I have a problem with Kwanzaa. Its only as old as I am (45 years now). I DO NOT have a problem with the ideas it celebrates but I do have a problem with the fact that it was created as a seperatist holiday. And I have a problem with it's creator refering to Jesus Christ as "psychotic". See below:
(from Wikipedia...I know, not always 100% accurate...but close enough for jazz)
"Maulana Karenga of the US Organization created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically African American holiday . Karenga said his goal was to "give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning first fruits of the harvest. The choice of Swahili, an East African language, reflects its status as a symbol of Pan-Africanism, especially in the 1960s.
Kwanzaa is a celebration that has its roots in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s, and was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of African traditions and Nguzu Saba, the "seven principles of African Heritage" which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy".
During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said that it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas, that Jesus was psychotic, and that Christianity was a white religion that black people should shun. However, as Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so that practicing Christians would not be alienated, then stating in the 1997 Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture, "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday."
Many Christian African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas."
OK,so there you have it. My other problem is, do we really deserve another holiday? We've become a lazy bunch. Another reason to WORK is what we really need! But with the global economic crisis, I guess we already have that.
Anyhoo, Happy Whatever-You-Celebrate. Be good to YOU and to those you care about. Be good to those that you don't. And be good to those that you don't know. We're all on this planet together.
And yes Bobby Stoeckle, there IS a video!
(from Wikipedia...I know, not always 100% accurate...but close enough for jazz)
"Maulana Karenga of the US Organization created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically African American holiday . Karenga said his goal was to "give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning first fruits of the harvest. The choice of Swahili, an East African language, reflects its status as a symbol of Pan-Africanism, especially in the 1960s.
Kwanzaa is a celebration that has its roots in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s, and was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of African traditions and Nguzu Saba, the "seven principles of African Heritage" which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy".
During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said that it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas, that Jesus was psychotic, and that Christianity was a white religion that black people should shun. However, as Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so that practicing Christians would not be alienated, then stating in the 1997 Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture, "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday."
Many Christian African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas."
OK,so there you have it. My other problem is, do we really deserve another holiday? We've become a lazy bunch. Another reason to WORK is what we really need! But with the global economic crisis, I guess we already have that.
Anyhoo, Happy Whatever-You-Celebrate. Be good to YOU and to those you care about. Be good to those that you don't. And be good to those that you don't know. We're all on this planet together.
And yes Bobby Stoeckle, there IS a video!
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