General Question

kalambmitty's avatar

What is Kwanza?

Asked by kalambmitty (72points) December 20th, 2011

I have no idea what is Kwanza. Actually, all I know is that it is in December.

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14 Answers

Buttonstc's avatar

It is a cultural celebration designed for African Americans to give them a special time to connect with their heritage.

It was begun in the 60s by a university professor, Dr. Maulana Karenga who taught courses in African Studies. It was timed to run alongside of Christmas but not necessarily compete with it. It begins on Dec. 26 and continues for the week.

It celebrates the harvest abundance and new growth. There is a core of seven principles emphadizing core principles of Aftican history and heritage such as unity and self determination.

Small gifts symbolizing each one are given on successive days. They also have celebratory meals featuring harvest products and lighting a candle for each of the seven nights.

It just continued growing in popularity over the years even tho it started pretty small.

It’s one of the visible outgrowths of the civil rights and black power struggles of that time and provides a positive and unifying experience for black families through the years.

bkcunningham's avatar

It is the brainchild of a racist militant black power/black panther member, Maulana Karenga, who said it was created (in 1966) to be an alternative to Christmas, because Jesus was psychotic, and that Christianity was a white religion that black people should shun.

AstroChuck's avatar

Point of info- M. Ron Karenga was not a member of the Black Panthers. He was actually the co-founder of a black nationionist group called US Organization, a bitter rival to the Black Panthers.

AshlynM's avatar

Kwanzaa is a week long celebration celebrating universal African-American heritage and culture. From December 26 to January 1 each year.

Cupcake's avatar

Here is an article about the history and principles of Kwanzaa.

incendiary_dan's avatar

Ah, calling black militants racist. Never heard that one before.~

Buttonstc's avatar

@dan

But life would be so much duller without input from the Ann Coulter Wasp point of view, dontcha think ?

:D

IPutOnMyRobeAndWizardHat's avatar

It’s Christmas for black people.

plethora's avatar

@Buttonstc Is there a problem with Ann Coulter?

majorrich's avatar

So it has nothing to do with the Australian airline company….

rojo's avatar

A small, fuel efficient economy car marketed by Suzuki in the early 1960’s. Although a success in the Asian market, it did not go over well in the US.

dabbler's avatar

“a problem with Ann Coulter?” Hilarious!
She’s a gadfly, how could she be a problem? She’s fascinating, being at the same time more articulate and less coherent than Sarah Palin, and cute enough to compete in the Westminster. She’s an embarrassment to her gender, her race, and her species, but who cares since nobody, even in her party, takes her seriously except as entertainment. Interesting words plus bile, stir and serve ! It’s a good gig for a brilliant but intellectually lazy person who needs a lot of attention.
Ann Coulter’s thoughts on Kwanza are characteristically shallow, sycophantic, but imaginative as any of the other brain-farts that pass as thinking from her gaseous head.
Hilarious!

bkcunningham's avatar

Thanks @AstroChuck. My mind was thinking black liberation member and my fingers typed panther.

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