The "Official" FYM Kwanzaa Thread

[Jamila]

Habari Gani, everyone!

Welcome to the first day of Kwanzaa.

I first found out about this festival of "first fruits" in 1972 as a thirteen year old searching for a more meaningful way to celebrate the REAL meanings of the Holiday Season more than just commercialism and plastic displays of the Nativity.

A friend of mine at the time (who is African-American) invited me over to his household to partake in his family's observance of Kwanzaa.

I was entranced by its beauty and its non- denominational spirituality and have since found my own way to celebrate Kwanzaa ever since.

So, in the true Spirit of the Season - when we are privileged to celebrate, Christams, Hannukkak and Kwanzaa all at the same time, I present this Kwanzaa thread to share with y'all over the next seven days different aspects of Kwanzaa and how the seven principles of Kwanzaa can have DIRECT RELEVANCE to everyone's daily lives - whether you are African-American or not. (biologically I am Caucasian)

So, let's begin.....

Here is a brief history of Kwanzaa:



Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.

The first-fruits celebrations are recorded in African history as far back as ancient Egypt and Nubia and appear in ancient and modern times in other classical African civilizations such as Ashantiland and Yorubaland. These celebrations are also found in ancient and modern times among societies as large as empires (the Zulu or kingdoms (Swaziland) or smaller societies and groups like the Matabele, Thonga and Lovedu, all of southeastern Africa. Kwanzaa builds on the five fundamental activities of Continental African "first fruit" celebrations: ingathering; reverence; commemoration; recommitment; and celebration. Kwanzaa, then, is:


a time of ingathering of the people to reaffirm the bonds between them;

a time of special reverence for the creator and creation in thanks and respect for the blessings, bountifulness and beauty of creation;

a time for commemoration of the past in pursuit of its lessons and in honor of its models of human excellence, our ancestors;

a time of recommitment to our highest cultural ideals in our ongoing effort to always bring forth the best of African cultural thought and practice; and

a time for celebration of the Good, the good of life and of existence itself, the good of family, community and culture, the good of the awesome and the ordinary, in a word the good of the divine, natural and social.



The African American Branch

Rooted in this ancient history and culture, Kwanzaa develops as a flourishing branch of the African American life and struggle as a recreated and expanded ancient tradition. Thus, it bears special characteristics only an African American holiday but also a Pan-African one, For it draws from the cultures of various African peoples, and is celebrated by millions of Africans throughout the world African community. Moreover, these various African peoples celebrate Kwanzaa because it speaks not only to African Americans in a special way, but also to Africans as a whole, in its stress on history, values, family, community and culture.

Kwanzaa was established in 1966 in the midst of the Black Freedom Movement and thus reflects its concern for cultural groundedness in thought and practice, and the unity and self-determination associated with this. It was conceived and established to serve several functions.



Reaffirming and Restoring Culture

First, Kwanzaa was created to reaffirm and restore our rootedness in African culture. It is, therefore, an expression of recovery and reconstruction of African culture which was being conducted in the general context of the Black Liberation Movement of the '60's and in the specific context of The Organization Us, the founding organization of Kwanzaa and the authoritative keeper of its tradition. Secondly, Kwanzaa was created to serve as a regular communal celebration to reaffirm and reinforce the bonds between us as a people. It was designed to be an ingathering to strengthen community and reaffirm common identity, purpose and direction as a people and a world community. Thirdly, Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce the Nguzo Saba (the Seven Principles.) These seven communitarian African values are: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). This stress on the Nguzo Saba was at the same time an emphasis on the importance of African communitarian values in general, which stress family, community and culture and speak to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense. And Kwanzaa was conceived as a fundamental and important way to introduce and reinforce these values and cultivate appreciation for them.


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Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor, Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, author and scholar-activist who stresses the indispensable need to preserve, continually revitalize and promote African American culture.


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I'll post more later today when I speak about the Beauty of the First Principle of Kwanzaa which is

UMOJA (Unity).

 

[verte76]

Thanks, Jamila, this is very informative. We have books about Kwanzaa at work but I've only gotten to take one brief peek at it.

 

[Jamila]

Thanks so much for your positive input, verte - I truly appreciate it.

By the end of this week, I hope that everyone who wants to have an open mind and an open heart enough to learn about kwanzaa will see how BEAUTIFUL this observance can be and how it can be an integral part of your inner life even if you're not African-American.


Asante. (thank you)

 

[achtungjulie]

hey - thank you for all of that information. i honestly had no idea what kwanzaa meant or was about, so it was nice to read this.

