KUUMBA
frontpage CI
Sethe Suggs in Toni Morrison's
rtovel Beloved, are featured in indi
vidual entries. Character types
such as Aunt Jemima, Brer Rabbit,
Sambo, John Henry, Uncle Tom,
the trickster and other folkloric
figures are addressed.
Controversial cultural issues such
as class, race, identity, gender and
sexuality are examined. The text is
arranged in alphabetical order.
Dr. J. Lee Greene's text Blacks
in Eden: The African American
Novel's First Century is written to
assist scholars as well as general
readers in developing their knowl
edge of the African-American text
as it relates thematically to what
he calls "the Eden trope." Because
Greene provides sufficient back
ground to assist the lay person in
understanding "the conditions
and contexts that helped shape
formalist and thematic conven
tions," the text can be useful for
college students, graduate stu
dents, and instructors. Greene's
emphasis is not on plot summary
but on particular fictional devices
that contribute to the development
of the African-American subject.
J. Lee Greene is professor of
English at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Although Greene values his
knowledge of the African
American novel, he also respects
the rich family tradition of build
ing fine furniture. Bom in the
foothills of North Carolina,
Greene learned that when his fam
ily was denied access to store
bought items because of the color
of their skin, it was an advantage
to be able to create what the fami
ly needed. His parents Buleaner
Alexander Greene, and the late
Raymonji^Greene Sr. both
desigffedand remade furniture. In
fact, the men of his family built
their own houses. Dr. Greene Whs
continued the tradition, as he cre
ates tables, chairs, benches, trunks
and other items from wood.
More than 10 years ago, he
built a table from mahogany for
his friend and colleague Dr.
Trudier Harris. It took him more
than two weeks to complete the
table because he had to use tung
oil day after day to provide a pol
ished shine.
"I am amazed at how this piece
has aged so well, and I realize that
today, I would not be able to find
a piece of mahogany wood this
wide today. It is a very valuable
item," Greene said.
Because of the changes in the
rain forests, it is very rare to find a
thee large enough to make such a
wide table.
Greene also designed some
George Washington style chairs
for Dr. James Coleman, as well as
a table and other items. As a child,
Qreene did not involve himself
with this family tradition; howev
er, as an adult, he uses his talent to
benefit others.
Businesses that practice
(Jjamaa (cooperative economics)
The (Jjamaa Market
The goal of Ujamaa is to pre
pare oneself in school to create
businesses and jobs that help build
a better community for the fami
lies within it. The Ujamaa Market,
Pan African Imagery, and the
Umoja Shop are three establish
ments that uphold the spirit of
Ujamaa.
First of all the Ujamaa Market
offers a unique opportunity for
< i. *
African-America vendors to net
work with those in the community
who honor the value system of the
Nguzo Saba. According to T.
Dianne Bellamy-Small, the
founder of the market, the need
for the market grew out of t^
Kwanzaa celebration in
Greensboro. Each year that Small
and Brenda Dalton-James
planned the Kwanzaa celebration,
the following year, they had to
?i ^? ,i 1 ri?i
reteach all of the principles,
because the attendees had forgot
ten what they learned the previous
year. Because Small and Dalton
James consider the Seven
Principles as a value system for
life, it was crucial that the commu
nity be educated about a system
that would improve the quality of
life for those who adhered to it.
For this reason, they decided
to set up a ujamaa market for
Africa American vendors to show
case their wares, where "The
Village" can be reconstructed,
where the African-American com
munity can be enlightened about
issues that affect them. For exam
ple, one market was dedicated to
the legacy of Bennett College, one
to the Negro Baseball League and
the upcoming market on Dec. 28
will honor the Thompson sextu
plets born of African-American
David Small, young
entrepreneur, <*/(< sports items,
candy mobile* and book* at hit
booth at tho UJAMAA Market on
Washington Street In
Greensboro.
parents.
i The program on Dec. 28 will
mark the 22nd Ujamaa Market.
The market is held on every first
and third Sunday from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. The slogan at the top of
each flier reads, "At the Market be
enlightened, entertained, enriched,
and economically empowered!"
Vendors are available with qpique
clothing, calendars, books, greet
ing cards, art work, specialty
4
nidi
foods, jewelry, figurines,
sorority/fraternity items, T-shirts,
religious materials and more.
Small and Dalton-James
extend special thanks to all who
have supported the market
throughout 1997. "Perhaps from
the work we do together at the
(market, one more child will go to
college, one less child will go to
prison, and one more child will
become an entrepreneur," Small
said. \
The I 'moja Shop
Purity Ruchugo, the founder
of the UMOJA Shop, hails from
Kenya. She has been in the United
States more than 10 years. In her
shop she sells authentic African
artifacts, and she designs creative
fashions for the entire family. In
addition, she creates choir robes
for churches and attire for wed
dings. She also has accessories
such as neckties, jewelry, pocket
books, and hats. She sells African
as well as African-American folk
items. For example, figurines that
display the role of the black
church in America are available.
She is excited about her new table
drums. "People would be sur
prised what a table drum would
add to the decor of a room when
used as a table," she said. "It adds
a unique twist to an otherwise
ordinary arrangement."
Ruchugo enjoys bringing
Africa and America together. She
and her husband taught KiSwahili
at the Kemet School of
Knowledge, an Afrocentric pro
gram for children and adults at
Emmanuel Baptist Church in
Winston-Salem. She has celebrat
ed Kwanzaa with the elders of the
Kemet School and has learned a
great deal from the observance.
Her next endeavor is to plan
various trips to take interested
persons from the Triad to Kenya
with her. This trip would foster a
fond exchange of information
between African and African
American people. Ruchugo is
located in the King Plaza on
Wapghtown Street.
Pan African Imagery Inc.
When Annie R. Hairston,
president of Pan African Imagery,
began working with her family
four years ago as owners of a com
pany, she knew then that one of
the major functions of the busi
ness would be to educate the com
munity. She works with her family
members, Alexander Richardson,
treasurer, Vera Richardson, sales
manager; Willie Richardson, sec
retary; and Modine Shaw, sales
representative. The uplift of the
African-American family moti
vates their work.
This "Kuumbic" vision is evi
denced by the items in the shop on
Poplar Street in Winston-Salem.
They specialize in batiks, ebony
and mahogany carvings, Egyptian
leather items, papyri, jewelry,
scarves, dolls, books, afrocentric
information, prints from original
batiks, and other specialty items.
The items made of ebony intrigue
those who examine them. The
ebony tree which is germane to
Africa, has brown bark on the out
side, and a black or dark brown
center that can be carved into var
ious art forms. Two pieces made of
ebony that attract much attention
are "The World," and "Family
Tree"
Pan African Imagery Inc. is on* plate to find authentic African art
and artifacts in Winston-Salem. (Laft to right) Alexander
Kichardson, Vera Kichardson, President Annie K. Hairston, Willie
Kkhardsen and Modine Shaw awn the shop an South Poplar Street.
Or. J. Loo OrNM, professor of
Inglith at UNC-CH and datignar
of find -furnituro, fathionod thlt
labia from mahogany at a gift
for Dr. Trvdior Harrit mora than
10 voart ado.
Annie K. Hoirtton, president of
Fan African Imagery, hoUs
"tbony Family Troo," ono of iho
artifacts designed from Iho
obony troo.
Purity Ruthugo from Konya display* itoms in har shop at tha King
Plazd fima Markst on Waughtown Stroot In Winston-Salom.
Alexander Kkhardson, treasurer
of Pan African Imagery, heldi
"The WerU" and "The Gazelle, ~
both fashioned from the ebony
tree.
iwn e i gnrii
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