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THURSDAY, December 24, 2009
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Rumors of Kwanzaa's demise
ARE PREMATURE, LOCALS THINK
BY LAYLA FARMER
I HE CHRONtb I
Kwanzaa, the African
American holiday that is cele
brated daily in the week between
Christmas and New Year's Day
each year, is losing its luster for
many across the nation, accord
ing to a recent Associated Press
article that ran in newspapers and
on Web sites throughout the
world.
The article cites several rea
sons why some African
Americans are turning away from
Kwanzaa. including misgivings
about Kwanzaa founder Ron
Karenga, whose 1970s prison
sentence for torturing two women
leaves a bad taste in the mouths
of many.
But organizers of the long
running Citywide Kwanzaa
Celebration say the messages that
the holiday drives home are far
too important to ignore. Cheryl
Harry, whose Triad Cultural Arts
has overseen the Citywide
Kwanzaa Celebration for the last
several years, says that questions
may still remain about Kwanzaa
because the public has not yet
truly been educated about the
holiday.
"Kwanzaa is a misunderstood
? ? - - - - . * File Photo
Dancers and drummers perform during the last Citywide Kwanzaa celebration.
celebration by many African
Americans," she said. "I think
the origin of it has a lot of people
thinking it's a Muslim celebra
tion competing with Christmas,
so it's not easy for Christians to
participate in the celebration with
comfort."
Harry, an active member of
Union Baptist Church, says
Kwanzaa has both spiritual and
historical connotations for her.
"I view Kwanzaa as a time to
reflect at the end on the year on
See Kwanzaa on AS
Photos by Todd Luck
William Hawkins helps his son, Christopher, pick out a toy.
NBA stars Paul and
Howard play Santa
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
They have no reindeer, but they
don't need any to do the kind of flying
that they do.
U MD A
U w 11 HDn Mdl5
Josh Howard and Chris Paul
played Santa this holiday
season for local kids whose
families have been hard hit
by the recession.
The Josh Howard
Foundation and Paul's CP3
Foundation partnered to
give 100 kids $100 Toys
"R" Us gift cards.
Volunteers from the founda
tions helped the kids pick
out toys Monday evening at
the Silas Creek Parkway store. The
youngsters selected were referred to
the Foundations by the Housing
Authority of Winston-Salem,
Goodwill Industries and the Salvation
Robin Paul
Army Boys and Girls Club.
"We realize the challenges facing
families right now and we just wanted
to reach out and be a help to our com
munity," said Tabetha Bailey of the
Howard Foundation.
ineir inba scneauies
kept Paul, a guard for the
New Orleans Hornets, and
Howard, a guard-forward
for the Dallas Mavericks,
away from the action on
Monday. The two talents
played together at Wake
Forest University. Robin
Paul, Chris Paul's mother
and the executive director
of the CP3 Foundation,
said the toys program is
something the foundation
does each holiday season in New
Orleans. She contacted the Howard
Foundation to help bring the gift card
giveaway home to Winston-Salem.
See Toys on A9
Photos by Lay la Farmer
Mayor Allen Joines speaks.
onto
Jobs?
Web site latest idea to
spur hiring in the city
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
A group of community agencies have
partnered to create a new Web site,
www.winstonworks.org. as a means of link
ing job seekers to potential employers. In
addition, the partner agencies, which
includes the Chamber of Commerce, the City
of Winston-Salem and CHANGE, is asking
area employers to pledge to make at least one
new hire in the year 2010.
The Web site was officially launched on
Dec. 17 at the Chamber's downtown head
quarters.
"This is a comprehensive resource,"
Chamber President Gayle Anderson com
mented. "It brings together all of the infor
mation people need in order to find employ
ment."
State Sen. Linda Garrou was among those
on hand to offer support to the new effort.
Decreasing unemployment rates across the
state is among the General Assembly's chief
objectives, Garrou said.
Forsyth County Commissioner Debra
Conrad praised the Chamber for its innova
tion in bringing the partners together through
See Site on AS
Bah! Humbug!
Missed donation days create deficit for Salvation Army
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
Despite the countless renditions of "Let it
Snow" and "White Christmas" that clog the
radio airwaves this time of year, snow was the
last thing Salvation Army Area Copimander
Terry Israel wanted to see last week!
The winter weather blew in Friday after
noon, keeping shoppers at bay and prompting
many stores to close early. The Salvation
Army bell ringers, who collect donations out
side of stores during the busy holiday shop
ping season, were also forced to call it quits
earlier than planned, and the barrage of ice
and snow that ensued made it impossible for
them to resume their activities on Saturday -
the biggest collection day left in the season -
as well.
"It's our big day for income, just as it is
Sec Donations on A9
Photo by Layla Fanner
Bell Ringer Jerome Lewis sings outside of
Hanes Mall.
Universal Language of Christmas
Phoio by Lay la Farmer
Members of Friendly Arabic Church of Kernersville sing carols in their native lan
guage on Monday evening, during the Christmas for the City celebration. See page
A2 for the full story.
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