 

[Jamila]

Umoja (Unity) - ONE

We should all be familiar with the concept of Unity since Bono has been singing "We're one, but we're not the same. We get to carry each other" for nearly 15 years.

Unity means deciding to see yourself and your future as connected to the futures of others. It means that the good of the group is as important as the good of the individual. For progress to occur, there must be unity in a community.

For African-Americans, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, this principle was the overriding principle of the Movement because without unity, the community would never be able to put sufficient pressure on American society to achieve equal treatment under the law.

That was then, but what does this principle mean now?

Many people from psychologists to preachers talk about how fractured modern society is. People are separated from each other in many different ways. Many people feel disenfranchised from politics, many people feel separated from society due to their economic class (a la Katrina).

Many of us don't take the time from our busy lives to get to know our neighbors, our classmates or our fellow employees. We stay in our own little group and don't want to venture out of it.

When we don't see ourselves in other people, when we don't feel that our futures are intertwined with the futures of others, we remain disparate and alienated.

When we make the decision to unite, to see our futures intertwined with the futures of others, we make way for Peace and progress in the world.

Unity (being ONE) is the ONLY way that we can ever make our world into a brighter and better place.

So, for me, this first principle of Kwanzaa challenges me to see the face of God in everyone's face: it challenges me to find the common threads that I have with others to try to weave these into a cloak of many colors.

Unity is what Jesus speaks to all of us about in the Bible.

So, on this first day of Kwanzaa, I reaffirm the principle of Umoja and vow to do my best to unite with others for the good of all.


UMOJA - UNITY - ONE


Tomorrow - Kujichagulia (self determination)

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

I remember, back when I was in elementary school, spending a week learning about this holiday and actually participating in some of the activities and such . It was quite the fascinating holiday to learn about, and it's nice to have this information here to refresh my memory (and to help others understand this holiday better).

A happy Kwanzaa to all those out there who celebrate it . May the holiday be a good one for you all .

Angela

 

[Jamila]

Thanks Angela.

Day 2 of Kwanzaa

Kujichagulia (Self Determination)


During the Civil Rights Movement, the "Black Power" movement sprung up as a way for African-Americans to find within themselves increased pride in their heritage. Phrases like "I'm Black and I'm Proud" were commonplace.

Part of this movement was a growing sense that the community needed to determine for themselves who they were and where they were going as a movement and concentrate less on the reaction from the dominant community.

OK, fine - that was then.

But how does this concept fit into my life?

Very easily.

Each one of us (no matter what our ethnic background) have a need within ourselves to direct the course of our own lives, to follow the dreams that lie within our hearts and souls.

This need for us to "actualize ourselves" is a deeply ingrained human need - the need to be an individual. To define for ourselves who we are and where we want to go in our lives without interference from others.

This isn't always easy because there are many others who want us to stay the way we are because it fulfills some need for them. But ultimately we reach the point in our lives where we have to break free and BE OURSELVES!

Determining ourselves can be a hard process and sometimes we may fumble along the way, but we should never give up the dreams that we hold on to for they are what ultimately determines the quality of our lives.

There is an ancient African proverb that I have held on tightly to all my life and it perfectly fits into a discussion on self-determination.

It goes "IT'S NOT WHAT YOU CALL ME; IT'S WHAT I ANSWER TO."

Brilliant!





tomorrow: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibilty)

 

[Jamila]

I just wanted to add that we honor the unique and special human being that God made us to be when we practice the principle of Self-Determination.

 

[Jamila]

Day 3

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)

On the surface, this principle looks a bit complicated, but it really isn't.

Collective work and responsibility is simply putting all our efforts into the common good. For centuries, traditional African communities could only survive if everyone in the village helped out.

Everyone had a job to do in the community. Every adult watched out for the best interests of the children in the village.

Collectively, the village survived through this principle of working together and watching out for each other's best interest.


Wonderful - good for them. But how does this principle apply to us today?

In many ways.

This principle re-affirms for us that it is in being a part of something greater than ourselves (a community of some kind) that we find our greater meaning.

It is important for us to RECONNECT TO FEELING A PART OF WHAT HAPPENS AROUND US - to re-establish our sense of togetherness (of unity) with others and to make a commitment to find ways to demonstrate our caring for them.

It is very similiar to the concept behind the Zulu phrase that Bono uses during the Vertigo tour: "Ubuntu".

"Ubuntu" means something like "I am because we are". It is a recognition that in caring for others and in working with others for the common good, WE BECOME ONE.

And we're practicing Ujima.


An ancient African concept with much relevance for everyone today.


