'These are words we live by every day'

Kwanzaa themes are 'look forward' and 'be the best you can be.'
YOUNGSTOWN -- About 50 blacks gathered for a Kwanzaa service that celebrated their heritage but focused on building a strong future.
At tiny Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, 328 S. Forest Ave., children took center stage through much of Thursday's service. From a young child's "Silent Night" on the piano to a hand-clapping quartet of teens, the presence of youth was felt throughout the service, for good reason, said Ron Miller, president of the Youngstown Urban League.
"It's important for children to be part of this," Miller said. "They're not perfect, and sometimes it may seem like they're not listening, but when they do this year after year, the next thing you know, you've produced a generation of leaders who will move us much further than we ever imagined."
Seven days of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is observed from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1 in black communities across the country. The celebration, based on traditional African holidays and customs, was created in 1966. There are seven letters in the word Kwanzaa, seven days of observance and seven principles that are the focus of Kwanzaa.
Seven candles -- three green, three red, one black -- are lighted during Kwanzaa. The colors are also the colors of the African flag used during Kwanzaa observances.
Colors are key to the celebration, said the Rev. George Wilkins, Mount Sinai's pastor. His congregation has observed Kwanzaa for 10 years, the Rev. Mr. Wilkins said.
Thursday night, he wore a tapestry vest of black, orange and green. The colors are symbolic, he said; the black represents the past for blacks, and the bright colors symbolize their future.
Celebrate all year
While Kwanzaa is an important celebration, church member Rose Wilkins encouraged the congregation to practice the principles all year long.
"We don't just practice this during Kwanzaa," she said. "These are words we live by every day in this church."
Mount Sinai hosted the service for the celebration of Nia, which is Swahili for "purpose." The definition of Nia calls for "building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness," and Miller told the crowd that it has deep meaning for him.
"Our people were not always in the position we find ourselves today," Miller said. "African people developed great and powerful civilizations before Greece and Rome were ever heard of."
As a group, blacks need a "collective plan for moving ourselves forward," Miller said. "We've been cut off from who we are and what we are. But it doesn't have to stay that way."
Looking to the future
Recounting days of slavery, Jim Crow and racism, Miller urged the group to look forward, not back.
"History's a long-range thing," he said. "Through Nia, through purpose, we are going to collectively move our people ahead ... to be strong, productive, proud and respected people."
Children are key to making that happen, Mr. Wilkins said. The pastor told the group that despite the best efforts of many, some young people in the community have broken the law. "It's a sad thing, yes it is," Mr. Wilkins said. "But we have to keep trying. ... God wants us to do the best we can to be the best we can.
"Don't hold your head down because you've lost one or two. You tried to teach him, you tried to teach her, the right. Ultimately, the choice is theirs."
After the service, Mr. Wilkins said he felt good about the number of young people in attendance.
"It's just a hallelujah time," he said.