NationStates Jolt Archive

I always hear about Kwaanza this time of year, but that's about it. Is this something that was created merely to irritate conservative white Christians or are there people that actually celebrate this?

If you happen to celebrate Kwaanza, please explain how. I think it involves cooking stuff and I'm always looking for a good excuse to cook.

I always hear about Kwaanza this time of year, but that's about it. Is this something that was created merely to irritate conservative white Christians or are there people that actually celebrate this?

If you happen to celebrate Kwaanza, please explain how. I think it involves cooking stuff and I'm always looking for a good excuse to cook.
It's a holiday meant to celebrate the African origins of black Americans. It has nothing to do with you. If you choose to be irritated because of it, so be it.

http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/

It's the magical time of year when Kwanzaabot rides around the globe in his bejeweled catamaran, giving out copies of the book "What the Hell is Kwanzaa?" to good little girls and boys.

I always hear about Kwaanza this time of year, but that's about it. Is this something that was created merely to irritate conservative white Christians or are there people that actually celebrate this?

If you happen to celebrate Kwaanza, please explain how. I think it involves cooking stuff and I'm always looking for a good excuse to cook.

Both Google and Wikipedia are down?

Both Google and Wikipedia are down?

No, I think he means "What is Kwaanza?" more in a sense of "Who the hell celebrates it?"

I've never actually heard of anyone I know actually celebrating the holiday...

It's obviously a ploy by the black man to oppress us white people even further.

Jeez, first B.E.T., now this? ;)













You fuckers better know I'm kidding! :D

It's the magical time of year when Kwanzaabot rides around the globe in his bejeweled catamaran, giving out copies of the book "What the Hell is Kwanzaa?" to good little girls and boys.

That's three points for you, sir. At life.

No, I think he means "What is Kwaanza?" more in a sense of "Who the hell celebrates it?"

I've never actually heard of anyone I know actually celebrating the holiday...
I don't think too many blacks actually do celebrate it. I think they're too busy with Christmas.

I think it's kinda like an "ace in the hole" :D

http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/

Of course if you wish to find out the truth about it, do not go to this link. Instead look up Ron N. Everett, AKA, Maulana Karenga the founder of the cult who was convicted of torturing his followers.

I don't think too many blacks actually do celebrate it. I think they're too busy with Christmas.
I guess it's 'cause I'm from New Zealand, but I've never heard of it before now.

The Black man's crimes agains the White man.

1) Making white youth spout corny phrases like "Fo Shizzle"

2) D. Whiteman on Tom Joyner's morning show is never funny.

3) Taking Basketball from us.

4) Making us feel uncomfortable saying common words like "spade", "spook", and "jig".

No, I think he means "What is Kwaanza?" more in a sense of "Who the hell celebrates it?"

I've never actually heard of anyone I know actually celebrating the holiday...

It is popular among prision inmates, strangely, the ones that claim to be muslim.

The Black man's crimes agains the White man.

1) Making white youth spout corny phrases like "Fo Shizzle"

2) D. Whiteman on Tom Joyner's morning show is never funny.

3) Taking Basketball from us.

4) Making us feel uncomfortable saying common words like "spade", "spook", and "jig".

4) --continued-- and "niggardly".

This had another post not to long ago. The founder is a former prison inmate. Might want to add that he can be labled alot of other things too. Here is a site explaining a bit about the myth/hoax of kwanzaa. I couldn't see any self respecting person celebrating this bs.

http://www.textbookleague.org/114kwanz.htm

4) --continued-- and "niggardly".
My biggest problem, I use the term "niggar rigged" alot. I've gotten some very dirty looks for that before.

Both Google and Wikipedia are down?
Google being down is a minor disaster. Wikipedia being down is a blessing. :D

My biggest problem, I use the term "niggar rigged" alot. I've gotten some very dirty looks for that before.
I can understand that. But just keep in mind that a gay white guy was fired by the city of Washington, DC, because he used the word "niggardly" within the hearing of several linguistically challenged other employees.

No, I think he means "What is Kwaanza?" more in a sense of "Who the hell celebrates it?"

I've never actually heard of anyone I know actually celebrating the holiday...

Precisely. It seems like it's one of those holidays that exists in theory but I have never had any exposure to it being practiced. I was curious if there was anyone that even somuch as knew of someone that celebrates it and how.

Google being down is a minor disaster. Wikipedia being down is a blessing. :D
I found Google being down as a bit of a blessing. Give http://www.lexxe.com/ a try. Long on answers, short on paid placements.

I can understand that. But just keep in mind that a gay white guy was fired by the city of Washington, DC, because he used the word "niggardly" within the hearing of several linguistically challenged other employees.
It's all good. I'm self employed.

Fuck'em if they can't take a joke!

It's all good. I'm self employed.

Fuck'em if they can't take a joke!

What does 'niggar rigged' mean? I'm not trying to make a point, I've just never heard it before!

Precisely. It seems like it's one of those holidays that exists in theory but I have never had any exposure to it being practiced. I was curious if there was anyone that even somuch as knew of someone that celebrates it and how.

Yes, many, and it is celebrated as a family and friends type get together just like Christmas with an emphasis on African culture.

kwaanza hasnt really caught on. it involves spending time as a family everynight for 8 nights straight. i dont think thats something americans DO anymore.

but if one WANTED to spend the time between xmas and new years improving their family life and emphasizing elements of good character and citizenship, you could do worse than to observe kwanzaa.

its a little silly and made-up but everything has to start somewhere. it would be a good tradition to start if you have young children.

