(dramatic pensive music) ♪ But I'm afraid ♪ - [Narrator] This week on "Expressions," we celebrate Kwanzaa with a special performance from Gail Houston.

♪ Beyond the sky ♪ ♪ It's been a long while ♪ ♪ Long ♪ ♪ A long time coming ♪ ♪ But I know ♪ ♪ A change gonna come ♪ - I need for people to know that this tradition and the seven principles, if applied, that the world will be a better place.

♪ But I know a change gonna come ♪ - [Narrator] Support for this program is provided in part by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(Gail vocalizing) - Hello, and welcome to this special episode of "Expressions" where we celebrate the Kwanzaa holiday with a performance from Gail Houston.

Gail's career spans over five decades and she is part of pop music history as her doo-wop group, The Purcells, performed at the Apollo Theater and on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in 1963.

Since then, Gail has become a powerful gospel singer as well as a social activist, using the magic of music to inspire and educate.

Later in the episode, Gail will light the kinara candles and go over the seven principles of the Kwanzaa holiday.

But we will begin with some musical performances.

For her set, Gail has selected songs that reflect life in the Black community over the last half century.

This is, "Listen to the Rain."

(rain pattering) (lightening crackles) (rain pattering) ♪ Didn't it rain, children ♪ ♪ Didn't it rain ♪ ♪ All over the world ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, my Lord ♪ ♪ Didn't it rain ♪ ♪ Drip drop ♪ ♪ Drip drop ♪ ♪ Drip drop ♪ ♪ Drip drop ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Drip drop ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Won't you listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Drip drop ♪ ♪ Oh, oh my Lord ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Noah's got the message ♪ ♪ About what he should do ♪ ♪ God said to take them two by two ♪ ♪ Then he sent the rain to wash our fears away ♪ ♪ But we still live in fear, disbelief, and dismay ♪ ♪ Oh, whoa, whoa, oh, my Lord ♪ ♪ Won't you listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Drip drop ♪ ♪ He sent the raven ♪ ♪ From the North to the South ♪ ♪ To let freedom ring ♪ ♪ In my grandfather's house as he cried ♪ ♪ Oh Lord, down on bended knee ♪ ♪ He knew in his mind ♪ ♪ All man should be free ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh my Lord ♪ ♪ Won't you listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, listen to the ♪ ♪ Can't you hear the ♪ ♪ Can't you hear the ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, my Lord ♪ ♪ Won't you listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord, won't you listen to the rain, yeah ♪ ♪ God is love ♪ ♪ And love is a way ♪ ♪ That we're gonna heal the world today ♪ ♪ Be your brother's keeper ♪ ♪ And your sister's friend ♪ ♪ Looks like he's sending the rain once again ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh, my Lord ♪ ♪ Won't you listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ God is love ♪ ♪ And love is the way ♪ ♪ That we're gonna heal this world today ♪ ♪ Yeah, be your brother's keeper ♪ ♪ And your sister's friend ♪ ♪ Looks like he's sending the rain once again ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Can't you hear the rain ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Can't you hear the rain ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord ♪ ♪ Won't you listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Can't you hear the rain ♪ ♪ Can't you hear the rain ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ ♪ My Lord ♪ ♪ Won't you listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh my Lord ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Hey, yeah ♪ ♪ Mothers are crying ♪ ♪ Children are dying ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, hey, hey ♪ ♪ Sons and fathers ♪ ♪ Both got no job ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Hallelujah ♪ ♪ Teachers ain't teaching ♪ ♪ Preaches ain't preaching ♪ ♪ Listen to the rain ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh ♪ ♪ Didn't it rain, children ♪ ♪ Didn't it rain all night long ♪ ♪ Didn't it rain, children ♪ (Gail vocalizing) ♪ Can't you hear the rain ♪ ♪ Can't you hear the rain hey, hey, hey, hmm ♪ (rhythmic music) (rhythmic music continues) ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ In the morning ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ In the morning, well, yeah ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up holy ♪ ♪ When I rise in the morning, yeah, now ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ In the morning, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ In the morning, yeah, now ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up holy when I rise ♪ ♪ In the morning, well, now ♪ ♪ In the morning, yeah, yeah, now ♪ ♪ In the morning, well, well ♪ ♪ Early one morning when I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up holy ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up sanctified ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up singing ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up shouting ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ When I rise, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ When I rise, I'm gonna rise up singing ♪ ♪ Y'all, when I rise, I'm gonna rise up shouting ♪ ♪ When I rise, I'm gonna rise up singing ♪ ♪ When I rise, I'm gonna rise up sanctified ♪ ♪ Oh when I rise, aye, aye ♪ ♪ In the morning, yeah, when I rise ♪ ♪ Oh early one morning ♪ ♪ That's early one morning ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ Oh early, one morning when I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up holy when I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up sanctified when I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up singing when I rise ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, oh, early in the morning ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ Oh, early in the morning ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ Yes, early one morning ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up holy when I rise ♪ ♪ Early in the morning ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ Oh early one morning ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm gonna rise up singing ♪ ♪ Rise up shouting ♪ ♪ Rise up holy ♪ ♪ Oh, oh early in the morning ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ ♪ Early in the morning ♪ ♪ When I rise ♪ (smooth jazz music) (smooth jazz music continues) (smooth jazz music continues) ♪ My skin is black ♪ ♪ My arms are long ♪ ♪ My hair is wooly ♪ ♪ And ♪ ♪ My back is strong ♪ ♪ Strong enough to take the pain ♪ ♪ Inflicted again and again ♪ ♪ What do they call me ♪ ♪ My name is Aunt Sarah ♪ ♪ Aunt Sarah ♪ ♪ My skin is yellow ♪ ♪ My hair is long ♪ ♪ Between two worlds ♪ ♪ I do belong ♪ ♪ My father was rich and white ♪ ♪ He forced my mother late one night ♪ ♪ What do they call me?

