First of all, some people that celebrate Kwanzaa also celebrate Christmas. Kwanzaa is about unity, courage,and other important life values. The purpose of Kwanzaa is to celebrate rituals that black's ancestors did in Africa before they were brought to America. The bottom line is that you should research things before you talk against them. Apparently you are a very opinionated person,but your opinions are based soley on assumption.
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Name : Neca, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 15, City : Richardson, State : TX Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, Some of these responses are angering me, especially the person who had the audacity to say Kwanzaa is a BS holiday. What is a BS holiday are President's Day and other holidays that glorify white people important in American history that have done nothing but further encourage racism, enslavement, etc. against African Americans. Maybe this person should check whether they are truly Christian when it comes to how they feel about Black Americans, because (like many so-called white Christians) that's where they are the MOST hypocritical. Sorry, but the world doesn't revolve around white orthodox Christians; people are free to believe and celebrate God as they chose, and anyone that has a problem with this really isn't being godly -- they are just being holy-rolies that want to have an excuse to downgrade other people. And people wonder why Christianity is one of the most ridiculed religions in this country? Anyway, I can't speak on what Kwanzaa entails, because (although I am African American) I don't celebrate it. It is not the type of thing that is linked to the whole of Black American culture. It is an individual choice.
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Name : Kristina26260, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 21, City : DC, State : DC Country : United States, Occupation : Transcriber, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, You may well believe that 'God would be totally offended by this BS version of Christmas'. By the same token, some Pagans may believe that the Godess would be offended by Christmas as a BS version of the Winter Solstice. Here's a clue - they are all different holidays. Christians don't have exclusive rights to holidays in December. Kwanzaa is no more the black version of Christmas than Hanakah is the Jewish version.
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Name : Lucy22386, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 28, City : San Jose, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I don't understand some of the objections to Kwanzaa I have seen here. The objections seem to come from Christians that object to an 'invented' holiday that they fear will overshadow the 'real' holiday of Christmas, and that somehow God will also be offended. Do these people realize that Christmas is also an invented holiday, and that it didn't exist before 349 A.D.? Tired of the pagan celebrations, the Bishop of Rome, with the blessing of the Pope, invented Christmas to overshadow a constellation of pre-existing pagan hoilidays including the celebration of the birth of Mithras (Dec. 25) the feast of Saturnalia and various other Celtic/pagan winter solstice celebrations. Given this, why not have a holiday for African-Americans? I'm far too white to observe the holiday myself, but I think it is a postive thing and should be encouraged. Besides, how can you have too many holidays?
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Name : Hugh Brown, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 34, City : Tallahassee, State : FL Country : United States, Occupation : Attorney, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, One of my good friends gives a Kwanzaa party every year and we (about 40-60 people)celebrate Kwanzaa at her house. We are all from different parts of New England. From co-workers to friends and family. We are African-American, Caucasian (quite a few), Barbadian, Cape Verdean and Hispanic. It's not neccesarily 'in place of' Christmas. I celebrate both holidays. Kwanzaa is a celebration of heritage. You don't have to be African-American to enjoy it. It is one of the highlights of my holiday season.
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Name : Sammi-B, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 37, City : Boston, State : MA Country : United States, Occupation : Artist, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, You obviously know nothing about Kwanzaa because it has nothing to do with Christmas. I think God is totally offended by this so called hype called 'Christmas' that has nothing to with anything but materialism, media, and marketing. Kwanzaa is a lot different. It is about joining together as a community, not just as black people, but as a people. It just so happens that it originated in Africa, so it is only celebrated by African-Americans mostly. You think just because if came from Africa and blacks are practicing it, we are going through a blackness trip. But if it originated in Ireland or something, you would think totally differently. And it would be nice if everyone celebrated it. Kwanzaa is based on family and community strength and values. It is based on several principles: Unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Things needed to hold our families together. It also celebrates our culture, and helps blacks learn more about themselves in a positive way. It has nothing to do with Christmas, infact, my family celebrated both when I was younger, since Kwanzaa starts on the 26th and lasts through New Years (It's a great and positive way to open a new year, and can be incorporated into the celebration. But it has nothing to do with Christmas! All I see happening for Christmas in this country is spending and gift-given, no one even acknowledges Jesus in it at all really. How many families actually sit and pray together for Jesus' birthday during Christmas? Then look at all the 'Christas' trees and decorations that have nothing to do with it that people are obsessed over. Kwanzaa is much more fulfilling, and if you were religious, even if you are white, I would recommend trying the celebration of Kwanzaa. By the way, what makes white folks not have a problem with Hannakah? I don't see much of a difference at all. Oh, I know... The Jewish can be in touch with their culture because it is positive and religious, while Kwanzaa is not, right? You and many other people know nothing of Kwanzaa and before you say something stupid you should read up on some things. The only reason you don't know about though, is because the media hasn't taken hold of it, like in Hannakah and Christmas (what you might call European-designed holidays). I assume you think Ramadan is a 'fake' Christmas too huh?
