RI Kwanzaa celebration hails unity, support and faith

"This whole time, I've been held and loved by prayer, by my community, by my village," Ms. Boyd -- affectionately known as "Mother Kwanzaa" -- said joyfully during the 14th annual Kwanzaa celebration at the Martin Luther King Center.

Tracy -- who left three boys, ages 12, 11 and 9 -- struggled with chronic illness much of her life. Because of a chemical train accident that killed nine people while Ms. Boyd was pregnant with her, Tracy suffered from the effects of those chemicals, including inhaled ammonia, all of her life. Sunday, Ms. Boyd celebrated her life, showing a poster with photos of Tracy and her family.

"An incredible God deserves incredible praise," she said, symbolizing the African-American holiday that honors African cultural identity, connectedness and the importance of ancestors and loved ones.

"Kwanzaa is a continual thing; it's not a one-day thing," Ms. Boyd said. "It's a life-changer.

"We need to ask ourselves, 'Who am I? Am I what I should be? Am I what I was put here to be?'" she said.

"We must rise every day to preserve and protect the hearts and minds of our children, the safety and security of our neighborhoods and the health and well-being of each other," she said.

Retired after a 43-year teaching career, Ms. Boyd found profound meaning in Tony Sconyers singing of the spiritual, "Steal Away," whose refrain ends with the line, "I ain't got long to stay here."

"If you ain't got long to stay here, do something. The clock is ticking," implored Matt McDowell, one of seven speakers Sunday who meditated on the meaning of one of Kwanzaa's seven principles and lit a candle for each. He spoke on maintaining unity in the family, community, race and nation.

"Make a change people -- that's what we're here for," Mr. McDowell said.

Created in 1966, Kwanzaa is a seven-day family celebration, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.

Shellie Moore Guy (who later spoke on creativity and making the community more beautiful) paid tribute to former slaves who persevered and survived.

"If not for their will to live, we would not be here," she said. "We're vigilant. Freedom comes with a price, and that price is vigilance. That's why we're here today."

She related a story about her great-great-grandfather, a slave in Kentucky who worked as a guard at the Confederate prisoner-of-war camp (on Arsenal Island) during the Civil War. 

"We carry that baggage as a people," Ms. Guy said. "Pass along the story; that's how we survived.

"We're here to celebrate ourselves and where we came from," Ms. Guy said.

Tiffany Stoner (the principle of self-determination) told of a girl who grew up in a single-parent home in Rock Island, who never knew her biological father, had medical issues and often felt lost during her teenage years. Somehow, she decided her life was worth more than it was to anyone else.

"She realized she had the ability to change her life and guide her future," Ms. Stoner said.

She had family and friends who loved her and fostered a love for education. That girl grew up to be her -- a mother of three and college professor with a doctorate.

"I developed the will to set high standards for myself, the will to never give up, the ability to not see a roadblock so big I couldn't get past it and the ability to ask for help."

Others have survived challenges and deserve to live the best possible life, Ms. Stoner said.

Jarrin Williams (collective work and responsibility) saw many examples of close community in Rock Island on a daily basis: neighbors helping each other and parents looking out for others' kids. "When did 'we' become 'me'?" he asked, reminding others "we were successful when the village did everything it could to raise the child."

"We need to expect more from ourselves," Mr. Williams said. "Young people need to be role models for each other."

The Rev. Corey Parker spoke of cooperative economics, income equality and supporting local African-American businesses. Sisters Kiya and Kira Clements spoke about finding your purpose and passion and sticking to them.

Ms. Guy fondly recalled her great-uncle, actor Tim Moore, and read her poem "Coming Home." Johnnie Colvin Woods and Wayne Cole also read their original, inspirational poems. During the creativity portion, college student Shannon Phillips, of Davenport, did an exhilarating, exuberant dance to the song, "Home."

King Center director the Rev. Dwight Ford thanked God that among slaves, "somebody had faith they would survive."

"Thanks be to God that somebody believed. You're only here because somebody had faith," he said. 

"Thanks be to God you are a strong people; you are a connected people," Rev. Ford said, his voice rising. "We believe in a God that not only hears our prayers, but a God that answers our prayers."

Performers at the spirited, emotional, prayerful service included Tammy Reed and the Taranga Drum Circle. The traditional Karamu (Kwanzaa feast) followed the free program.