Kwanzaa

[Skyrad 0]

I wondered what the hell Kwanzaa was so googled it and found this web site...

http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

What the hell was wrong with Christmas? I can't believe that black Americans still think they're African So much so that they've made up a celebration and pretend that its an African thing. I'm also suprised that in todays climate they are taking up Pan Africanism a cause championed by Colonel Muhamar Ghadafi Who whilst being totally African is not black. i wonder if white Africans are welcome at Kwanzaa get togethers or if this is actually as racist as it seems.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Samurai136 0]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

My favorite line.... Karenga noted "People think it's African, but it's not. I came up with Kwanzaa because black people wouldn't celebrate it if they knew it was American. Also, I put it around Christmas because I knew that's when a lot of Bloods were partying."

In 1997, Karenga changed his position, stating that while Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday, it can be celebrated by people of any race: "other people can and do celebrate it, just like other people participate in Cinco de Mayo besides Mexicans; Chinese New Year besides Chinese; Native American pow wows besides Native Americans."[14]

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[Skyrad 0]

I found this post on a dZ.com search

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1408134#1408134

Is this celebration really all that celebrated in the states?

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[NCclimber 0]

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LOS ANGELES, Dec. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, author of the book, "SCAM: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America," which was just released in paperback, is trying to educate Americans that Kwanzaa (celebrated Dec. 26- Jan. 1) is not a legitimate holiday; it is a platform for racial hatred which was started in America by a Marxist ex-con who served four years in prison for torturing two women.

"Kwanzaa is not a legitimate holiday; it is a subversive black nationalist movement designed to create racial separatism and hatred. It is one of the biggest scams being perpetrated on black Americans," says Rev. Peterson.

In 1966, Ron Karenga, the leader of United Slaves Organization, a Marxist "black power" group, created Kwanzaa to help blacks get in touch with their African roots.

Rev. Peterson says, "Marxist Karenga's Kwanzaa celebration is really a banquet of socialism, worship of false gods and Afrocentrism. The Kwanzaa pledge of allegiance is a perfect example of racial hatred and black separatism: "We pledge allegiance to the red, black and green, our flag, the symbol of our eternal struggle, and to the land we must obtain; one nation of black people, with one God of us all, totally united in the struggle, for black love, black freedom and black self- determination."

Rev. Peterson adds, "This is not a celebration of African harvest; it is a political statement for the establishment of a black nation and racial hatred against whites."

According to the BOND website, Karenga explained the holiday as follows: "People think it's African but it is not. I came up with Kwanzaa because black people wouldn't celebrate it if they knew it was American. Also, I put it around Christmas because I knew that's when a lot of Bloods would be partying."

[SpeedRacer 1]

Kwanzaa is not supposed to be a substitute for Christmas.

And it isn't as scary as some people are making it out to be. The holiday was invented in the '70s & it is a way for African Americans to celebrate their heritage, much as Irish Americans do on St Patricks Day or Italian Americans on St. Anthony's day.

Speed Racer
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[warpedskydiver 0]

Are you saying the previous post is not true?

[Royd 0]

Kwanzaa is not supposed to be a substitute for Christmas.

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And it isn't as scary as some people are making it out to be. The holiday was invented in the '70s & it is a way for African Americans to celebrate their heritage, much as Irish Americans do on St Patricks Day or Italian Americans on St. Anthony's day.

Then make it one day and be done with it. Let's call it St. Martin's Day.

[NCclimber 0]

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Let's call it St. Martin's Day.

Waaasssup?

[SpeedRacer 1]

I'm saying people can make of Kwanzaa anything they want to.

Go to the official Kwanzaa website & read up on it yourself.

Sure, if someone is a racist, they could get together with a bunch of other racists & change the rituals & principles to ones that affirm racism. And that's not cool, IMHO, but anything can be twisted.

Speed Racer
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[Gawain 0]

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What the hell was wrong with Christmas?