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Name : Nicole, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 19, City : Washington, DC, State : NA Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, Kwanzaa has nothing to do with Christmas, just like Hanukkah has nothing to do with it either. The origial Africans who were brought over as slaves to the Americas were not Christian, they had a variety of tribal religions, many were also of the Muslim religion and some were Jewish. Christianity is a new religion for African peoples that was brought about by missionaries, immigrants and forced conversions over time. Everyone has a right to their own religion, rather it has to do with Christmas or not. And as for the person who said Kwanzaa is BS , that's your opinion, some people in other parts of the world think that Christmas is just BS, because it's only about gift giving and Santa Claus instead of the original purpose which for Christians should be celebrating the birth of Jesus. And no God wouldn't be pissed because everyone has a right to believe as he or she chooses and frankly I find your remarks to be uneducated and stupid, and you are right you are lower middle class....it suits you.
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Name : Tatjana27434, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : German, Italian, black (multicultural), Religion : Jewish, Age : 22, City : Heidelberg, State : NA Country : Germany, Occupation : Writer/Computers, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Kwanzaa has nothing to do with Christmas, just like Hanukkah has nothing to do with it either. The origial Africans who were brought over as slaves to the Americas were not Christian, they had a variety of tribal religions, many were also of the Muslim religion and some were Jewish. Christianity is a new religion for African peoples that was brought about by missionaries, immigrants and forced conversions over time. Everyone has a right to their own religion, rather it has to do with Christmas or not. And as for the person who said Kwanzaa is BS , that's your opinion, some people in other parts of the world think that Christmas is just BS, because it's only about gift giving and Santa Claus instead of the original purpose which for Christians should be celebrating the birth of Jesus. And no God wouldn't be pissed because everyone has a right to believe as he or she chooses and frankly I find your remarks to be uneducated and stupid, and you are right you are lower middle class....it suits you.
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Name : TC27463, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : German, Italian, black (multicultural), Religion : Jewish, Age : 22, City : Heidelberg, State : NA Country : Germany, Occupation : Writer, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, Calm yourselves down woman. U don't think that god would be offended by this BS version of Christmas that is celebrated by people the world over. In America especially, Christmas is less about family and renewing ones commitment to god and celebrating the life of Jesus than it has to do with buying gifts. Christmas has become so commercialised.......it is all about buying gifts and putting urself in debt all for the sake of the ultimate gift. Most people know about Jesus but ask them specific question regarding the man himself and his beliefs they would be stumped. I know countless people across the African diaspora who celebrate Kwanzaa. Just because many of u don't know any in your small little worlds does not mean that its not a legitimate celebration. Kwanzaa was not and is not meant to be a subtitute for Christmas. Once again...we have the almighty whitey telling us that just because he/she does not understand a black oriented celebration.....then its ridiculous.
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Name : Jas31206, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Religion : Christian, Age : 24, City : Long Island, State : NY Country : United States, Occupation : Biochemist, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, God would not be offended by kwanzaa. And first of all its no B.S version of Christmas. It barely has anything to do with gifts. And besides a lot of black people do celebrate Christmas. ebfore you make another comment about another 'blackness trip' you better check your facts about people trying to regain their culture and identity after years of unjustified white oppression. Anyway, I think god would be offended that ur not celebrating Jesus's birthday because its in the summer! Its not in the winter. It was only changed to that date by the council appointed by Constantinople to coincide with the Winter Solsus. Check ur facts or watch ur back!
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Name : adrian25155, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Atheist, Age : 14, City : bridgeport, State : CT Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, It's also important to remember that Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, and does not replace other religious holidays. I celebrate Kwanzaa, and I also celebrate Christmas.
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Name : Jackie21214, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 23, City : Dover, State : NH Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, Why do you think it is ridiculous? No, I don't celebrate it but its still real. What do you mean by 'blackness' trip? I am not a sterotype by I believe you don't like black people.
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Name : Mireya, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 21, City : Baltimore, State : MD Country : United States, Occupation : Computer Technologist (WWW), Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, I agree totally. This is so ridiculous. I think black people need to get with the program of the rest of the world. Why do you have to seprate and elaborate, and celebrate your quaratine-ness. Slavery was 400 years ago, you need not carry it into the next dimension. And I thkn it was for the greater good. cause it you notice all the black people who came to america(as in slaves or descedants of slaves)are better off than those who are back 'at home'(they're own african country). Trust me! be thankful. and all what not...
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Name : David Rogers, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Nigerian, I don't consider myself black, Religion : Pentecostal, Age : 19, City : Upland, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Upper class, Are you just totally being blinded by your Christianity? Kwanzaa is as real as Christmas, and probably more real than Christmas itself because of its links to tradition and authenticity. It's quite sad that, in your ignorance, you've labelled it as a copy of Christmas. Try doing some research before you post some insulting comment that, in the end, just makes you look like an uninformed, Christian fool.
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Name : Andromeda, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Agnostic, Age : 17, City : Washington, State : DC Country : United Kingdom, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, Melissa are you a racist? Black people don't have a 'Blackness Trip' or whatever you call it. If we have a 'trip' would it be fair to say white people have one too? Hundreds of years before the Civil Rights Era and now white people have believed they were better than blacks. They took it to an extreme and used my ancestors for work. They created racism so that now you think that way you do. White people took away our rights and we still don't have them all back. That is the white man's trip to believe he was god. And do you know who has to take all of your and society's BS. US!! Thats my 'trip' and I'm through! P.S. I don't celebrate Kwanzaa...
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Name : Danielle27235, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 14, City : St.Louis, State : MO Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 
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