Kwanzaa- what is it?

[CT209]

Curious about an entry on our events calendar today, I looked up “Kwanzaa”. You see, the events calendar says today is the first day of the 7-day celebration. I had never really paid much attention to it in the past, but was always under the impression that it celebrated some harvest period in Africa. Now, things are very quiet at work, so I looked it up. I had always thought it odd to celebrate a harvest in December as I would think the harvest in Africa would fall during a different time in the year. From what I can figure out, I was right. It appears the harvest is in October.

A further check shows that Kwanzaa has nothing to do with any kind of harvest in Africa. It was a made-up celebration by a guy named Ron Everett (which he later changed to Karenga), a US citizen. He created it in 1966.

He initially stated, “"The Christian is our worse enemy. Quiet as it's kept; it was a Christian who enslaved us. Quiet as it's kept it's a Christian who burns us. Quiet as it's kept it's a Christian who beats us down on the street; and quiet as it's kept when the thing goes down it'll be a Christian that's shooting us down. You have to face the fact that if the Christian is doing all this there must be something wrong with Christianity."

Hence, he thought blacks should not celebrate Christmas.

Then he later stated, "...it 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."

Thus a holiday was born.

Interesting stuff.

[Jenna]

Happy holidays!

[CT209]

Ditto. You know, I'm actually kind of jealous about the seven-day part of it. Do you suppose I could get my PD to pay me double-time-and-a-half for all seven days?

[nsb22]

Ditto. You know, I'm actually kind of jealous about the seven-day part of it. Do you suppose I could get my PD to pay me double-time-and-a-half for all seven days?

Let me know how that works for ya!

[Cidp24]

In 66 the KKK and others were doing bad things and using Christianity and parts of the bible to back up their conduct. They still do.

I think blaming all Christians for those acts is a bit like blaming all Muslims for terrorism. It's fine if a race wants to have their own holiday but I think the reasons given above are not good reasons to do that.

[OffDuty]

But what about Festivus? I want to air some grievances!

[Jenna]

But what about Festivus? I want to air some grievances!

I think "happy holidays" covers every possible occasion.

[Cidp24]

Had to Google that one!

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

[snuffy2202]

Happy Festivus, Everyone! May you win the feat of strength!

[Buttercup]

I personally do not celebrate or actually, believe in Kwanzaa, and I've often wondered whether or not many blacks who do claim to celebrate that holiday really and truly know its origin.

[Hannibal]

Ditto. You know, I'm actually kind of jealous about the seven-day part of it. Do you suppose I could get my PD to pay me double-time-and-a-half for all seven days?

Dude you are brilliant... I am writing Congress to request holiday pay for Kwanzaa.

[Ducky]

I see someone didn't do their history homework back in '66...

[Probation13-901]

I personally do not celebrate or actually, believe in Kwanzaa, and I've often wondered whether or not many blacks who do claim to celebrate that holiday really and truly know its origin.

Ditto

[Shoestring]

Ditto. You know, I'm actually kind of jealous about the seven-day part of it. Do you suppose I could get my PD to pay me double-time-and-a-half for all seven days?

We tried for MLK day, that didnt go very far, I am sure we wont get this one either

[ryan b]

I've never understood how you can simply "create" a holiday like Kwanzaa and am puzzled as to how it ever survived until today. It was created to further separate the races and in a time when everyone wants equality, i'm confused as to why this holiday is even acknowledged anymore.

[Terminator]

...in a time when everyone wants equality, i'm confused as to why this holiday is even acknowledged anymore.

It's still acknowledged because there is still plenty of people who want at least some division amongst the races, even though they wouldn't publicly admit it. You can't have your cake and eat it too, and expect that to work.

[xnvyflyer]

All one needs to know about the founder of the false holiday.

http://www.nathanielturner.com/karenga2.htm

[So Fla Cop]

All one needs to know about the founder of the false holiday.

http://www.nathanielturner.com/karenga2.htm

You hit the nail right on the head, pal. Another "white guilt" holiday. White people are sooo stupid. This guy and Fat Al are large POS. The only people who believe the sh1t that Fat Al spews are white people and fellow criminals.