by Xochitl Campos
Daily Lobo
The Winter Roots Festival is a celebration of culture and community right before the holiday season, said Cedrick Parker, an academic adviser for African American Student Services.
UNM students, faculty and staff joined with members of the community at the festival as a way to celebrate the season.
About 200 people filled the SUB Ballroom for a dinner to honor the African-American festival known as Kwanzaa.
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The Winter Roots Festival celebrated unity and is a way to start the holiday season with giving and sharing, Parker said.
"We basically just wanted to reach more people than just the individuals that celebrated Kwanzaa and mainly just to get together before the holiday," he said.
The festival celebrated all African-American communities and their beliefs.
"We wanted to include a diaspora of different holiday traditions, which include the Caribbean aspect, the Muslim aspect, Kwanzaa and just regular Christmas," he said.
Scott Carreathers, director of African American Student Services, said the celebration honors African-American culture.
He said that in a state like New Mexico, African-Americans are often underrepresented.
"It is important for our students as well as the community to ensure there is a link since the African-American community is so small," he said.
Parker said it is important to share traditions because New Mexico is a minority-majority state.
"Especially around the holidays, it is good to get those people together around a table to talk about a common goal: togetherness," he said.
Carreathers said creating ties between African-American students and the African-American community of Albuquerque is a way to motivate students to stay in school.
"It is important that the community gets involved with the black student community," he said. "It helps them be engaged in the community."
Harold Bailey, executive director of the Office of African American Affairs, said solidarity amongst the African-American community is important in New Mexico.
"I think it's important when black students, black administrators and the black community come together to enjoy certain events, and this has special significance because it is Kwanzaa," she said.
Bailey said it is important to share cultural events with people from other races and cultures as a way to solidify the community.
He said the Office of African American Affairs bought a table at the festival as a way to support African-American students at UNM.
"Whether it be as a sponsor or just attend important events, it's important for black organizations and the black community to support each other," he said.
