kwanza has 7 principles. two are live black,act black. what does that mean? isnt that kind of racist?

Question

what if i said i was going to live white,act white would that be ok?

Answer 1

There is no principle that puts it quite that way but there are a couple of pinciples which "imply" that sort of thinking. From what I can get, it's about developing and supporting a sub culture, different and unique from the main American Culture. It appears to be about "excluding" the main culture. I think it's supposed to be about building pride in the black culture but it doesn't really strike me as universally "friendly" as Christmas or Hannukah. I definitely get subtle hints of "racism". And no you can't say you are going to live white or act white because that would definitely be perceived as racist.

Answer 2

Kwanzaa is most certainly made up. On that note, almost every major holiday (Christmas included) is made up and/or exploited by companies to have the public spend more money, so I don't understand the beef there. It's not like people NEED an excuse to go spend more money anyway. But I digress...

No, the principles aren't racist at all. Racist would something to the effect of "act black, scorn non-blacks" etc. Understand that there's a fine line between being proud, and being a bigot. So long as your chosen holiday isn't made to denigrate others not of your race, I fail to see the problem.

In all honesty were there to be some kind of "white pride" holiday, I could see the NAACP and like organizations jumping all over it. Of course that wouldn't be right, but it likely would happen. (Shrugs)

That's just the society we live in.

And as the above poster said, the principles say NOTHING to the effect of "act black, live black". Where'd you even get that from?

Answer 3

I don't know how I feel about Kwanza. I am very open minded and try to see the good in everything possible. And I know that there are GOOD things about Kwanza. But it seems like a lot of it is about separating the African American race from the other races - and not just celebrating it. I don't know how I feel about that. I think there is already enough separation going on without some made up holiday promoting it. You know? And I have no idea what it means to live black and act black. Wouldn't it just be better to say "Have pride in your heritage!"

I don't know if it's racist - but I think it's kind of backward.

Answer 4

What I know of Kwanzaa is that it was created during the civil right era by some black pride person. And it's suppose to promote unity in black families. We still live in a culture where black pride is given more leeway than white pride. I don't agree that either pride should be given anymore leeway. But I understand the reasons behind it these days. It has only been 30-40 years since the civil rights era, and before that there was segregation and before that there was anywhere from 200-400 years of slavery. And for a long, long time in America blacks were badly mistreated and considered low, so that's why the recent years we've had so much going on in that area.

Answer 5

Here are the 7 principals of Kwanzaa:

Umoja (Unity) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.**Everyone should be proud of their family, community, nation, and race. It doesn't make you racist. You're racist when you don't tolerate others who are different from you.

Kujichagulia (Self-determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves. **Jewish people and Asian people are prime examples of this principle.**

Ujima (Collective work and responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.**It takes a village to raise a child. The stronger the community, the better the people who come from it, therefore making the world a better place.**

Ujamaa (Cooperative economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.**Most minorities are trained/raised to work for someone else. This principle basically tells you to strive for your something on your own and try not to depend on others, be it government handouts, or working for someone else. Be your own business/person. Again, Jewish and Asian people are prime examples.**

Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.**Who wouldn't want to better their community and the people living in it?**

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.**Who wants to live in a dirty environment? No one, no matter what race, creed, etc. they are.**

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.**Blacks have come a long way, but there is still a lot to be done. You have to believe things will get better, or history is destined to repeat itself.**

Now where does it mention in any of those principles that we are to live or act black? What is "acting black"? What is "living black"? I'm bIack. I come from a 2 parent home. My parents have been married for over 30 years. My parents were married for 5 years before I was born. We have never been on public assistance. I am a college graduate with a BA and my sister is currently in college now. Neither one of us got any type of financial aid. Are we the norm, or an anomaly? What you are insinuating is very insulting. To get back on track, anyone of any faith, religion, race, or ethnic background can understand and follow these principles. So you can "live or act white" (whatever that means) if it makes you happy, because this is America and in America, we are free to choose to do what we like. That's what makes this country so great. But learn about the principles and the history behind Kwanzaa first before you ask such an uninformed question.

Answer 6

i do no longer think of anybody is racist agianst blacks, yet definite there are a number of. I do have faith that folk basically have a no longer uncomplicated time letting issues flow, whites and blacks. inspite of each and every thing the years of oppression blacks do have the main remarkable to be offended. issues in this us of a take an prolonged time to take place. Racism is getting greater effective with time. i do no longer think human beings could be judged or take the blame for what human beings did years in the past. Slavery became terrible yet is long and over with in this us of a. i think of all of us could head on talk, admit blunders of our ancestors and basically attempt to be one human beings. there'll constantly be human beings in this international white and black that isn't ever draw close this theory, so we basically could ingnore those human beings and lead them to the minority. existence is basically too short to be bothered approximately what some human beings think of. i appreciate your openess on the placement yet don't get obsessed via it basically savour the superb woman you have.

Answer 7

There is no such thing as Kwanza. It is a make believe holiday created to get blacks to spend more money.

Answer 8

Live Chinese, act Chinese. Live Greek, act Greek. Nothing wrong with those either.

Live [inset color/nationality here], act [insert color/nationality here]. Nothing wrong with that.

Living, acting and being proud abpout anything is not wrong. What IS wrong is denouncing or subjugating another group or color of person.

TFTP

Answer 9

Only in America in Africa thats about right.

Answer 10

The priciples say nothing to that effect.

http://www.endarkenment.com/kwanzaa/nguzosaba.htm


However, I do think they are racist.