12/26/09
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Kwanza - A Message From Dr. Maulana Karenga
As an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world African community, Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense. Given the profound significance Kwanzaa has for African Americans and indeed, the world African community, it is imperative that an authoritative source and site be made available to give an accurate and expansive account of its origins, concepts, values, symbols and practice. Moreover, given the continued rapid growth of Kwanzaa and the parallel expanded discussion of it and related issues, an authoritative source which aids in both framing and informing the discussion is likewise of the greatest importance. Therefore, the central interest of this website is to provide information which reveals and reaffirms the integrity, beauty and expansive meaning of the holiday and thus aids in our approaching it with the depth of thought, dignity, and sense of specialness it deserves. The holiday, then will of necessity, be engaged as an ancient and living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought and practice in its reaffirmation of the dignity of the human person in community and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a people's culture.
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Kwanzaa's "Stamp" of Approval
In a day in age where people actually believe there is a law separating church and state, and that schools and towns are being harassed for the mere mention of Christmas at, well Christmas time, we've taken our PC to a new extreme -- which was driven home when I went to the Post Office the other day and saw the Kwanzaa stamp being prominiently featured in the lobby right next to the Christmas stamps.
With the exception of Bing Crosby's wishes, I don't remember Christmas being a white holiday. But in 1966, Ron Karenga invented the celebration of Kwanzaa with the intention of "de-whitinizing" Christmas, as Rev. Al Sharpton put it several years later. Karenga was quite the inventor back then, having also established himself the leader of United Slaves, a violent black nationalist cult group that wanted a separate black state. (He changed those nationalist views several years later, becoming a Marxist.)
Karenga was is also a convicted felon, having served time in a California prison for brutally torturing two black women who were members of US. Just how brutal? Well, the following day, Karenga told the women that "Vietnamese torture is nothing compared to what I know. " The women had detergent put in their mouths and a water hose turned on their faces full force, while Karenga threatened to shoot them with a gun he was holding. Both victims were whipped with an electrical cord after being ordered to remove their clothes, and one had a hot soldering iron placed in her mouth.
But back to the holiday of Kwanzaa itself. So right now, you may be thinking "so there really is no such celebration in Africa?" Nope, think about it. A celebration of the "first harvest" in December? In an interview inthe Washington Post several years ago, Karenga had this to say about Kwanaza ... "people think it's African, but it's not. I came up with Kwanzaa because Black people wouldn't celebrate if they new it was American. Also, I put it around Christmas because I knew that's when a lot of Bloods are partying."
I certainly don't think African Americans should be denied the opportunity to celebrate their heritage, but the nationally celebrated holiday is a farce and an affront to most black Christians I know who also believe Christmas is their holiday too.
Wow.....a simple holiday celebration turns out to be much more. Thank you for your insight. I have friends who celebrate Kwanza and Christmas. But this guy sounds crazy ....it doesn't take away from a good idea though.