Search me...go ask the ACLU, they probably have a strange laundry list.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Andy9o8 0]

I don't let it bother me. Most ethnic groups in the US have holidays specific to and/or celebrated by their ethnic group: Christians generally (the 2 biggies), Catholics (the saint days, etc.), Jews (their stuff), Muslims (their stuff), Irish (St. Patrick's day), Italians (Columbus day), etc. But before the fabrication of Kwanzaa, black people in the US had no holidays specific to black people. So...now they do. It's no skin off my nose, and it's really not in my face, either. I understand, but don't really care about, the questionable original beginnings of the holiday and the seedy background of its founder – the average black people in the US just celebrate it, quite peacefully, as "their holiday". Big deal. Live and let live.

My feeling is - if it's OK with Bill Cosby, then it's mainstream enough for me not to feel threatened by it.

As far as it not being a "real holiday", ALL holidays didn't exist at one time; they were all created by people. It's real, now, to the people who celebrate it.

[Darius11 12]

I have no issue with Kwanzaa, but I wish more people would read their history.
I know a horrible injustice was done to African Americans during the slavery years, but they should remember that not all the people who enslaved them were white Europeans but other African people as well.

I don’t know how I would feel about the people who help enslave my ancestors.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[shropshire 0]

<> - Them fucking Romans... I just can't find it in my heart to ever forgive them

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Stumpy 256]

Go steal their scooters and their latte's - that'll show em

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[shropshire 0]

What did the Romans ever do for us?

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Plucky 0]

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I can't believe that black Americans still think they're African So much so that they've made up a celebration and pretend that its an African thing.

I'm with you there. How many years or generations back can you go to claim some sort of heritage?

I was born in Africa from European immigrants (3 generations back) - does that make me a 'European African', and should I celebrate that if I had never set foot in Europe?

I'm white, but I'm much more of an African than any black American who's never set foot in Africa. I've lived it, and am familiar with it's ways.

Kwanzaa, as something associated with 'being' African in some way, for born Americans is just silly.

If you go back far enough, we're all Africans anyway. Where's the line? 200 years? 400?

Let's see, in the last 200 years, my ancestors came from Norway, Netherlands and England (mostly) .. I'm going to start wearing a viking hat, clogs and a cravat at christmas from now on.

- Citizen of the World -

[wmw999 2,122]

On the other hand, my ancestors (grandparents and great grandparents) came from Sweden to the US. I don't consider myself to be Swedish-American, but I do have pickled herring, homemade sausage, lots of cookies, and glug at Christmas.

It's a way to make it special for our family. Who am I do call someone else's way silly?

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Plucky 0]

Yours is still relevant - two generations back. I'm guessing you probably have memories of hearing first-hand stories of Sweden, from before your recent ancestors moved to the US.

Traditions that started with the immigrants, as in your case, is fine, but claiming some heritage all of a sudden after a few hundred years .. and sticking an 'African' sticker on the American celebrators .. I'm sticking with silly.
Africa is a very big place .. with very many countries, all with diffierent cultures and traditions.
These foreigners saying they're a part of the continent, generally, is true, we all are. Not just those with darker complexions.
They're simply not African, or we all are.

- Citizen of the World -

[Skyrad 0]

St. Anthony's day? Never heard of it.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Skyrad 0]

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I have no issue with Kwanzaa, but I wish more people would read their history.
I know a horrible injustice was done to African Americans during the slavery years, but they should remember that not all the people who enslaved them were white Europeans but other African people as well.

I don’t know how I would feel about the people who help enslave my ancestors.

Well it was the Greeks that killed the Persians and defeated the other Darius I'm guessing you don't go around bitching about the Greeks.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[kallend 1,623]

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St. Anthony's day? Never heard of it.

Dec 17 is "O Sapientia". I bet you haven't heard of that one either

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[shropshire 0]

21st of January..... Oh and I'm no saint

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[NCclimber 0]

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St. Anthony's day? Never heard of it.

Dec 17 is "O Sapientia". I bet you haven't heard of that one either

No. But around here, we always celebrate National Potato week.

[kallend 1,623]

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What did the Romans ever do for us?

The idea of bathing once a month whether you need it or not.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[shropshire 0]

Yeah.... but apart from that.........

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome