I miss having that balance, we used to celebrate it all the time through church celebrations
I actually still remember the song :stressed:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12Kw0M0D4MS
A lot of times many of us may see this as an "African thing". But the message of Kwanzaa could not be ANY MORE relevant in 2015 to African Americans. Certainly more valuable to us than any Americanized holiday that we salivate over every year.
Let me make this clear, before I am accused of saying this all in the spirit of contrarianism: Christmas is great, I was raised with it in the house and still believe in its magic; I love what it does to people's spirits. And it brings families together.
But let's take a look of the CRUCIAL messages embedded within Kwanzaa, which go far beyond and way deeper giving each other presents and hugs.
Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
As you can see, this is not an African thing. This is truly and wholly relevant to BLACK AMERICANS of all ages. So let's think twice before dismissing it this year. I know I am.
I never knew why people made fun of it
Quote from: Boys Don't Cry on December 12, 2015, 12:12:47 PM
I never knew why people made fun of it
Same reason we make fun of our own skin.
Not even our fault. Americanization and brainwashing at its finest. But then again when is it ever
not at its finest in our community.
Who makes fun of Kwanzaa?
Quote from: inluvwitbran on December 12, 2015, 12:20:15 PM
Who makes fun of Kwanzaa?
Many black people make light of it, and do not take it seriously.
Please don't act like you're oblivious to how many African Americans kii about anything African. It's all a joke to us for the most part. Even to the extent of mocking their accents, when its the continent and countries we were shipped from :plzstop: :plzstop: :plzstop:
We'd be speaking the same way if we were left there in peace. :plea:
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 12:22:30 PM
Quote from: inluvwitbran on December 12, 2015, 12:20:15 PM
Who makes fun of Kwanzaa?
Many black people make light of it, and do not take it seriously.
Please don't act like you're oblivious to how many African Americans kii about anything African. It's all a joke to us for the most part. Even to the extent of mocking their accents, when its the continent and countries we were shipped from :plzstop: :plzstop: :plzstop:
We'd be speaking the same way if we were left there in peace. :plea:
I really don't see an abundance of Black ppl laughing at African culture but if you have then you have
Quote from: inluvwitbran on December 12, 2015, 12:27:09 PM
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 12:22:30 PM
Quote from: inluvwitbran on December 12, 2015, 12:20:15 PM
Who makes fun of Kwanzaa?
Many black people make light of it, and do not take it seriously.
Please don't act like you're oblivious to how many African Americans kii about anything African. It's all a joke to us for the most part. Even to the extent of mocking their accents, when its the continent and countries we were shipped from :plzstop: :plzstop: :plzstop:
We'd be speaking the same way if we were left there in peace. :plea:
I really don't see an abundance of Black ppl laughing at African culture but if you have then you have
Yeah, terms like African booty scratcher are clearly under the radar, unheard of to the masses, bubbling under, even.
It's not about making fun of the culture. You're missing the target a bit. It's about distancing ourselves from our roots. Even to the point where we use our ancestral origins to insult one another.
I thought Kwanzaa was an American tradition?
One nobody celebrates but an American tradition none the less
Quote from: Lion Babe on December 12, 2015, 12:36:09 PM
I thought Kwanzaa was an American tradition?
One nobody celebrates but an American tradition none the less
Right.
it is not a part of "African culture".
but it does honor and is based on African heritage.
which brings me back to what I was trying to tell Ray.
i been cel'bratin kwanzaa
welc' to tha club
Ggg
Afro
>><<
As an African I think I know when something is being made fun of or ridiculed
sdssd
the fact that he thought Kwanzaa was a part of african culture kinda just proves what ive been saying in here :plzstop:
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 11:56:23 AM
I miss having that balance, we used to celebrate it all the time through church celebrations
I actually still remember the song :stressed:
http://vocaroo.com/i/s12Kw0M0D4MS
A lot of times many of us may see this as an "African thing". But the message of Kwanzaa could not be ANY MORE relevant in 2015 to African Americans. Certainly more valuable to us than any Americanized holiday that we salivate over every year.
