Reflections of Kwanzaa 2003 (2)
C Spinner
Mother's kids discover their roots, regardless ...
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"Kline's Holiday Reflections on Kwanzaa"
Posted by Marv Essary
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Here's what Malcolm Kline found out about Kwanzaa, the co-called
African holiday for blacks, when he talked to his African-American
stepson.
>
> "so called"?
>
This article by the executive director of Accuracy in Academia is
reprinted from the Accuracy in Media (AIM) website.
****
''As an African-American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by
millions throughout the world African community,'' the official
Kwanzaa website tells us, ''Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which
speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the
fullest sense.''
I watched a Kwanzaa TV commercial, I panicked. My mind raced. After
all, the official holiday website gives us advice on gifts, Kwanzaa
colors and decorations and the celebration of the holiday itself.
I wondered whether I needed to buy presents for all my (black)
in-laws, whether we would all exchange gifts, whether I needed to send
special Kwanzaa cards to every member, whether we would have a special
dinner. Would I have to learn some special Kwanzaa songs?
* * * *
Two years passed. When I came home one night, my step-son excitedly
showed me something he had brought home from school.
It was a thin piece of paper rolled into a circle with a circle of
paper cut and placed on it like a lid, all of it taped together, with
little Dalmatian spots dotting it. ''What is it?'' I asked. Darryl
put the paper creation on his head. ''It's my Kwanzaa hat,'' Darryl
said.
''Did you make that?'' my wife asked. ''No, my teacher made it for
me,'' Darryl answered. ''Why?'' I asked. ''She made it for me after
I told the class about Kwanzaa,'' he answered. ''But Darryl, we don't
celebrate Kwanzaa. I still don't know what it is. Why did you talk
to the class about Kwanzaa?'' my wife asked Darryl. Darryl said, ''My
teacher asked me to. She said, 'Since you have come to us from
Africa, would you tell the class about the feast of Kwanzaa?' ''
''Since we have no idea what it is, what did you say?'' my wife asked
Darryl. ''I said what I heard in the TV commercial,'' Darryl
answered. ''And she made you a Kwanzaa hat,'' I said. ''Did she like
your talk?'' I asked. ''Oh yeah, she was practically in tears,''
Darryl replied.
* * * *
Since that time, I have talked to people from about ten different
countries on the African continent and asked each of them about
Kwanzaa celebrations.
>
> This guy may pretend, but he is gripped by the ancestral
> spirits of Kwanzaa. Can't escape it.
>
Here is how the inquiry went:
1. No, we don't celebrate Kwanzaa in Kenya. I think that is an
Ethiopian holiday.
2. No, we don't celebrate Kwanzaa in Ethiopia. I think that is a
Tanzanian holiday.
3. No, we don't celebrate Kwanzaa in Tanzania. I think that is in
Gambia.
4. No, we don't celebrate Kwanzaa in the Gambia. I think that is a
holiday in Guinnea Bisseau.
5. No, we don't celebrate Kwanzaa in Guinnea Bisseau. I think that is
a holiday in Kenya.
If there is an African on the planet who celebrates this African
holiday, please tell me about it.
.......................... .................
Comment:
It depends on how you choose your targets. You may speak to many in
many countries who don't know what or where the hell is 'America'.
Indeed there are millions of Americans who don't know where the
capital city of 'Washington' is located.
Human progress, awareness and events are overtaking you. Your kids
are smarter that you are.
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____the native shall not be denied