American black people, what are your thoughts on Kwanzaa? What percentage of American blackpeople celebrate?

Question

in your estimation? Do you? Why do or don't you?

(Please no weird comments based on hatred. I'm not going to tell anyone they can't sit around hating whoever they like, but I do ask that you not express it in response to this particular question.)

Answer 1

Habari Gani!

I celebrate both Christmas and Kwanzaa. I would probably celebrate Chanukah too if it would stop moving all over my calendar!!! lol, just kidding! I give reverence to all holidays.

However... since this was a question aout Kwanzaa...
I have no idea what percentage of American black people celebrate Kwanzaa. The members of my family celebrate it each year. Some of my family members are more elaborate than others, but we all understand and respect the meaning behind each of the principles...

For those who don't know:
12/26 - Umoja - Unity
12/27 - Kujichagulia - Self Determination
12/28 - Ujima - Responsibility
12/29 - Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics
12/30 - Nia - Purpose
12/31 - Kuumba - Creativity
1/1 - Imani - Faith (what a wonderful word and way to start the new year!!!)

Now with all that being said... I come from an EXTREMELY diverse ethnic background and I don't see how promoting ANY of those principles can be considered a "black", "white, "yellow" or "red" thing. Aren't these the same values that we all strive for in all communities?

To me Kwanzaa is a time for reflection and celebration of things past and things to come that can be shared by all.

Kwanzaa is NOT a religious holiday and should not be taken as such. It has nothing to do with offsetting the birth of Christ. If anything, I would think that it reinforces and refocuses the teachings of Christ as exemplified by daily living.

I think that if more people looked into what its all about instead of dismissing it as something sacreligious and pagan, they would find that Kwanzaa has alot to offer all! (and for those that DO look it up and still don't care too much for it..... thats cool too! at least then you actually KNOW what it is you don't like, right?)


Season's Greetings to All!!!

Answer 2

I usually celebrate Kwanzaa each year. I try to go to at least several of the seven days' events. I celebrate because it's fun and educational for the children. It teaches them alternatives to the commercialism that Christmas has turned into. It teaches them about their history. For adults, it's a good time to reflect on what went right or wrong in the previous year, and to refocus on how to do better in the coming year. I also love the music, the feasts, and the dancing that you can find at each event.

I also Celebrate Christmas. Christmas has become more meaningful to me since I started celebrating Kwanzaa. I think it is because Kwanzaa focuses more on sharing good with the larger community, and it brings out the true spirit of Christmas.

I know some people who celebrate just Christmas, and I know others who celebrate just Kwanzaa. Still others, like me celebrate both.

Answer 3

I don't know what percentage of people celebrate Kwanzaa. I've celebrated Kwanzaa twice but never after Christmas, both times were during black history month. I think it is a good opportunity to reflect on values we should practice all year long. I don't think most people know much about it.

Answer 4

answer: Who Cares? Why are you stressful approximately what Black people do of their spare time.... And, in view that we've become so technical, to the guy who stated Kwanzaa grow to be a Pagan holiday, properly, so is Halloween! So is Christmas! So is Easter! Christ grow to be no longer born on December. and there is likewise no longer something non secular approximately Santa Cluase, Little Elves, Easter Bunnies, Easter Eggs, ect. And Thanksgiving (or Taking) is in line with a lie... yet we don't see different ethnicities all stressful with reference to the style of White people who include those "traditions", now can we?! Get a existence!

Answer 5

hollaatyagirl28358 Blacks are trying to separate themselves from America?! ( o _ 0 ) Really?! The only thing America ever wanted from Blacks was to keep Blacks enslaved period. As far as the celebration of Christmas, I think Christ Himself would be ashamed and completely appalled at the 21st century's pathetic attempt to celebrate his birthday. People running through the malls driving themselves half mad trying to find the "perfect" gift(s) for loved ones, only to have the receiver take the gift back to the store or exchange gifts with someone else. ( o _ 0 ) To answer your question fully I don't celebrate Kwanzaa. Christmas due to commercialization is bad enough without having to celebrate
yet another holiday which ignores the birth of the Almighty! And yes, our "version" of Christmas ignores the birth of the Almighty. Santa Claus is just as irreverent as Kwanzaa.

P.S.
Kwanzaa (or Kwaanza) is a week-long festival celebrated primarily in the United States, honoring African-American heritage.[1] It is observed from December 26 to January 1 each year.

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 created by Dr. Ron Karenga and first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967

Answer 6

Personally, I'm not black, but I enjoy celebrating various international holidays. You may find me celebrating Burns' night (Scotland), St. Patty's Day (Ireland), Bastille Day (France), Cinco De Mayo (Mexico), Ganehs Chaturthi (India), the Lunar New Year (Various Oriental Countries), as well and Jewish and American holidays. I lit 8 of the 9 candles on my chanukia for Kwanzaa this year.

It matters less that it's a new holiday, or "made up", depending upon your perspective. What does matter is what it represents...peace and joining with your fellow man/woman to celebrate G-d's presence within each of us.

Answer 7

Kwanzzaa is one of the most popular celebrations in all the land. I don't know the exact percentage of people that celebrate Kwanzzaa but I'll say a rough estimate of about 65%. I do enjoy it very much. A cultural unity. Anyone can attend. I've observe some whites, asians and hispanic attending Kwanzzaa celebration.

Answer 8

Wow, I believe the question was for black people, but I guess the first two answerers wanted the points. More to the point, the point of Kwanzaa was to give Black people in America something to call their own. It's not African, but it based primarily on the Kenyans celebrate their harvest at the end of year, and it's purpose was give Black people things to focus on and celebrate within the Black community, like unity, faith, cooperative economics, creativity, etc. I think it is a good thing, but it hasn't really caught on, and I think the primary reason for that is that a lot of those things DO NOT exist in communities, so naturally there would be nothing to celebrate at the end of the year. My mother celebrated Kwanzaa every year when I was growing up, and we held it at a local college so that everyone, not just Black people could participate. However, as I grew up, we stopped for some reason, and now with my own family, I don't keep it up. Maybe I'm caught in Christmas along with other Americans, but I think that those of us are more in touch with our African roots, do celebrate Kwanzaa religiously. Also, in response to people saying that Kwanzaa is made up, these must be ignorant. Nearly everything about Christmas is made up: Santa Claus, Rudolph, and nowhere in the Bible does it say Jesus was born on December 25th, so please, most holidays are made up.

Answer 9

Well I'm not of the black race, but kwanzaa is just a make up holiday. Didn't exist until 1966 or 67! It's kinda like Juneteenth. Which blacks in the south celebrate, at least in TX , as the freeing of the slaves. Never heard of that, before I moved to TX in 1980!

Answer 10

I never really understood what Kwanzaa was until recently. My family has never celebrated Kwanzaa nor any families that I know. From what I understand, Kwanzaa was originally created as a replacement for Christmas and that the founder of Kwanzaa did not believe in Christ. I am a devout Christian and we celebrate Christmas. It seems that us African Americans try so hard to seperate ourselves from the rest of America on one hand and then on the other hand we want to be equal. So which is it? I know my history, I understand my roots. I think that Kwanzaa is designed to distract African Americans from Christmas. Christ is t he answer.