I encourage y'all to try to put this principle more into practice in your daily life.


tomorrow: Principle #4

Ujamaa (Co-operative Economics)

 

[dazzledbylight]

***Happy Kwanzaa*** to all Interferencers who celebrate it !

 

[annabelle]

Thanks Jamila, I only heard about this the other day as someone sent me a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukkah and Happy Kwanzaa message. Had no idea what it meant then but now I do! (the things you learn on the Blue Crack!)

How many days does the festival / observance last?

 

[Liesje]

How many days does the festival / observance last?

From the Wikipedia:

Kwanzaa (Kwaanza) is a week-long secular holiday honoring African-American heritage, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, almost exclusively by African-Americans in the United States of America, though Africans of the diaspora in many countries have begun to practice its observances as well.

Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift-giving. It was founded by black nationalist Dr. Ron "Maulana" Karenga, and first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the African American branch of "first fruits" celebrations of classical African cultures.

So it's a week long.

Kwanzaa has always confused me because it's not really a "traditional" celebration and doesn't come from Africa. It was created in California by a former Black Panther. Also, the name is from Kiswahili, spoken in East Africa, but the people that practice Kwanzaa are of West African descent.

I think it's interesting in the context of the American civil rights movement, but I don't observe Kwanzaa b/c it's inconsistent w/ my theology. Also, I'm often worried that people accidentally attribute Kwanzaa to native Africa.

 

[Jamila]

Thanks Jamila, I only heard about this the other day as someone sent me a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukkah and Happy Kwanzaa message. Had no idea what it meant then but now I do! (the things you learn on the Blue Crack!)

How many days does the festival / observance last?

gr@cie, thanks for your interest in Kwanzaa.


Here is the official Kwanzaa website where you can learn more about it from its creator, Prof. Maulana Karenga:


http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/



The reason why I started this thread is for people to get to better know the principles of Kwanzaa and its deep spiritual significance which can be extended to ANYONE'S life and incorporated in anyone's spiritual values because the principles talked about in Kwanzaa are UNIVERSAL principles and are not in conflict with any other spiritual philosophy.


This holiday was created (as every holiday is created at some point in its existence) by African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement to reconnect with their African Heritage. Kwanzaa is based on certain African traditions. (I think I said all that in my inital post )


And thanks to all those who show positive interest in this observance.

Kwanzaa can enrich your inner life - if you let it.

 

[Liesje]

The reason why I started this thread is for people to get to better know the principles of Kwanzaa and its deep spiritual significance which can be extended to ANYONE'S life and incorporated in anyone's spiritual values because the principles talked about in Kwanzaa are UNIVERSAL principles and are not in conflict with any other spiritual philosophy.

uh...."self-determination" doesn't exactly fit into Protestant theology, and given the number of Protestants in the world, I would consider it significant enough to discredit the "universalism" of Kwanzaa. Key word being theology (discourse regarding the nature of God), which is very different from one's individual "spiritual philosophy".

I know Kwanzaa is based on certain traditions, but taking a little bit of this and mixing it with a little bit of that doesn't make it an authentic and traditional celebration. I could combine the Christ child with Muhammed and Gautama and call it Keekeekoo, but it's still completely arbitrary.

 

[anitram]

I know Kwanzaa is based on certain traditions, but taking a little bit of this and mixing it with a little bit of that doesn't make it an authentic and traditional celebration.

You very nearly completely destroyed the concept of Hinduism with that statement. Are you aware just the extent to which that faith is syncretic? And considering it has a billion followers and spawned Buddhism as well, I would really be loathe to suggest that the merging of theistic forms results in something that is not "authentic."

 

[Liesje]

You very nearly completely destroyed the concept of Hinduism with that statement. Are you aware just the extent to which that faith is syncretic? And considering it has a billion followers and spawned Buddhism as well, I would really be loathe to suggest that the merging of theistic forms results in something that is not "authentic."

I'm not challenging syncretism (my own faith is about as syncretic as they come), just that there are so many loopholes in Kwanzaa it makes me uncomfortable when people attribute it to native Africa. If people want to start new religions or spiritual celebrations, that cool with me, but I've always found that Kwanzaa was sloppily done. Why take a few traditions from here and there, infer a boatload of meaning outside of the original context, then throw in some language native to another part of the continent and call it a traditional West African practice? Like I said in my original post, I am genuinely confused about Kwanzaa, especially when people call it "traditional" and "universal", but apparently Jamila is not willing to discuss or clarify unless I first bow down and sing praises. I'm interested in discussing it, especially since unlike most popular religions and spiritual practices, Kwanzaa is so new we know exactly who, when, and where it originated.

