By: Khalil Brim ’21, staff writer

LVC hosted its first Kwanzaa celebration on Thursday, Dec. 6.

Forty students and a handful of faculty members including LVC President Dr. Lewis E. Thayne attended this celebration put together by the Office of Intercultural Affairs, the Black Student Union, Asian Culture Club and Hispanic Alliance.

“It was such a wonderful event,” Evelyn Velazquez, a second-year physical therapy major, said. “It was good to see everyone dressed up for this occasion. I was able to learn so much about the holiday.”

Participants of the celebration were welcomed to Zimmerman Hall by jazz music and a greeter who met them at the door. The night’s events started with the singing of the Negro National Anthem sung by first-year student Raynae Bosley.

The history of Kwanzaa was then explained by Director of Intercultural Affairs and the Dean of Inclusion and Engagement Renata Williams.  After reading out the seven principles of Kwanzaa, Williams asked for seven volunteers to come light the seven Kwanzaa candles.

Once the traditional lighting of the candles was finished, tables were dismissed to be served soul food catered by Mana Cafe. While people enjoyed their food, The V-Stepper Step Team performed. The nights activities came to an end with the chanting of the Swahili word harambe which means coming together.

“I can’t wait to make this celebration into an annual event,” Williams said. “We intend to keep on doing celebrations and events such as these in the future in order to spread awareness of all of the wonderful traditions there are out there.”

Look for the second annual Kwanzaa celebration that will be held at the end of the fall semester of 2019.