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A clear view of Kwanzaa holds lessons for us all
TweetToday, 44 years after its first observance, Kwanzaa remains steeped in misunderstanding and mystery.
As the Mahoning Valley joins the rest of the nation this week in marking the seven-day African-American-based holiday, it is an opportune time to demystify the festival and debunk myths surrounding it.
Coming as it does during the heart of Christianity’s most hallowed season, it is easy for some to perceive Kwanzaa as a religious celebration. Targeted as it is toward black Americans, it is easy for other ethnic groups to simply ignore.
Kwanzaa, however, is neither religious in its foundation nor exclusionary in its message.
Dr. Maulana Karenga, who organized the first Kwanzaa in the United States in 1966, clearly states the purpose of the holiday in his 2010 Kwanzaa message to the nation:
“In its most essential understanding and ex- pression, Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community and culture with each providing a context and commitment of common ground, cooperative practice and shared good. Kwanzaa is a celebration of the family, which first forms us, names, nurtures and sustains us, and teaches us upright and uplifting ways to understand and assert ourselves in the world.”
Of course, the cultural message is aimed primarily at blacks. Kwanzaa, which in Swahili means the celebration of first fruits, accentuates values that reinforce African family, community and cultural values.
Kwanzaa is inclusive
But as Karenga points out, people of other cultures and ethnicities can and do celebrate Kwanzaa, just as people of all cultures mark St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Italian-American heritage festivals and other ethnic-specific observances throughout the year.
Indeed, some of the seven guiding principles, or “Nguzo Saba,” of Kwanzaa transcend racial and ethnic boundaries. Those values, one of which is celebrated during each day of Kwanzaa, include Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).
For example, take today’s principle of Ujima, collective work and responsibility, which will be marked in Youngstown at 6 p.m. today at Beulah Baptist Church, 570 Sherwood Ave., with a gospel celebration, liturgical dancing, pantomime and cultural celebration.
To be sure, strengthening and improving our community through responsible and coordinated work is a noble ideal for all to embrace.
But that ideal and the others of Kwanzaa should not be reserved for only one week of relevance and reverence.
As scholar Dorothy Winbush Riley, author of “The Complete Kwanzaa: Celebrating Our Cultural Heritage,” argues, “although we celebrate Kwanzaa the last week of the year, we must live the teachings each moment of every day, physically, morally and spiritually. Every day of the year, we must apply and practice the Nguzo Saba sincerely and faithfully to harvest success.”
Comments
Idiocy.
FYI
http://archive.frontpagemag.com/readA...
Nice article dreamcatcher. Thanks.
Let's all jump aboard the race train and celebrate Kwanzaa . . ..
On December 24, 1971, the New York Times ran one of the first of many articles on a new holiday designed to foster unity among African Americans. The holiday, called Kwanzaa, was applauded by a certain sixteen-year-old minister who explained that the feast would perform the valuable service of "de-whitizing" Christmas. The minister was a nobody at the time but he would later go on to become perhaps the premier race-baiter of the twentieth century. His name was Al Sharpton and he would later spawn the Tawana Brawley hoax and then incite anti-Jewish tensions in a 1995 incident that ended with the arson deaths of seven people.
How DARE you post link to the TRUTH about Kwanzaa!
Ok, everyone together now, dress up in silly costumes and dance around.
Nonsense. There is nothing African about this so-called celebration. No one in Africa celebrates Kwanzaa or ever has. It is a creature of Black Nationalism, a force that rigidly divides rather than unites us along racial lines. The very fact that it is still around at all (though, thankfully, disappearing fast) is a revelation of just how confused we, as Americans, still are about our own national identity. Kwanzaa belongs in the same trash bin as the KKK.
Made up by someone who was in jail. It isn't enough that they have the whole month of February as black history month which definately has nothing to do with the birth of Christ on December 25th.
... celebrating Kwanzaa in the sanctuary of a church is about as holy and relevant is holding a union meeting or halloween party there. You do a disservice to God and your congregation. I guess its all about the money. Shame on you.
Here in Atlanta, Kwanzaa is pretty much a thing of the past. It used to be talked about in the news and you would see signs around about it. But for the past few years, I think it has been mostly ignored by everyone, black and everyone else. Hopefully this racist holiday will be forgotten by history soon.
Not here. kwanza is bigger with the, people. Divisive, racist holiday for divisive racist black peeps
It is but just a matter of time before someone calls it a week long holiday and demands a week off with pay .
why did the vindy eliminate the venerose comments
did they bother dellick
or hunter
or venerose
Kwanzaa is black power racism against American Christmas religious beliefs and Santa Claus traditions!
Kwanzaa is no more a made up holiday than is Christmas.
Kwanzaa was introduced to promote and celebrate the positive aspects of African-American culture.
Jesus wasn't born on December 25th, nor did the early Christians celebrate Christmas. That date was selected by the Christian church to promote and celebrate Christian values. Those in charge of Christianity at that time hijacked a pagan holiday for their celebration.
As usual, it's quite humorous watching all you hypocritical neo-cons voice your racist, arrogant, and uninformed opinions. You all really have no idea of how foolish you sound, do you?
Happy Kwanzaa to those of you who choose to celebrate it and Merry Christmas to those of you who choose to celebrate that holiday. Note: This greeting isn't extended to the arrogant fools who enjoy criticizing other religious celebrations.
The Quail
.... Quail is terribly ignorant in his view of history regarding Christmas. You've got it all wrong, but then again, you were pretty much wrong on Kwanza also.
The Quail just inadvertently gave a strong case for the abolition of kwanzaa. So much for the value of unity (umoja) which just breeds hatred for other races when it is restricted to only one race. Christmas, by contrast, is based upon love of all humans regardless of race; even love of the racist but hatred for their racism as expressed in kwanzaa, the NOI or the KKK.
In my prvious email, I asked a question: "You all really have no idea of how foolish you sound, do you?"
DJO and Attis, thank you for providing us with such a clear answer.
I presume that the two of you would profess to follow Christianity. That's quite sad, and just a little embarrassing, for those who truly do understand the meaning of Christmas.
Perhaps, "Happy Festivus" would be more apropos for the likes of you?
The Quail
The only fool is you.
Lets have Ramadan,Hanukkah, Chinese New year, Diwali, Holi, Pongal, Dussehra, Gantan-sai, Timkat, Imbolc - Lughnassad and not forgetting the Birthday of L. Ron Hubbard that should about cover most religions on this planet. If we celebrate all the religions mentioned it should cut the working year down to two days then we would be so politically correct we wont offend anyone.