Although many holiday participants enjoy both Kwanzaa and Christmas, just
the very existence of Kwanzaa encourages many to drop Christmas and
celebrate only Kwanzaa. One of the principles of Kwanzaa, Kujichagulia,
"self-determination" teaches one must define, name, create and
speak for himself. Kwanzaa was created with the intention of steering blacks away from what is believed to be the "white man's"
celebration by having our "own" celebration. Karenga
demonstrates this thought below:
". . . it was chosen to give a Black
alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to
celebrate themselves and history rather than simply imitate the practice
of the dominant society." 1
Karenga shows he would "rather" see blacks celebrate a
holiday created for them than a holiday created by the "white
man." How can one who
practices the Nguzo Saba principle of self-determination be faithful to Kwanzaa, while celebrating a holiday considered created by the
"dominant" society?" It is an obvious "negative" to celebrate
the holiday of Christmas.
Other instances in Karenga's writing where the alternatives of Kwanzaa are
shown for the purpose of replacing Christmas or substituting one's
religious beliefs are as follows:
" . . .it gives
them a spiritual alternative to the commercialization of Christmas and the
resultant move away from its original spiritual values and message." 2
Karenga attempts to salvage Christmas for the
Christian by saying:
"On one hand,
Christmas is a religious holiday for Christians, but is also a cultural
holiday for Eurpoeans. Thus, one can accept and revere the religous
mesage and meaning but reject its European cultural accretions of Santa
Claus, reindeer, mistletoe, frantic shopping, alienated gift-giving,
etc."
3
If Karenga's primary concern here is the commercial aspect of Christmas,
then why not help encourage the celebration of it's spirituality, the
birth of Jesus Christ, instead of creating an entirely new celebration?
Why not just emphasize the spiritual (as Karenga finds himself now having to do
with the commercialization of Kwanzaa)?
The answer to that question based upon Karenga's writings is that it is not
the commercialization only that bothered Karenga about Christmas, but the
spirituality and it's theme of worshipping God. Karenga not only wanted
to create a new holiday, but a new value system and a new way of life. 4
REFERENCES
1.
Karenga, M. Kwanzaa: Origin, Concepts, Practice. Los Angeles,
California, Kawaida Publications, 1977, p. 21.
2. Karenga, M. Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and
Culture, Los Angeles, California, University of Sankore Press, 1997, p. 118.
3. Ibid.
4. Karenga,
M. The African American Holiday of Kwanzaa, The University of Sankore
Press, Los Angeles, California, 1988, p. 44.
