Albertsons offers Kwanzaa baskets this holiday season

Times-Herald Online ^ | 12/15/03 | RACHEL RASKIN-ZRIHEN, Times-Herald staff writer

[dce88]

Albertsons offers Kwanzaa baskets this holiday season

By RACHEL RASKIN-ZRIHEN, Times-Herald staff writer

Vallejo's Albertsons supermarket, 2001 Solano Ave., is one of several in the Bay Area in which the San Leandro-based company has introduced the sale of Kwanzaa baskets for the holiday season.

In Vallejo, the baskets have been on display in the floral department for about a week, said grocery manager Frani Dimond, but haven't been moving very well.

"We haven't sold any yet," Dimond said. "Maybe people don't know what they are."

What they are, are a collection of "everything one needs for the Kwanzaa holiday," according to an Albertsons promotional statement, which adds that company executives worked with "a select team of African-American vendors to create and design the Kwanzaa basket."

The baskets, which sell for $34.99, contain a specially designed doll that symbolizes the Griot, or "keeper of stories" in African culture; seven candles (Mishumaa Saba); a teak candle holder (Kinara); an ear of dried corn (Vibunzi/Muhindi); a straw place mate (Mkeka); the gift (Zawadi) and a booklet explaining the principals of Kwanzaa.

In addition to the Kwanzaa baskets, Albertsons is holding a Kwanzaa coloring contest. Children can pick up an entry at participating Albertsons stores, including Vallejo's and enter to win a field trip for their class to the African-American Museum and Library in Oakland during February's Black History Month. Entry deadline is Jan. 5.

The Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun City Albertsons are also participating.

[EveningStar]

Not even most of the black community buys this nonsense.

Perhaps not. But a lot of condescending white liberals do.

[My2Cents]

Of course, a lot of condescending white liberals like to think of themselves as the conscious of the black community.

[My2Cents]

Aaznawk...Pronounced "as-nock" I guess. Very good. I like.

[stainlessbanner]

That's funny - gotta be an FR classic.

[Alberta's Child]

One thing I never understood is why they celebrate a harvest festival in December. I mean, we're talking about the time period around the winter solstice (northern hemisphere) or summer solstice (southern hemisphere), neither of which seems like an ideal time to harvest anything.

[riri]

I was talking about a Seinfeld episode where George was reliving his traumitizing experience of having to celebrate a holiday his father made up called Festivus.

[RenegadeReporter]

Made up holiday invented by a convicted felon who tortured two women after his invention.

[eddie willers]

I never knew that as a Southern White Boy, I was raised eating soul food.

LOL...same here.

When I asked someone what "soul food" was and they start listing the cuisine I thought: "But that's just food!"

[gathersnomoss]

...."according to an Albertsons promotional statement, which adds that company executives worked with "a select team of African-American vendors to create and design the Kwanzaa basket."

Maybe the head of the PC police bureau, HRC, will buy them as gifts for those who choose to live in Harlum.

[eddie willers]

If I were a black man, I would have been highly offended by the whole thing, but everyone seemed happy, and I suppose that's what counts.

Good food is good food.
If a someone wants to be so silly as to pass up some okra and chicken for false pride, well, slide that plate right over here.

[RenegadeReporter]

Read my article to find out all about it...

http://christocentric.com/Kwanzaa/pagan.htm

[HIDEK6]

That was a joke.

[cyborg]

I work in a place frequented by many 'activists' and just the sort of people you would think be into kwanzaa... nope. Most don't celebrate it as a substitute for christmas. My boss sells more kwanzaa board games around black history time than this time.