American - not African Culture
It is a simple mistake for one to make
who isn't aware of the true teachings of Kwanzaa, to assume that it’s
about African culture. Kwanzaa is shown on this site to be clearly an
American-made holiday with man-made principles and rituals. In no African culture
will anyone ever have found the Nguzo Saba practiced by any African
people before the creation of Kwanzaa.
The mistake in attributing any culture to
Africa, is the assumption that its culture is monolithic. The continent
of Africa is comprised of many different countries whose social,
spiritual and cultural practices are different from one another. How can
one celebration show the many differences of African
culture? Does it show true African culture at all?
Race-based Celebration
Kwanzaa is the only recognized American celebration that is based upon
race. All other holidays represent a particular event or religion, but
never existing simply because of the color of one’s skin. The mere
existence of diversity among blacks in the USA, is reason enough to
believe there will never be true unity among this group of people.
Unity among blacks is one of the foremost purposes of Kwanzaa and its
principles, a very divisive -- not unifying teaching.
Many Blacks view Kwanzaa as an attempt to
restore their history/heritage. As was demonstrated before, Kwanzaa
attempts to spiritualize Black American history and make it into a religion
merely than just educate one about their true heritage. For the
Christian, this becomes offensive because we know that no
other principles are needed than what’s found in the Bible, to make us
a better people spiritually.
Conclusion
Kwanzaa is clearly a celebration centered
upon one's racial characteristics rather than one's religious and/or
demographic makeup such as one will find on the continent of
Africa. Also, African culture is too broad to define as one
"culture" thus having one to question what does Kwanzaa truly
represent? This writer is convinced that Kwanzaa was not created
as a cultural celebration, but as a cultural disguise to lure the
gullible into a new religion - a new way of life - a life full of
self-isms: self-determination, self-pride, self-directed destiny,
self-creation and self-centered religion where man is given equality
with God.
The Christian would do well to heed the
scriptural warnings found in the New Testament:
- "Have nothing to do with the
fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Ephesians
5:11
Instead of Kwanzaa being celebrated, it
needs to be exposed. Instead of creating a new celebration to
makeup for the runaway commercialism of Christmas, we need to reflect
upon our own God-given values as Christians to the true meaning of
holidays such as Christmas, and reflect upon our faith in the one true
living God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