 

[verte76]

I think Kwanzaa's strength is that it gives millions of people a sense of identity and groundedness, important to people who got uprooted the way African Americans did. Yeah, the ties to classical African religion are a bit blurred, but they're not exactly non-existent. As for self-determination, I think this concept is completely non-existent in Catholicism, even more than it is in Protestantism, which values individuality a little more than we do. So that's a foreign language to me, but hey, some of the best people are foreigners.

 

[anitram]

I guess I'm more of the school of thought that people who practice the traditions of Kwanzaa obviously get something from them that is positive. I don't celebrate it so why would I care whether or not their beliefs are grounded in this or that? Live and let live.

 

[Jamila]

I guess I'm more of the school of thought that people who practice the traditions of Kwanzaa obviously get something from them that is positive. I don't celebrate it so why would I care whether or not their beliefs are grounded in this or that? Live and let live.

May I just say "thank you"?

As someone who was raised as a Catholic (even though my father was Jewish) and went to Catholic parochial education for twelve years, I find nothing in the basic principles of Kwanzaa which would conflict with Christianity (a lot of Protestant African-Americans observe Kwanzaa).

In fact, I think we honor our Christian God when we respect ourselves and value our ability to value our own abilities and uniqueness to define ourselves.

Thus, self-determination.

 

[Jamila]

Day #4

Ujimaa (Co-operative Economics)

OK - this is the hardest of all the concepts to explain and to relate to the way we live our lives in modern society.


Theoretically, co-operative economics would be based on some of the more idealistic theories that people would work together and share in the fruits of their labors together.

In ancient African villages, this was the only way that everyone could survive. And even in the South, after "emancipation" often African-Americans would have to pool their resources just to get by.

So, for more centuries than naught, co-operative economics was the only way that people could survive.

It's really only been in the last century that this idea has diminished in many people's experiences.

OK - nice history lesson.

But what's the relevance for today?

That's the harder part.

I think what I get out of this concept is the idea that there is strength in numbers. That we are greater when we work together rather than when we work alone.

When I think of Ujimaa, I think of a world where everyone has enough of what they need, a world where there is no extreme poverty, a world where people care enough about each other to share whatever they have which is extra with others who don't have as much.

That is what I perceive is the lesson for this principle for modern days.


Something I think we should all strive for.

tomorrow is one of my favorites:


Day #5


Nia (Porpose)

 

[Jamila]

actually, that's

Nia (Purpose)

 

[Liesje]

As someone who was raised as a Catholic (even though my father was Jewish) and went to Catholic parochial education for twelve years, I find nothing in the basic principles of Kwanzaa which would conflict with Christianity (a lot of Protestant African-Americans observe Kwanzaa).

In fact, I think we honor our Christian God when we respect ourselves and value our ability to value our own abilities and uniqueness to define ourselves.

Thus, self-determination.

Do you know how the Protestant Christians reconcile their Protestantism with Kwanzaa? Particularly the Protestant denominations that do not believe in freedom of the will/free will? It seems like it would be hard to believe in self-actualization without believing in free will. For myself, I suppose I could fit self-actualization/self-determination in the category of "freedom", which my favorite theologian Jonathan Edwards defines as seperate from "freedom of will". But I know that my acceptance of Edwards' theology usually puts me in the minority and most of my Protestant (Calvinist) acquaintances would hold that no freedom of will leaves no room for self-determination.

I'm not trying to pick a fight, I just want to be able to discuss Kwanzaa without having to accept it entirely as gospel truth at the same time. I'm finding bits and pieces that just don't fit, which is why I'm having trouble with it's supposed "universalism". I don't see how the questions I've asked so far are so offensive....yes I'm skeptical, but I can't move beyond that if no one's open to proving me wrong or pointing me in the right direction.....

 

[MsGiggles]

Jamila, I think putting this information out there is a good idea as probably a lot of white people may not know exactly what Kwanzaa is. I have many African-American friends and only some observe Kwanzaa so I just figure it's not that big of a deal to the ones who don't celebrate it. When I asked one of my friends who does observe it what it means, she said it was just something they did in addition to Christmas....so really no description was given.

 

[Dreadsox]

Do you know how the Protestant Christians reconcile their Protestantism with Kwanzaa? Particularly the Protestant denominations that do not believe in freedom of the will/free will? It seems like it would be hard to believe in self-actualization without believing in free will. For myself, I suppose I could fit self-actualization/self-determination in the category of "freedom", which my favorite theologian Jonathan Edwards defines as seperate from "freedom of will". But I know that my acceptance of Edwards' theology usually puts me in the minority and most of my Protestant (Calvinist) acquaintances would hold that no freedom of will leaves no room for self-determination.

