e ru a ou wanzaa ...?
D I ' '
The Truth About Kwanzaa Dominique D . Barrs Jacksonville , Florida December 2014
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By Dominique D . Barrs , M . S . M . S . Feature Columnist
In an article that I read recently titled , " The TRUTH about Kwanzaa ," I was immediately surprised by the tone . It was written in 1999 , was published in a Jewish publication , and starts off , " BLACKS IN AMERICA have suffered an endless series of insults and degradations , the latest of which goes by the name of Kwanzaa ." Wait ! What about Kwanzaa is insulting and degrading ? So , I had to keep reading .
The author starts off by saying that Kwanzaa , the seven-day feast was invented in 1966 by Dr . Maulana Ron Karenga , branding it a black alternative to Christmas . Well , I went to Dr . Karenga ' s website , and yes , this holiday was created in 1966 , but it clearly notes that Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday , and not a religious holiday . It is available to be practiced by , " Africans of all religious faiths who come together based on the rich , ancient and varied common ground of their Aficanness ." This statement negates that it is an alternative to Christmas , so where did he get this from ? Taken straight from the Dr . Karenga , this is why Kwanzaa was created .
• To reaffirm the communitarian vision and values of African culture and to contribute to its restoration among Africa peoples in the Diaspora , beginning with Africans in America and expanding to include the world African community .
• To introduce and reinforce the Nguzo Saba , the Seven Principles and through this , introduce and reaffirm communitarian values and practices which strengthen and celebrate family , community and culture . These seven communitarian African values are : Umoja ( Unity ), Kuji-chagulia ( Self-determination ), Ujima ( Collective Work and Responsibility ), Ujamaa ( Cooperative Economics ), Nia ( Purpose ), Kuumba ( Creativity ), and Imani ( Faith ).
• To serve as a regular communal celebration which reaffirmed and reinforced the bonds between us as a people in the U . S ., in the Diaspora and on the African continent , in a word , as a world African community . It was designed to unite and strengthen African communities .
• As an act of cultural self-determination , as a selfconscious statement of our own unique cultural truth as an African people . That is to say , it is an important way and expression of being African in a multicultural context .
Reverting back to the article , the author continues by saying stating that Kwanzaa is a Swahili term along with the Seven Days ' themes . " Unfortunately , Swahili has little relevance for American Blacks . Most slaves were ripped from the shores of West Africa . Swahili is an East African tongue ." So , was the author saying that because the slaves that were brought from Africa to America , probably didn ' t speak Swahili , therefore we , as African Americans cannot adopt and celebrate a culture that is not of our own ?
Since when , did Kwanzaa become a practice in which all descendents of slaves were to praise their freedom from December 26 until January 1 st ? We were not slaves in the 60 ' s , we were fighting for the freedom of equality . On Dr . Karenga ' s site , it states that , " Kwanzaa was established in 1966 in the midst of the Black Freedom Movement and thus reflects its concern for cultural groundedness in thought and practice , and the unity and self-determination associated with this ." Our culture extends far beyond the years of slavery , and we are defined by much more , which Kwanzaa is trying