♪ ♪ My name is Saffronia ♪ ♪ My name is Saffronia ♪ ♪ My skin is tan ♪ ♪ My hair is fine ♪ ♪ My lips invite you ♪ ♪ And my mouth is like wine ♪ ♪ Who's little girl am I ♪ ♪ Anyone who has money to buy ♪ ♪ What do they call me?

♪ ♪ My, my name is ♪ ♪ Sweet Thing ♪ ♪ My name is Sweet Thing ♪ (smooth jazz music continues) (smooth jazz music continues) (Gail vocalizing) (smooth jazz music continues) (Gail vocalizing) (smooth jazz music continues) (Gail vocalizing) (smooth jazz music continues) ♪ My skin is brown ♪ ♪ Ah ♪ ♪ And my manner is tough, yeah ♪ ♪ Whoa, I'll kill the first mother I see ♪ ♪ For all my life has been rough ♪ ♪ I'm awfully bitter these days ♪ ♪ Because my parents were slaves ♪ ♪ What do they call me?

♪ ♪ Ah ah ♪ ♪ What do they call me?

♪ (smooth jazz music continues) ♪ What do they call me?

♪ (Gail vocalizing) (smooth jazz music continues) ♪ My name ♪ ♪ Is ♪ ♪ Peaches ♪ (smooth jazz music continues) - A powerful version of the Nina Simone classic, "Four Women," performed by Gail Houston.

We will return for one more number from Gail shortly.

But first, let's learn more about the history of the Kwanzaa holiday and its meaning to those who celebrate habari.

- Habari Gani!

That's the standard greeting for Kwanzaa.

Habari Gani is a Swahili word for, "What's the news?"

The word Kwanzaa is also a abbreviated Swahili word that means, "First fruit or harvest."

Now this is drawn from the Southern African tradition of harvest celebrations, which include music and dance and storytelling, and a huge feast.

See Kwanzaa, which is celebrated each year between December 26th and January 1st, is the concept of Dr. Maulana Karenga.

Now, after the 1966 Watts riots in Los Angeles, brought on by police brutality, it was believed that the Black community needed a positive and collective way to come together as a people.

