The Multicultural Center will be hosting the fourth annual Kwanzaa Celebration to celebrate African American culture at 5:30 today in the Kinghorn multipurpose room.
"Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, unlike most holidays. They're either religious based or based on other types of things," said Clifton Snorten, assistant director of the Multicultural Center. "So we invite all students to attend to get to know a little more about the holiday and it's traditions."
Senior communications major Rasheed Love has attended the celebration every year he has been at Ball State.
"You get to learn, gain knowledge about people that you would never have known about unless you went," he said. "It does nothing but better you as a person, in my opinion, and enhances your outlook of things, in life in general."
Love said the celebration starts with an opening ceremony. A welcome message is given along with poems that are read. The seven symbols of Kwanzaa are then explained. Love's fraternity lights candles and reads a hymn every year. Then there is a feast consisting of food from different cultures.
The actual holiday is on Dec. 26 but because that is during Ball State's winter break, Snorten said this is the time to recognize the holiday beforehand. He also said he did not want to have the celebration too close to finals week.
"The holiday was established just not to make only African Americans but all people aware of some of the different cultural traditions, things that have been passed down over the years," Snorten said. "So this is just a time for students to come and learn about something that they may not already know."
Read More
IPR: Indiana Michigan Power extends Tillotson Avenue road construction project
By Indiana Public Radio / 6 days agoOriginally, the project had a November completion date. In a statement Thursday, the company says it has found more damage to “the existing underground infrastructure.”
Indiana Capital Chronicle: New revenue eaten up by Medicaid budget forecast
By Indiana Capital Chronicle / December 18, 2024Actuaries defend $1B ‘mistake’
Ball State holds 200th Commencement ceremony
By Trinity Rea / December 14, 2024Ball State University held its 200th commencement ceremony Dec. 14, celebrating over 1,200 Cardinal graduates.