I'm not trying to pick a fight, I just want to be able to discuss Kwanzaa without having to accept it entirely as gospel truth at the same time. I'm finding bits and pieces that just don't fit, which is why I'm having trouble with it's supposed "universalism". I don't see how the questions I've asked so far are so offensive....yes I'm skeptical, but I can't move beyond that if no one's open to proving me wrong or pointing me in the right direction.....

I would start another thread to discuss it. I am not sure this is thre thread to.

 

[Jamila]

Jamila, I think putting this information out there is a good idea as probably a lot of white people may not know exactly what Kwanzaa is. I have many African-American friends and only some observe Kwanzaa so I just figure it's not that big of a deal to the ones who don't celebrate it. When I asked one of my friends who does observe it what it means, she said it was just something they did in addition to Christmas....so really no description was given.

Thank you, MsGiggles, for your well-reasoned response.

There really isn't any reason to get all bent out of shape about anything in this thread.

This thread doesn't attack anyone or demand anything of anyone, so if anyone isn't enjoying this thread I would ask why they are here?

Why would you want to be in a thread that isn't making you happy?

It doesn't make any sense.

I'll continue this thread until Kwanzaa is over because enough people have either posted in this thread or emailed me saying they are appreciating this thread and feel that it is helpful to them and please not to cave in to criticism.

I appreciate their support but I am confident enough in myself that I no longer cave into undue and unnecessary pressure.

Please enjoy your Christmas Season in the Spirit of Love, Peace and Harmony.

 

[Jamila]

Alright - one of my favorite principles!


Day #5

Nia (Purpose)


This is always the most meaningful day of the seven for me during Kwanzaa. Because the principle discussed today is the foundation upon which the other six rest.

Nia (Purpose) is the principle to reflect upon today and this principle is meaningful EVERY day of the year!

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE?

Do you have a good idea of what your purpose is in life or are you still searching?

Is your purpose in life to help others, to speak well of others and to live your life in a positive way that will help to fulfill our first principle (Umoja)?

Or is your purpose more self-oriented and self-serving?

Difficult questions to answer - but very important ones.


Because the purposes you have in life determine your actions and your satisfaction (or lack of) with life.

What do you want out of life? What are you living for? What are the compromises that you're willing to make in order to fulfill your purposes in life?


These are big questions for a very important principle.

Because if we choose negative purposes in life, we will end up hurting ourselves and others.

But if we choose positive purposes in life, we will be happy as we make others happy.

So, it's up to you, my friends.

What will be the purposes in your life which will guide your actions and your thoughts?

Will they be positive or negative? Only you can say.

Today, this fifth day of Kwanzaa, we are asked to contemplate the way that we live our lives and the purposes that we ascribe to our lives to see if we are really happy and contented with who we are and for what we stand for.


tomorrow Day#6


Kuumba (Creativity)

 

[For Honor]

nice thread

 

[Jamila]

Day #6

Kuumba (Creativity)

Everyone is born with an innate ability to achieve in some area of life.

And what we do with our innate creativity is our offering to Life (and to God).

WHERE DOES YOUR CREATIVITY LIE?

Do you excel in the Arts - can you create masterpieces of music, painting, dance or with the written/verbal arts?

Do you excel in sports?

Or do you excel in some other area - in business, in school or in volunteering to help others in your community?

Whatever you do or wherever you excel in using your creativity, you can use that creativity to uplift others and honor the Creative Force that made you.

So the challenge for us on this day when we think about the various ways in which we can express our creativity is:


AM I USING MY CREATIVITY NEGATIVELY OR POSITIVELY?

Am I expressing my creativity in a way that others can benefit or am I expressing my creativity in a way to solely serve my own individual purposes?

As my creativity was given to me by Life, it is imperative upon me to shows my thanks for the gift of my creativity by trying to find more ways to use my creativity for the betterment of all humankind.

A very important Principle.


tomorrow #7

Imani (Faith)

 

[Jamila]

Glad you like it, For Honor.

 

[Meghan]

Thank you so much for making this thread. Although I would be lying if I said I was religious, I'm very interested in finding out about the different beliefs and expressions of faith people have. I'm attracted to ideas like Kwanzaa after reading this. (Or at least the way I've interpreted these ideas from your posts.)
I love the non-descriminatory aspect of it that if not present (in my opinion) can corrupt even the best meanings of religions/beliefs.