Posted on 12/25/2006 11:37:22 AM PST by DogByte6RER
Article published Dec 25, 2006
"Kwanzaa Not Catching on Despite Black Population"
Cox said he and many other blacks respect the holiday, but there are barriers to its broader acceptance.
Associated Press
Columbia, S.C. | It has been four decades since Kwanzaa was created as an African-American celebration of family and community, but in that time it has not resonated widely in South Carolina, a state where one-third of the population is black.
"I personally don't know a single person who celebrates the holiday," said Marcus Cox, founding director of the African-American Studies Program at The Citadel.
The holiday was created in 1966 by California State University at Long Beach professor Maulana Karenga, and a survey for the National Retail Federation in October found 2.3 percent of Americans celebrate it.
Cox said he and many other blacks respect the holiday, but there are barriers to its broader acceptance.
One of them is the timing of Kwanzaa, which is celebrated from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.
"Christmas is a religious holiday. And most African-Americans are Christians," Cox said.
But Kwanzaa does not conflict with Christmas, said the Rev. Joseph Darby, a civil rights activist and pastor of Morris Brown A.M.E. Church in Charleston, who celebrates both.
"The principles are basically Christian principles," he said.
Kwanzaa celebrates unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
Khurhu, a black Columbia store owner who uses a single name and sells Kwanzaa merchandise, said the idea of a holiday for blacks is unpopular with some whites.
"In its infancy, it was something that was hated by the establishment," Khurhu said. "You'll find some negativity. It has its detractors."
But Khurhu continues to celebrate the holiday.
"It's been a part of the fabric of my life," he said. "I embrace the principles and live it in my life." Cox said more blacks might celebrate the holiday if they felt stronger ties to Africa.
"Most African-Americans recognize that their ancestors came from Africa. But very few African-Americans take it beyond that," he said.
"The low number of African-Americans who know anything about Africa is mind-boggling," he said. "In some ways, I think that's sad. You should know your history. But on the other hand, African-Americans see themselves as Americans, not Africans in America."
The creator of Kwanzaa, the convicted felon and now Marxist professor Ron Karenga, hardly subscribed to "Christian priciples" when he was convicted of his crimes and sent to prison nor does he subscribe to any "Christian principles" in his Marxist indoctrination at a California university.
Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by Dr. Ron "Maulana" Karenga.
In 1971 Ron (sic Maulana) Karenga, Louis Smith, and Luz Maria Tamayo were convicted of felony assault and false imprisonment for assaulting and torturing two women from the United Slaves, Deborah Jones & Gail Davis. A May 14, 1971 article in the Los Angeles Times described the testimony of one of the women: "Deborah Jones, who once was given the Swahili title of an African queen, said she and Gail Davis were whipped with an electrical cord and beaten with a karate baton after being ordered to remove their clothes. She testified that a hot soldering iron was placed in Ms. Davis's mouth and placed against Ms. Davis's face and that one of her own big toes was tightened in a vise. Karenga, head of US, also put detergent and running hoses in their mouths, she said." They also were hit on the heads with toasters.
At Karenga's trial, the question arose as to Karenga's sanity. It is theorized that Karenga may have had a mental breakdown due to the stress of dealing with the violence and murders surrounding his United Slaves (US) organization and the Black Panther Party (BPP). His behavior became bizarre. And, at his trial, a psychiatrist's report stated the following: "This man now represents a picture that can be considered both paranoid and schizophrenic with hallucinations and illusions, inappropriate affect, disorganization, and impaired contact with the environment."
Kwanza is a religious holiday all right, it worships Marx and Engels.
Like a fake holiday dreamed up by a convicted felon would...
sheesh!
If you want on (or off) this Catholic and Pro-Life ping list, let me know!
RE: Kwanzaa priciples - "The principles are basically Christian principles," he (Rev. Joseph Darby) said.The creator of Kwanzaa, the convicted felon and now Marxist professor Ron Karenga, hardly subscribed to "Christian priciples" when he was convicted of his crimes and sent to prison nor does he subscribe to any "Christian principles" in his Marxist indoctrination at a California university.
Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by Dr. Ron "Maulana" Karenga.
In 1971 Ron (sic Maulana) Karenga, Louis Smith, and Luz Maria Tamayo were convicted of felony assault and false imprisonment for assaulting and torturing two women from the United Slaves, Deborah Jones & Gail Davis. A May 14, 1971 article in the Los Angeles Times described the testimony of one of the women: "Deborah Jones, who once was given the Swahili title of an African queen, said she and Gail Davis were whipped with an electrical cord and beaten with a karate baton after being ordered to remove their clothes. She testified that a hot soldering iron was placed in Ms. Davis's mouth and placed against Ms. Davis's face and that one of her own big toes was tightened in a vise. Karenga, head of US, also put detergent and running hoses in their mouths, she said." They also were hit on the heads with toasters.
At Karenga's trial, the question arose as to Karenga's sanity. It is theorized that Karenga may have had a mental breakdown due to the stress of dealing with the violence and murders surrounding his United Slaves (US) organization and the Black Panther Party (BPP). His behavior became bizarre. And, at his trial, a psychiatrist's report stated the following: "This man now represents a picture that can be considered both paranoid and schizophrenic with hallucinations and illusions, inappropriate affect, disorganization, and impaired contact with the environment."
You have a point...
Did Marx immaculately give birth to Engels. or was it vice-versa?!?!
And which one of these sired the b-stard Ron Karenga?
Merry Christmas...and just say NO to Kwanzaa!
Was it plugged in and did that add five years to their sentence...
African-Americans see themselves as Americans, not Africans in America.
Wow, that's a GOOD THING!
Too many blacks are "catching on".
I know of only 2 that celebrate kwanzaa - Purple Kangaroo on "Blue's Clues" and one of "Arthur"'s school friends. They are both fictional cartoon characters just like the fictional holiday. It's annoying having this travesty hoisted on our kids.
In card aisles back in CA I noticed lots of kwanzaa cards sitting there while all the Christmas, and Hanukkah, cards were gone.
Most African-Americans are Christians. They celebrate Christmas with the rest of us.
It might be that 'they' do know 'their' history and it has nothing to do with Africa.
****Khurhu, a black Columbia store owner who uses a single name and sells Kwanzaa merchandise, said the idea of a holiday for blacks is unpopular with some whites.***
It's also wholly unrecognized by most blacks as well.
Again, a good thing.
*******
James Brown R.I.P.
I'm Irish and French....But I'm an American first.....Texan second..and without a 70 inch Sony HDTV.
Satan decieves in many ways, he uses anymethod possible to steal souls away from salvation.
Media has been in no small way Satans enabler. I've never heard so much Kwanza talk as this year. Even Leno on Jaywalk friday interviewed a "Kwanza" celebrator.
It's not that "African Americans" (itself a contradiction in terms) have lost touch with their African roots, (where Kwanza doesn't exist) They've forgotten how to think for themselves.
Makes sense to me.
One line in the article contains the answer to the entire situation:
"Christmas is a religious holiday. And most African-Americans are Christians," Cox said.
Kwanza is a b.s. made up holiday.
Most American blacks are Baptist Christians who celecrate
the birth of Christ.
Please don't insult their intelligence.
How could ANYONE respect a "Holiday" which was created????
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.