Well, ah, what roll does Africa have in the world? 
Posted on 12/27/2004 6:45:37 AM PST by ConservativeDude
Kwanzaa, a time to foster pride in African culture Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services
Associated Press Gary Harvey stands behind a kinara, a candleholder similar to a menorah, as he gives a Kwanzaa presentation Sunday at the Hope Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Utica, N.Y. The seven-day festival, which was established 38 years ago by Maulana Karenga, celebrates family, community and culture.
HACKENSACK, N.J. -- For Marlene Ware, a teacher at Teaneck High School, Kwanzaa is an opportunity to demystify Africa.
"A lot of African-Americans to this day really don't acknowledge the role that Africa has in the world," Ware said.
As organizer of the high school's annual Kwanzaa celebration, which was held earlier this month, Ware uses the holiday to demonstrate the importance of Africa to people of all races.
She understands that Kwanzaa, which began Sunday, can be of particular value to young African-Americans. Ware said many young people have distorted impressions of Africa, and Kwanzaa can correct that.
"We're really hoping it does raise self-esteem, particularly of African-Americans about their culture. They really don't know about Africa," she said.
In addition to organizing the high school's Kwanzaa festival, Ware teaches African dance and organizes trips to the continent every few years. At the Kwanzaa celebration on Dec. 12, Ware had classes teaching African drumming and jewelry-making as well as a ceremony explaining the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
"It's a time when the community comes together and celebrates African culture, and that's why we did it."
Families and educators look to Kwanzaa as a way to educate young people, particularly young African-Americans, about Africa as well as the struggles blacks have faced in the United States.
"It invites family time and family unity and it gives them another sense of who they are," said Keli Drew Lockhart-Ba of Trenton, a psychologist who celebrates the holiday with her family and runs a business, Creative Memories, that constructs family scrapbooks for special occasions like Kwanzaa.
"It connects people to their heritage," said Verushka Spirito, associate director for performances at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, which held its annual children's festival earlier this month and drew about 5,000 youths from around the state. The event included African dance classes, where young people attempted to soar and twirl down the dance floor, as well as face-painting, music concerts and storytelling.
Kwanzaa was first observed in 1966. It was created by Maulana Karenga, now the chairman of the black studies department at California State University at Long Beach, as a way for African-Americans to celebrate their roots in Africa. It is now observed by millions of people around the world.
The holiday's name comes from the Swahili matunda ya kwanza, which means "first fruits." And Kwanzaa uses as its inspiration for its ceremonies the early harvest celebrations in Africa.
Kwanzaa celebrates the Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles. They are umoja, or unity; kujichagulia, or self-determination; ujima, or collective work and responsibility; ujamaa, or cooperative economics; nia, or purpose; kuumba, or creativity; and imani, or faith. During each night of the holiday, celebrants light a candle on the kinara, a candleholder similar to a menorah, to recognize each of the principles. Each day a different principle is celebrated.
For Lockhart-Ba, the non-religious nature of the holiday makes it a great way to share a special moment with her family since her husband is Muslim and she is Christian.
"It's not a religious holiday, it gives our family an opportunity to understand our heritage and we go over all the principles and for each principle we have the kids read them," Lockhart-Ba said.
Ware said it's important to tear down stereotypes about Africa.
Bridgette Johnson, a senior at Teaneck High School, said that many of her peers only think of famine and AIDS when they imagine the subcontinent.
"I think when people think of Africa, they think of HIV and the commercials on TV with the hungry kids," said Johnson. "If people asked me if there is one place I wanted to go, I would say Africa."
Johnson and Ware, along with 18 other fine- and performing-arts students and another teacher, are traveling to Ghana this spring to experience Africa firsthand. The group, called THREAD -- Teaneck High Represents Education Art and Diversity -- has held bake sales and talent shows to raise money for its trip, which isn't officially being sponsored by the board of education.
"Ghana is a big part of the middle passage," Ware said. The middle passage is the journey African slaves took to reach the United States from Africa. Ghana is one of the countries where slaves were transported to the New World. "It's really going to be an excellent experience." The students will exchange lessons with their peers from Ghana during the trip.
Johnson said many friends were shocked she wanted to travel to Ghana.
"When I told a lot of people I was going to Africa they told me, `Don't talk to me,' when I get back, `You'll have AIDS,'" Johnson said.
"It's a chance to get out of America and in school everyone always talk about the facts about Africa and nobody really knows," said Sade Henry, also a senior at Teaneck High School. "I think we should learn more about Africa."
Johnson said that if more people celebrated Kwanzaa, there would be a greater understanding of the importance of the continent.
"Unless you celebrate the holiday, you don't know the gist of it," Henry said.
The white establishment?
Were it not for an idiotic, amoral, leftist editor, or two, white America would have absolutely no idea what this kawanza bullcrap is.
So some businesses try to make a score from some dimwits that need a crutch that isn't white related.
Some whites are tired of listening to blacks complain and go along with kowabonza to shut them up?
So what. That's nothing new. And I am supposed to believe that is the white establishment?
Hell, for the cost of viewing an hour of infomercials and $19.95 any idiot can get just about any newfangled, plastic thingamabob, that will dice, slice, and trap mice.
Why should kowadunga, or whatever that crap is their selling to the black intellectuals, be any different?
White establishment indeed.
I took down my Christmas tree today and put out my Kwanzaa plant. :o)
Well, ah, what roll does Africa have in the world?
I have my Kwanzaa hat and scarf on.
How can a "holiday" be african if nobody in africa ever heard of it?
How can a "holiday" be african culture celebration if there are hundreds of cultures in africa?
How can a "holiday" be a holy day where it is created as a celebration fostering godless communism?
I still insist "Kwanzaa" comes from the Swahili from "let's see if we can get black folks to overspend as much on the holidays as the white folks do".
We had a pretty rude joke about non-Africans visiting Africa....What is the difference between a tourist and a racist? About 4 weeks.
That is of course not true of everyone, but many were disillusioned by poverty, crime and destruction that did not look anything like the pictures on TV, plus the fact the were not welcomed by cheering crowds in the streets, but treated with BDG.
What size did you get it in? Did it fit?
The holiday seems to be good for the people who celebrate it. I don't see anything negative about it.
On what?
yes they are THAT stupid.
I see you have paid close attention to this entire thread.
"Mavi ya ngombe!"
That is of course not true of everyone, but many were disillusioned by poverty, crime and destruction that did not look anything like the pictures on TV..."
These are the same people who believe Bill Clinton is a "the first black American president," and the New York Times is "telling it like it is."
If a person goes on a trip to Africa with a chip on their shoulder, they can have a few reactions. Disillusionment as you say that leads to being a bigot, disillusionment that only makes the chip worse OR they can go eyes wide open with no illusions about where they're going. I know a lot of people, black and white who are christian missionaries who love where they are BUT they won't hesitate to spell out the obvious problems.
Howabout the fact that it's based on a philosophy which has hundreds of millions of murdered people to its 'credit'?
I understand what the freeper is saying (I think). Why should you or I be bothered by kwanzaa? Never in a million years will anyone on this thread ever celebrate kwanzaa. Sometimes you have to give up people to their own stupidity.
I think Oprah should take all of her money and celebrity friends and live in Africa as the PM, President, whatever. Those people need help and she and her buds could make a world of difference. Plus, they could finally live outside the US and still feel like celebs.
Of course you're right, it all depends on your attitude. It was hysterical though to see the black Americans arrive "to return to the motherland", realize that they have nothing in common with Africans, and leave. As with anything, an open mind will take you a long way. I don't know that the teachers of kwanzaa have that open mind.
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