I post a question a few days ago asking if "all people" should celebrate WHAT Kwanzaa STANDS FOR...Love and Unity, and I was amazed how many people thought it was just a "black thing" or a "religious" thing.
What do you think about Kwanzaa?
"History of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a non-religious African American holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture. It is celebrated for seven days: December 26 - January 1.
Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966. After the Watts riots in Los Angeles, Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community. He founded US, a cultural organization, and started to research African "first fruit" (harvest) celebrations. Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa."
2007-12-06 07:38:27 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Kwanzaa
People don't take the time to research the meaning of events or things- they go with what the popular opinion is. Thanks for sharing your investigation of the meaning of Kwanzaa and yes, we should all celebrate Love and Unity! The Love of our fellow man and the Unity of our family, cultures and nations!
2007-12-06 18:22:44 · answer #1 · answered by dizzkat 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First you ask if "all people" should celebrate "Kwanzaa," then you describe it's purpose as "bringing black people together" after the Watt's riots in LA. Why would anyone want to celebrate any holiday which is designed to bring one specific part of a group together at the exclusion of all other parts of that same group? Appeared to me as though the black people WERE united during the LA riots in their efforts to do all the destructive damage they could do - including almost beating a white guy to death after pulling him from his truck. One does not well serve society who dreams up a divisive reason to celebrate. So celebrate Kwanza if you like, but I will "celebrate" love and unity by having respect for others without regard to their skin color and do it all year long.
2007-12-06 10:02:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't think the answer is that difficult at all. Being that Kwanzaa is celebrated during the holiday season, it is no wonder that people have a misconception about this...
I wasn't taught anything about Kwanzaa in public school, other than it was moslty celebrated by the black community.... Please don't get me wrong, but I have to ask if the Afican American community celebrates Kwanzaa in addition to Christmas?
I think there is just a lack of education inthe school system about this. isn't it funny that there is a black history month, and most schools participate in this, but they don't teach us what kwanzaa really stands for?
2007-12-06 07:44:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
I know it's not religious. But it was created for the black community, there's no denying that.
It would be a wonderful holiday for everyone to celebrate, though. In fact, my neice came home wanting to celebrate it two years ago after learning about it in school so we got a few books and had a little Kwanzaa that year. This year she decided she wants to celebrate Hannukah, "because you get Christmas presents every day for EIGHT DAYS!".
2007-12-06 07:44:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
It is just because most people are misinformed. I've had non black friends over during christmas and they've seen my mother's kwanzaa stuff and I've had to answer a lot of questions. Some of them were pretty off the wall because they've never known any one who celebrates it. Celebrating kwanzaa doesn't mean I am muslim or that I hate Jesus, it is just a way to celebrate family and friends.
2007-12-06 07:47:21 · answer #5 · answered by Jon C 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Why do you keep leaving out he did it to further divide blacks and that he was a rapist who tortured women? How about that real Africans believe he is an idiot and those who celebrate this non-holiday are equally stupid?
2007-12-06 12:39:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know why. It's not the black form of hanuka because if it was then we would take it more seriously plus people barely celebrate it these days.
2007-12-06 09:43:22 · answer #7 · answered by lavender tots 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because it happens at the same time as Christmas.
2007-12-06 07:42:17 · answer #8 · answered by bigbuttcheek 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I don't think it is a bad thing but to me it does sound like a religios thing.
2007-12-06 07:41:30 · answer #9 · answered by Star 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
it's created holiday, like scientology.
it's like columbus day - everyone knows it's basically "italian american day"
translation = everyone needs their day in the sun.
2007-12-06 07:43:18 · answer #10 · answered by Slevin Kelevra 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