Is anyone talking about Kwanza this year?

I’ve never known anyone who celebrates Kwanzaa.

I have not, now that you mention it. I don’t know anyone who celebrates Kwanzaa.

Kwanza(a)?

There have been no Kwanzaa (sp?) cards since 2009, and the celebration, once nearing the status of a State holiday season for African Americans only, never caught on among young people. It was an artificial construct anyway, embodying elements of African harvest festivals in an attempt to create an exclusively African American tradition. But most younger adherents just wanted to be regular Americans and did not identify with African ‘nationalism,’ The components symbolized by the candles embodied some noble principles, though.

Have not seen anything about Kwanzaa or, for that matter, much about Hanukkah (Chanukah, Hannukah, Hannukkah and/or Channukah). Then again, Central Texas is not known for its diversity. Buuuuut we did have a very Feliz Navidad.

Not a single word. From what I understand it is sort of bullshit.

My parents tried to describe Kwanzaa to me.The one thing I took away was that the guy who started it in the 60’s believed that Jesus was psychotic, and that Christianity was “white”.

This in spite of the fact that Jesus was no doubt an Arab, and most of non White Central and South America are Catholics.

There is a credibility problem here as far as I can see.

I’m dreaming of a black Christmas doesn’t sound quite the same, or is that being racist?

Thanks for the spelling correction. :)

@josie The Catholics are Christians. Or, is that what you meant?

I can understand why Black people in America might feel Christianity was a white religion. It’s part of the schpiel used to convert African Americans to the Muslim faith. Christianity is presented as the Slave owners religion.

A woman I worked with was Muslim, I don’t know if she was raised Muslim or converted, and one day she was telling me that black Americans don’t get to have traditions from their country or know their history like white people, and she talked about having that for her boys. You know I get a little smart alecky when black people feel they have the corner on suffering. I told her (in a very nice tone) “you start your family traditions. The food, the routine, the holidays, you can do it.

Anyway, I think Kwanzaa maybe was a genuine attempt at starting a tradition for the black community.