Kwanzaa is a holiday formed by an ex-con.?

Question

This holiday supposingly celebrates African roots. I have asked people from Africa what they think of this and they say it is rediculous and only causes more segregation.

Answer 1

Personally, I think Kwanzaa is a made-up holiday by a black man for blacks. If it does indeed celebrate African roots, then all races and colors should be included because that is where Mankind originated in Ethiopia's rift valley. Next Kwanzaa everyone do research into our African roots and show up in our version of native costumes. If not, wear the costumes of your most distant ancestor. Remember, it is your party too. We need mutual respect and understanding for all cultures and colors in America and stop being afraid of being so politically correct that we can't even talk to each other without fear of offending some minority/majority group. No race or color is perfect or supreme. There is only one race and that is the human race and I am proud to be a member of it like every one else on this planet.

Answer 2

Who told you that? There are plenty of people from Africa that don't celebrate Kwanzaa. It's not a traditional African holiday. Kwanzaa was developed in America by African Americans.

Answer 3

Here is the real scoop about the founder of Kwanzaa.

Is he truly the best representation of African Americans? Maybe OJ Simpson, Jay Z, and all the other rappers are better. It's funny how much information the last post left out. Typical.
Ron Karenga (born July 14, 1941), also known as Ron Everett, is an African American author and Marxist "Communist",political activist, best known as the founder of Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration first observed in California from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967.
In 1971 Karenga, Louis Smith, and Luz Maria Tamayo were convicted of felony assault and false imprisoning and torturing two women from the United Slaves, Deborah Jones & Gail Davis. [4] A May 14, 1971 article in the Los Angeles Times described the testimony of one of the women: "Deborah Jones, who once was given the Swahili title of an African queen, said she and Gail Davis were whipped with an electrical cord and beaten with a karate baton after being ordered to remove their clothes. She testified that a hot soldering iron was placed in Ms. Davis's mouth and placed against Ms. Davis's face and that one of her own big toes was tightened in a vise. Karenga, head of US, also put detergent and running hoses in their mouths, she said." They also were hit on the heads with toasters.[citation needed]

At Karenga's trial, the question arose as to Karenga's sanity. It is theorized that Karenga may have had a mental breakdown due to the stress of dealing with his violence and the murders surrounding his United Slaves (US) organization and the Black Panther Party (BPP). His behavior became bizarre. And, at his trial, a psychiatrist's report stated the following: "This man now represents a picture that can be considered both paranoid and schizophrenic with hallucinations and illusions, inappropriate affect, disorganization, and impaired contact with the environment

"WHAT A ROLE MODEL!"

Answer 4

Kwanzaa (or Kwaanza) is a week-long secular holiday honoring African-American heritage, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, almost exclusively by African-Americans in the United States of America. Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift-giving. It was founded by controversial black nationalist Ron Karenga, and first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the African American branch of "first fruits" celebrations of classical African cultures.

Answer 5

terryoulboub, what a great answer! I never knew Kwanzaa was such an uplifting celebration of strength and determination. The world could use more holidays like that one.

Polly

I know it's not an answer, but you already got the best answer! :-)

Answer 6

Kwanza is and African - AMERICAN holiday. Enough said. It is ridiculous and does cause more segregation. Kwanza is a HOLIDAY like EBONICS is a real language. M'kay!

Answer 7

So what if it is a made up day? Hallmark Cards made up Mother's Day. They keep Valentines day alive. Christmas is for the greater glory of Best Buys and WalMart. What's wrong with segregation. Anyone who is honest really believes in it.

Answer 8

Interesting that you would only cite the negative things associated with Kwanzaa and Dr. Ron Karenga. Here are some well known positive facts:

Karenga was born on a poultry farm in Parsonsburg, Maryland, the 14th child of a Baptist minister. He moved to California in the late 1950s to attend Los Angeles City College, where he became the first African-American president of the student body. He was admitted to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as part of a federal program for students who had dropped out of high school, and received his master's degree in political science and Africana studies. Karenga holds two doctorate degrees (Ph.D.). He was awarded the first in 1976 from United States International University (now known as Alliant International University) for a 170-page dissertation entitled Afro-American Nationalism: Social Strategy and Struggle for Community. Later in his career, in 1994, he was awarded a second Ph.D., from the University of Southern California (USC), for an 803-page dissertation entitled "Maat, the moral ideal in ancient Egypt: A study in classical African ethics."

Central to Karenga's doctrine are the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles of Blackness, which are reinforced during the seven days of Kwanzaa:

Umoja (unity)—To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (self-determination)—To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (collective work and responsibility)—To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)—To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (purpose)—To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (creativity)—To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (faith)—To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

The holiday ‘was chosen to give a Black 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.’

Since then, the holiday has gained mainstream adherents, and Karenga has altered its justification so as not to alienate practicing Christians: ‘Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday,’ he writes in Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture, published in 1997.

Answer 9

i thought the holiday was to unite and support african americans??? its a national holiday for them,,,,,not anything to do with Africa,,,,,,,just like our Thanksgiving wouldnt mean anything to Britian

Answer 10

A lot of people don't celebrate it...