take care of each other as a community and take ownership and work together,” Garcia stated.
