Johnson House Historic Site hosts annual Kwanzaa celebration [Video]

December 28, 2012
  • <p><p>The sun rises just above the horizon at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>The sun rises just above the horizon at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p>

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  • <p><p>Cranes and other birds stand in shallow water at Prime Hook. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>Cranes and other birds stand in shallow water at Prime Hook. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p>

  • <p><p>This sign marks the end of the line at Fowler Beach.  The dune breach can be seen in the background. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>This sign marks the end of the line at Fowler Beach.  The dune breach can be seen in the background. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p>

  • <p><p>Water from the Delaware Bay flows past what used to be sand dunes at Fowler Beach.  The salt water is changing the make up of the refuge. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>Water from the Delaware Bay flows past what used to be sand dunes at Fowler Beach.  The salt water is changing the make up of the refuge. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p>

  • <p><p>(Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>(Mark Eichmann/WHYY)</p>

  • <p><p>Johnson House Executive Director Cornelia Swinson recognizes Germantown High School senior Aliyah Muhammad who designed an historic tour of the Johnson House as part of her senior internship. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>Johnson House Executive Director Cornelia Swinson recognizes Germantown High School senior Aliyah Muhammad who designed an historic tour of the Johnson House as part of her senior internship. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p>

  • <p><p>Baba Garland M. Franklin, a percussionist with Temple University's Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP), drums at the Johnson House Kwanzaa celebration. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>Baba Garland M. Franklin, a percussionist with Temple University's Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP), drums at the Johnson House Kwanzaa celebration. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p>

  • <p><p>Levi Joynes, a percussionist with Temple University's Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP), drums at the Johnson House Kwanzaa celebration on Thursday night. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>Levi Joynes, a percussionist with Temple University's Pan-African Studies Community Education Program (PASCEP), drums at the Johnson House Kwanzaa celebration on Thursday night. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p>

  • <p><p>Saundra "Momma Sandi" Gilliard, president of African Storytelling group Keepers of the Culture, gives a Kwanzaa presentation at the historic Johnson House in Germantown. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>Saundra "Momma Sandi" Gilliard, president of African Storytelling group Keepers of the Culture, gives a Kwanzaa presentation at the historic Johnson House in Germantown. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p>

  • <p><p>Denise Valentine, a storyteller with Keepers of the Culture, tells a Kwanzaa story at the historic Johnson House in Germantown. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p></p>

    <p>Denise Valentine, a storyteller with Keepers of the Culture, tells a Kwanzaa story at the historic Johnson House in Germantown. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)</p>

The Johnson House Historic Site held its annual Kwanzaa celebration in Germantown on Thursday night.

Community members turned out to the house, located on Germantown Ave. near Washington Lane, for the second night of the holiday for African storytelling, African drumming, crafts and a tour.

Storytellers Denise Valentine and Saundra “Momma Sandi” Gilliard from Keepers of the Culture explained the seven principles of Kwanzaa while members of the Temple University’s Pan-African Studies Community Education Program drum ensemble kept time.

Momma Sandi lit the first two candles of the kinara. (In all, there are seven; one is black to symbolize unity, three are red to represent struggle and three are green for life and the land.)

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“It is a celebration of a lot of stories in Africa, and it tells about the importance of family and community,” said Board President Patricia Bass. “I think that’s really why we feel it’s so important to do this here at Johnson House.”

Eighth District Councilwoman Cindy Bass said that, for her, Christmas and Kwanzaa go hand-in-hand as times to reflect on faith and struggle.

“As I look into the new year,” she said, “it feels good to be here.”

Germantown High senior Aliyah Muhammad received special recognition from Johnson House Executive Director Cornelia Swinson for her work in crafting a new tour of the historic site.

Swinson stressed the importance of teaching kids about Kwanzaa at a young age by using music and holiday related crafts to educate them on the celebration’s principles, which Swinson said “are everyday things.”

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