Elgesh']What does 'niggar rigged' mean? I'm not trying to make a point, I've just never heard it before!

It is a derogatory term meaning roughly, "half assed". During WWII there was a common reference of similar insult toward German soldiers called "Jerry Rigged", which is improvised in a half-assed manner.

It is a derogatory term meaning roughly, "half assed". During WWII there was a common reference of similar insult toward German soldiers called "Jerry Rigged", which is improvised in a half-assed manner.

Well, there you go, learn something every day :) Cheers!

edit: plus, I always thought it was 'jury-rigged' (the second one about crudely improvised) - only ever heard it spoken. Double-cheers for the correction!

Yes, many, and it is celebrated as a family and friends type get together just like Christmas with an emphasis on African culture.

Thank you. I was beginning to wonder if everyone thought all of human knowledge was tied up in Wikipedia. Maybe it's lack of commercialization has created the obscurity.

Elgesh']Well, there you go, learn something every day :) Cheers!

edit: plus, I always thought it was 'jury-rigged' (the second one about crudely improvised) - only ever heard it spoken. Double-cheers for the correction!

Jury rigged is also a common spin off of the term, with the same meaning however not designed to target an individual group of people. Kind of lets you know that Political Correctness has been around in more benign forms for a very long time. Too bad it became the monster it is today.

Thank you. I was beginning to wonder if everyone thought all of human knowledge was tied up in Wikipedia. Maybe it's lack of commercialization has created the obscurity.

Nope, here in the midwest most of us still believe that you form your positions contingent upon the facts instead of writing the facts to support our position.

The lack of commercialization without a doubt plays a part, but the bigger part in it's lack of widespead acceptance (in this part of the country) is more tied to a high degree of religious faith in the Black community. (I believe) Christmas is a hard act to follow and unseating the champion is not an easy feat.

Note: my use of the term "Black community" is a direct reflection of the strong dislike for the term "African American" among the people I know and love who happen to be BLACK!

Yet another in a long list of holidays created soley for its odd anme.

Nope, here in the midwest most of us still believe that you form your positions contingent upon the facts instead of writing the facts to support our position.

The lack of commercialization without a doubt plays a part, but the bigger part in it's lack of widespead acceptance (in this part of the country) is more tied to a high degree of religious faith in the Black community. (I believe) Christmas is a hard act to follow and unseating the champion is not an easy feat.

Note: my use of the term "Black community" is a direct reflection of the strong dislike for the term "African American" among the people I know and love who happen to be BLACK!

Ahh, I think I understand. It would be a celebratory overload to try to do both holidays, or celebrating Kwaanza would mean forgoing Christmas, so most people just opt for Christmas.

Maybe they could move it to January so that way everyone could do both, or is that oversimplifying things?

Black Nationalism is stupid. And, as I understand, very offensive to actual Africans, who feel that their continent's culture is trivialised and hijacked by foreigners who could not have less to do with their society.

Maybe they could move it to January so that way everyone could do both, or is that oversimplifying things?

No way! January is reserved for Januarymas.

Ahh, I think I understand. It would be a celebratory overload to try to do both holidays, or celebrating Kwaanza would mean forgoing Christmas, so most people just opt for Christmas.

Maybe they could move it to January so that way everyone could do both, or is that oversimplifying things?

When I say religious faith that includes Christans, Muslims, Jews, and Rastafarians non of which would be willing to forgo their traditional holidays, and since some of these times are not assigned an exact date I would assume there would be some conflict that would prevent Kwaanza from ever gaining firmly established foothold as a holiday in it's own right.

To be honest, it is difficult to argue against Kwaanza's origional intent as being anything other than an attempt to drive a cultural wedge between members of the black community and their traditional convictions. As Kwaanza's appeal grew and peaked, in or around 1999 more and more members of the black community became aware of it's founder and his history. Considering the fact that, 99% of all black families are honest and law abiding people who simply want to be known as AMERICANS is another big strike against it's growth potiential.

Keep in mind the above observations are from a white guy who happens to have a lot of black friends. This does not mean that I have special insight beyond what conversations I have had with them.

Try working for the post office and trying to sell Kwaanza stamps in rural Missouri. The post office also put out a stamp for EID? a Muslim holiday. The Muslim stamps were actually easier to sell because they were pretty and no one could read Arabic. I don't care what stamps they print but they should consider where they send them to.

"Kwaanza" as such does not exist. It is, in fact, a misspelling of the name of a little-known holiday known as "Kwanzaa".

Since you asked.... :p

/unlurk

(ahem):
Kwanza (n.) unit of currency in Angola, equal to 100 lwei.
-Webster's Dictionary of the English Language (New Lexicon edition), 1988.

Hypothesis:
A) This proves all religion really is about money
B) This "religion" is about as real as the average "Barnes and Noble Wiccan".
C) Since it's supposed to start the day AFTER Christmas yet features a kind of menorah, it's basically the other Wayne's brother of religions: unoriginal, not funny and lucky to be around at all. ;)

Merry Christmas or Happy Chanukah to all!
Markreich

Operation Mindcrime 2: 14 March 2006!!
http://www.queensryche.com/news/index.html