In the words of Dr. Karenga, "You must have a cultural revolution before a violent one."

See, the cultural revolution gives identity, purpose, and direction.

So to reaffirm the traditional African values, he created the Nguzo Saba, or "The seven principles of Kwanzaa."

(gentle folk music) Before we go any further, we must pour libation.

Now, there's no set way to perform this tradition.

However, in many African cultures, elders are revered and respected and it is customary to ask for their permission to speak.

Well, I've been privileged to live long enough to have elder status, and so, I guess I will give my self permission to speak.

Hello, my name is Gail Houston, AKA, the highland Geechian.

I have the honor of pouring libations.

Libations are water ceremonies, giving honor and reverence, respect and recognition to our ancestors whose shoulders we stand on and our elders whose shadows we walk in.

Now, usually after a statement of affirmation is called, water is poured on the ground, or in this case, in this plant.

And the audience must say, "Ashay," which means "So be it."

Now, I want to make this a cooperative effort.

So when I call out an ancestor, you, the viewing audience will say, "Ashay."

Are you with me?

We pour libation to Harriet Tubman.

Ashay.

We pour libation to Denmark Vesey.

Ashay.

We pour libation to Alvin Ailey.

Ashay.

We pour libation to Fannie Lou Hamer.

Ashay.

We pour libation to all the people who fought and died to not let the hope and dreams of the progeny of the enslaved Africans die.

Ashay.

(gentle folk music) And now the Nguzo Saba, the lighting of the kinara candles, or as I prefer to call it, lifting up the light of the seven candles.

Now, there is one black candle which symbolizes the African people themselves.

There are three red candles for the struggle and bloodshed throughout their history.

Three green candles for the future of abundance and possibility.

You light the black candle on the first day and then alternate sides from left to right each following day.

It's done that way because the people come first, followed by the struggle, and then finally, hope for a better tomorrow.

Now, before I light each candle, I will say the principle of that day and the audience can respond with, "Ashay."

Are you ready?

Umoja.

Unity.

Kujichagulia.

Self-determination.

Ujima.

Collective works and responsibility.

Ujamaa.

Co-operative economics.

(gentle folk music) Nia.

Purpose.

Kuumba.

Creativity.

And Imani.

Faith.

I was born by myself, but I have never been alone, for my ancestors, they walk with me and they talk with me and tell me, I am their own.

(reflective music) ♪ I ♪ ♪ Was ♪ ♪ Born by the river ♪ ♪ In a little old tent ♪ ♪ But just like the river ♪ ♪ I have been running ever since ♪ ♪ It's been a long ♪ ♪ A long time coming ♪ ♪ But I know ♪ ♪ A change gonna come ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh yes it will ♪ ♪ It's been too hard living ♪ ♪ But I'm afraid to die ♪ ♪ 'Cause I don't know what's up there ♪ ♪ Beyond the sky ♪ ♪ It's been a long ♪ ♪ A long ♪ ♪ A long time coming, ♪ ♪ But I know ♪ ♪ A change gonna come ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh yes, it will ♪ ♪ I go to the movie ♪ ♪ And I go downtown ♪ ♪ Somebody keep telling me ♪ ♪ No, you can't hang around ♪ ♪ It's been a long ♪ ♪ A long ♪ ♪ A long time coming ♪ ♪ But I know ♪ ♪ A change gonna come ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, yes, it will ♪ ♪ Then, I go to my brother ♪ ♪ And I ask him ♪ ♪ Brother, please ♪ ♪ But he ends up knocking me ♪ ♪ Down on my ♪ ♪ My bended knees ♪ ♪ Oh oh, there have been times when I thought ♪ ♪ I couldn't last much longer ♪ ♪ But now, I know I'm able ♪ ♪ And I'm just a little stronger ♪ ♪ It's been a long ♪ ♪ A long ♪ ♪ A long time coming ♪ ♪ But I know a change gonna come ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, yes it will ♪ (reflective music) (reflective music continues) (reflective music continues) (reflective music continues)