back in college when i got my first apartment, i bought a picture to hang on the wall that said "Kawanza."

that's as close as i've ever come to actually celebrating Kwanzaa.

I always assumed that Africans that (willingly)migrated here were the only people who celebrated b/c I still don't know any black people that celebrate the Kwanz.

Kwanzaa doesn't start until December 26th. It ends on January 1st. We have community celebrations here every year for different nights of Kwanzaa. There's singing, sermons, classes and a community feast to celebrate the Nguzu Saba priniciples. I think it's good thing to teach the children in something other than the commercialism that Christmas has become.

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday made up in 1966 by Ron Karenga, a Cali native. It's not African. At all. It's "Pan-African" but the only time I've seen Africans celebrate it is during college right before final exams (vs. 12/26 to 1/1).

re: Christmas
I'm so annoyed with Christian people who complain about how commercial Christmas is yet they are part of it, online shopping until their arms fall off. If you want to change it, start with your own home.

I hate the holiday season.

I get a Kwanzaa card every year from an aunt I have in Kentucky. She always forgets to take the $0.49 markdown sticker off of the back of it.

Does that answer your question, Lauren?

daria,

Even religion can't beat a good sale at Best Buy. jkjkjkjkjkjkjk

My aunt in Arizona and her kids celebrate Kwanzaa. I've thought about doing that but I'm too lazy to change tradition.

JB - My hubby wants a blue ray player. So maybe I should wait till after Xmas to hit the sales and tell him it's his Kwanzaa gift? I'm sure that would go over swell!!

The last thing Thanksgiving to New Year time needed was another holiday. He shoulda mate it June or something.

FIRST- Kwanzaa is not a religious celebration and does nat have to take the place of Christmas.

My family has celebrated Kwanzaa since it was first establisted my Mulana Karenga in the 1960s.

It's for African Americans to acknowledge their ancestors and to remind them of their past, evaluate the present and make plans for or future.

Every year on the last day of Kwanzaa (New Years Day) my family gets together to make soul food, poor libations to acknowledge our ancestors, exchange gifts and recite the 7 principles and the relevance that they hold to our lives. it's usually pretty emotional but always fun.

I think that all African Americans should at least check it out try celebrating it once. For me it's always been an enriching experience and a great way to bond with my family.

"poor libations to acknowledge our ancestors"

I guess I've been celebrating it and didn't even know. I always pore a lil' out for my dead homies.

My African family does the libations bit at all get together to acknowledge ancestors too but with palm wine with is SOOO good.

Kwanzaa. Don't get me started. A holiday initated by Brother Karenga, an informant for the CIA. That's real Afro-centric.

Since virtually all the Africans who were enslaved in the New World were from West Africa, the celebration Pan-African taking traditions from South and Eastern Africa, doesn't make sense to me. My ancestors didn't speak Swahili. This holiday really has no cultural relevance. It's actually contributes to white people not appreciating that Africa in not just a motholithic mass populated by blacks. Instead let us celebrate that the Motherland is diverse and full of different cultures. The traditions of these cultures shouldn't be interchanged at our convenience.

Does everyone on this board know that a black person isn't even writing most of this so when you read a line about black Americans being dismal and hopeless know a white guy is writing it not so cool huh?

lol, you must not know bout lauren, huh?

I think he was referring to the articles posted here, not the website.

Umm…that's not what is sounded like, Daria.

Hmmm. It's the only rational justification for that statement.

I think he/she was probably making reference, albeit a very stupid one, to the editorial management. I'm just guessing. You know, some folks see the word "director" and take it literal. He/she didn't clarify themselves so I won't speculate further.

looking on the bright side, he really could've meant that, especially when he said "being dismal and hopeless" b/c lauren doesn't do that…the articles do. hmm. i rushed to lauren's aid, lol. i guess i've just been in attack mode since that dreaded night w/ the imus folks.