Let me make this clear, before I am accused of saying this all in the spirit of contrarianism: Christmas is great, I was raised with it in the house and still believe in its magic; I love what it does to people's spirits. And it brings families together.
But let's take a look of the CRUCIAL messages embedded within Kwanzaa, which go far beyond and way deeper giving each other presents and hugs.
Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
As you can see, this is not an African thing. This is truly and wholly relevant to BLACK AMERICANS of all ages. So let's think twice before dismissing it this year. I know I am.
n
./
I don't see what's funny about Kwanzaa though. but mess
I always loved the idea of the holiday until I read up on the creator's history :uhh:
I NEVER said Kwanzaa was a part of African culture
YOU said African Americans "kii at anything African"
that's where my not seeing an abundance of Black people laughing at African culture came from.
If anything it didn't make sense to mention "anything African"
when Kwanzaa isn't "African" it's "African-American"
Quote from: ANIMMAI on December 12, 2015, 12:53:03 PM
I always loved the idea of the holiday until I read up on the creator's history :uhh:
spill tea sis :omgwatshappening:
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 12:54:15 PM
Quote from: ANIMMAI on December 12, 2015, 12:53:03 PM
I always loved the idea of the holiday until I read up on the creator's history :uhh:
spill tea sis :omgwatshappening:
Maulana Karenga tortured and raped multiple women in his religious following and served four years in prison.
Nothing wrong with separating the concept of the holiday from the creator but idk about celebrating a tradition that honors unity and faith knowing it originated from a rapist.
Quote from: inluvwitbran on December 12, 2015, 12:53:22 PM
I NEVER said Kwanzaa was a part of African culture
YOU said African Americans "kii at anything African"
that's where my not seeing an abundance of Black people laughing at African culture came from.
If anything it didn't make sense to mention "anything African"
when Kwanzaa isn't "African" it's "African-American"
African, African American, etc. are all subjective.
If anything African is more factual, it is science based. I see African American as a label. Not an offensive label, or one that should be closely questioned, but it is a label.
Kwanzaa is a holiday which celebrates and honors AFRICAN heritage.Not "African American" heritage, which includes the slave rape blood which is in most of our genomes.
You brought the word "culture" into the discussion. Not I.
Culture and heritage are two totally different things. You can be of African descent and have 100% heritage in your veins, and not know ONE thing about the culture of the country or countries from which you descend.
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 12:52:05 PM
I don't see what's funny about Kwanzaa though. but mess
tears
You want to be cultured so bad omf
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 01:01:10 PM
Quote from: inluvwitbran on December 12, 2015, 12:53:22 PM
I NEVER said Kwanzaa was a part of African culture
YOU said African Americans "kii at anything African"
that's where my not seeing an abundance of Black people laughing at African culture came from.
If anything it didn't make sense to mention "anything African"
when Kwanzaa isn't "African" it's "African-American"
African, African American, etc. are all subjective.
If anything African is more factual, I see African American as a label. Not an offensive label, or one that should be closely questioned, but it is a label.
Kwanzaa is a holiday which celebrates and honors AFRICAN heritage.
Not "African American" heritage, which includes the slave rape blood which is in most of our genomes.
You brought the word "culture" into the discussion. Not I.
Culture and heritage are two totally different things. You can be of African descent and have 100% heritage in your veins, and not know ONE thing about the culture.
When you said ppl "kii" at "anything" African
would that not include the culture?
Quote from: imaan. on December 12, 2015, 01:05:25 PM
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 12:52:05 PM
I don't see what's funny about Kwanzaa though. but mess
tears
You want to be cultured so bad omf
yugtgfgggggyggy
Quote from: Boys Don't Cry on December 12, 2015, 12:46:40 PM
Ggg
Afro
>><<
As an African I think I know when something is being made fun of or ridiculed
:uhh:
Quote from: imaan. on December 12, 2015, 01:05:25 PM
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 12:52:05 PM
I don't see what's funny about Kwanzaa though. but mess
tears
You want to be cultured so bad omf
Are u really still coming at me personally because of Robert?
