Posted on 12/26/2005 11:33:44 AM PST by ncountylee
CHICAGO, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- The largest annual Kwanzaa celebration of African-American culture in the United States began Monday at Malcolm X College in Chicago.
Ayoka Samuels, a consultant for the college's Kwanzaa committee said a major misconception is that about the seven-day festival is that it's meant to be "the black Christmas," the Chicago Sun-Times said.
Samuels said many who celebrate it do substitute it for Christmas, and if gifts are exchanged, they must be either educational or a symbol of African heritage.
Maulana Ron Karenga, now a professor of black studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966 as a way to restore a sense of connection with African culture.
Each of the seven nights is devoted to a particular community value: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
Part of the ceremony is the lighting of seven red, black and green candles, symbolizing sacrificed blood, race and Mother Africa, the Oakland Tribune said.
In Buffalo, N.Y., Denise Renfro said she is proud of the changes in her 10-year-old son since he entered Rites of Passage, an after-school program centered around Kwanzaa principles.
"He brings home good grades, likes school and has never gotten into serious trouble," she said
Heh -- don't give 'em any more ideas. He's still 3 years left to "celebrate" and pander to every "holiday" known to man.
"How does a secular celebration blaspheme anything?"
You seem to be saying that God is unoffended by the behavior of the godless, here. Either that, or you're saying that intentions matter more than end results.
One way or the other, you're mistaken.
More proof of the brilliance of FreeRepublic's members!!
Clearly you are talking about black people correct? 75% of whom are middle class and above. Common sense shows that street thugs and welfare queens make no kind of attempt at any type of cultural awareness and couldn't care less about Kwanzaa. In all likelihood, those folks are productive individuals who practice something that you don't like. So stop trying to link them with street thugs, crime, welfare and any other negative you enjoy linking to black people.
You make no sense. The celebration is not anti-religios. It is not religion based. The 4th of July is not religion based. Thankgiving is really not religion based. Memorial day is not religious based. Labor Day is not religion based. New Years is not religion based.
And note that Kwanzaa is not and never will be a federal nor state holiday. So if you don't like it, join the vast majority of all people who don't celebrate it and concentrate your energies on things of importance.
"You make no sense. The celebration is not anti-religious. It is not religion based."
Marxism is not "anti-religious?" It's not me, who is failing to make sense, here.
George Bush is a wonderful president who, save for his policies on illegal immigration, shows the right attitude and near perfection, in my opinion. He hardly panders to anyone.
Whassumatta... you don't practice the sacred consuming of the detergents?
Went down to Ace Hardware and they are all sold out of Kwaanzah Gear. Guess I will have to just use my shoe again. Dang!
We're talking about Kwanzaa, not Marxism.
"We're talking about Kwanzaa, not Marxism."
Kwanzaa is firmly rooted in Marxism.
The truth about kwanza http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1547274/posts
I duly noted that thread and was at a loss to have explain why it was pulled myself.
"I haven't seen this much political pandering since...NEVER."
Sure you have.
President Bush is offering greetings to a group of Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa. Why would he not? 10,000 folks in Chicago, gathering. Others in other cities.
Is it a celebration that was started in a bogus way? Probably. Is it religious? Not at all. It simply is, and has enough celebrants to attract the attention of just about everyone, for one reason or another.
So, the President of all the citizens of The United States of America sends a greeting to those citizens who celebrate this holiday.
Same with Ramadan. 5 million Muslims or so are citizens of the USA, making President Bush their president as well.
He's just doing his job.
Hillary: "it takes a village"
That's like saying "we're talking about dog crap, NOT camel dung."
What in God's name is Kwanzaa? Can the Hmong celebrate it? How about poor Ugandan abused children? Muslims? Christians? Jews....and after the answer....sounds like a scam. Who's Karenga...is he the second coming of Amos or Andy,Kingfish? Sapphire maybe?
Some ad-vice.............. Kwanzaa is a hosejob.
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