What year did they make up Kwanzaa, and why should we celebrate a made-up holiday?

Question

I mean, Christmas (or at least, the celebration of Jesus' birth) has been around for thousands of years, and even Ramadan has been around for awhile. and Hanukkah has been around since before all of them.

But wasn't Kwanzaa made up in the 70's? Why should people be able to get vacation for a holiday they just made up? I celebrate Christmas, but if I want to celebrate Festivus, can I have an extra vacation day for that?

Answer 1

Kwanzaa was "invented" in 1966 as an offshoot of the Black Panther's. It's not a real holiday... just another way for a minority group to get attention. Don't sweat it, don't celebrate it! Like Black History Month wasn't enough!

Read up on it here and see how big of a racist idiot Karenga is!

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

Answer 2

Well, let's not give Christmas *too* much credit...It's not like there's any historical evidence to suggest that Jesus was born on Dec 25th (the best guesses I've seen usually suggest that he was born in April). Christmas came to be celebrated at the end of December because the church were trying to counter the celebration of the major pagan holiday. When I consider that the day is only symbolic and not at all historic, and when I look toward all the attendant Santa Claus/commercial symbolism of Christmas, I can't really say that it's any more arbitrary than Kwanzaa is.

The question of a holiday being "made up" is interesting too...While no one would try to deny Jesus' birth as a historical event, the majority of people in the world believe (whether right or wrong) that His being the son of God is a totally made-up idea. For adherents of those religions (and atheists too), celebrating Christmas likely seems just as "made up" as Kwanzaa. So the fact that some Americans have chosen to celebrate Kwanzaa (a holiday which is *somewhat* historically-grounded in actual African cultural tradition) doesn't bug me any more than any other holiday folks choose to celebrate.

Answer 3

I DON'T CELEBRATE IT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO CELEBRATE IT EITHER. IT AN AFROCENTRIC HOLIDAY THAT IS CELEBRATED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture, is the fastest growing holiday in the U.S. An estimated 18 million Africans celebrate Kwanzaa each year around the world, including celebrants in the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, South America, especially Brazil, Canada, India, Britain and numerous European countries.
The holiday was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a scholar-activist who is currently professor and chair of the Department of Black Studies at California State University at Long Beach. Several cities in the U.S. have issued proclamations in honor of the celebration of Kwanzaa. Among them are Baltimore, Buffalo, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New Orleans, New York, and Philadelphia.

Kwanzaa as an African-American holiday belongs to the most ancient tradition in the world, the African tradition. Drawing from and building on this rich and ancient tradition, Kwanzaa makes its own unique contribution to the enrichment and expansion of African tradition by reaffirming the importance of family, community, and culture.

READ MORE HERE:

http://www.ridgenet.org/Szaflik/kwanzaa.htm

Answer 4

I think that people should be able to celebrate any made up Holiday, even Porky Pig day, if they want to. I just would not expect it to be a holiday that involves the functioning of the government and businesses in any fashion or form and it should not be a tax burden on people who do not' want to participate. Get your permits,pay your fees, jump up and down, get drunk like a skunk, just don't disturb the rights of those who do not want to be part of your celebration.

Answer 5

You don't want to celebrate Kwanzaa, don't.

There is no trend I'm aware of give days off for Kwanzaa. For that matter, Christmas stands alone. There is no time off, in most places, for Hanukkan or Ramaden.

You seem angry over a matter that has little bearing on your legitimate interests.

Answer 6

the guy who invented Kwanzaa, Maulana Karenga, became black. He had a political team referred to as the US company, which became black nationalist and under no circumstances liberal. subsequently, Kwanzaa became no longer invented by using liberals and your element is inaccurate and ridiculous.

Answer 7

well, every holiday is made up, and this is one that can celebrate african american heritage/culture, which if you look at the existing holidays, they have been left out. We have columbus day, and Thanksgiving (neither religious) to name a few that could be compared.

Answer 8

It was created by a man in USA while in Jail for torture and rape of women who would beat women to death just for the fun of it.

Answer 9

Actually, I believe it was made up in 1967. I don't think they celebrate Kwaanza in Africa.

Answer 10

For someone who hates longhaired, peace loving radicals, (i.e. hippies) so much, you sure picked a strange god.