It's time to put you on ignore. I don't come sideways at you if you shade Toni or Kelly Price, etc.
That's not right. You'd think Robert was your brother or cousin or something. I don't want our interactions to go totally left because I like you so I'd rather end our communication here for now.
I really didn't know anything about Kwanzaa until this post.
The message seems nice.
Quote from: Nine on December 12, 2015, 01:08:50 PM
I really didn't know anything about Kwanzaa until this post.
The message seems nice.
!!!!!!!
:stressed:
I think if more people knew what it stood for, we'd see the point.
It's not our fault that its not THROWN in our face every day like more commercialized holidays.
I only knew of it because we celebrated it every year in church when I was little.
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 01:08:20 PM
Quote from: imaan. on December 12, 2015, 01:05:25 PM
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 12:52:05 PM
I don't see what's funny about Kwanzaa though. but mess
tears
You want to be cultured so bad omf
Are u really still coming at me personally because of Robert?
It's time to put you on ignore. I don't come sideways at you if you shade Toni or Kelly Price, etc.
That's not right. You'd think Robert was your brother or cousin or something. I don't want our interactions to go totally left because I like you so I'd rather end our communication here for now.
Why is that man on your mind? :everythingok:
This about YOU.
Between the navjo mess and now Kwanzaa fjdjj
????
????
Bhhgghfgf
The principle that stands out to me the most is Ujima.
I've always thought that enough of our money doesn't circulate within the community.
We're quick to give money to companies, designers that don't even believe in hiring models that look like us to SELL us the product :dead: :dead:
I mean, why should they even hire black models? We buy it anyway! :cheerup:
QuoteUjima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 01:17:03 PM
The principle that stands out to me the most is Ujima.
I've always thought that enough of our money doesn't circulate within the community.
We're quick to give money to companies, designers that don't even believe in hiring models that look like us to SELL us the product :dead: :dead:
I mean, why should they even hire black models? We buy it anyway! :cheerup:
QuoteUjima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
One of my younger sisters is a kent? designer and she has this on her business card ????
Quote from: Boys Don't Cry on December 12, 2015, 01:19:08 PM
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 01:17:03 PM
The principle that stands out to me the most is Ujima.
I've always thought that enough of our money doesn't circulate within the community.
We're quick to give money to companies, designers that don't even believe in hiring models that look like us to SELL us the product :dead: :dead:
I mean, why should they even hire black models? We buy it anyway! :cheerup:
QuoteUjima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
One of my younger sisters is a kent? designer and she has this on her business card ????
:plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea: :plea:
speak awn it lil sis! :jetbeauty:
Quote from: ANIMMAI on December 12, 2015, 12:58:47 PM
Quote from: Herbie on December 12, 2015, 12:54:15 PM
Quote from: ANIMMAI on December 12, 2015, 12:53:03 PM
I always loved the idea of the holiday until I read up on the creator's history :uhh:
spill tea sis :omgwatshappening:
Maulana Karenga tortured and raped multiple women in his religious following and served four years in prison.
Nothing wrong with separating the concept of the holiday from the creator but idk about celebrating a tradition that honors unity and faith knowing it originated from a rapist.
Wow.
But I mean we celebrate Thanksgiving and the history behind that holiday wasn't exactly the way it's marketed ...
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/The_First_Thanksgiving_cph.3g04961.jpg)
I'll overlook his run with the law just as I've overlooked the strategic, direct and indirect genocide of indigenous peoples as I say "let's eat!"! :cheerup:
Never known that about Kwanzaa. Good post.
Quote from: Smoove Jones on December 12, 2015, 01:37:08 PM
Never known that about Kwanzaa. Good post.
:stressed:
That's why I posted the principles.
It's not about just saying "woo! look im celebrating Kwanzaa! #african"
it's about tying it all into how this relates to us as black people in America.
I knew if some of you actually saw what the principles mean you'd embrace it. cuz its so relevant to us here.