Kwanzaa 3 (Swahili for “First Fruits”)

  Maulana Ronald Karenga, the founder of Kwanzaa writes: “Kawaida philosophy was forged in the fire and water of the ideological and practical struggles waged in the Sixties.” “Kawaida defined itself as an ongoing synthesis of the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world.” “…the role and work in the Black Liberation Movement in the 60s and now of the organization Us*, in which Kawaida was conceived, created and first embraced and practiced. The uniqueness of Kawaida’s past, present and continuing contribution is evident, first, in the enduring embrace and practice of Kwanzaa and the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles) in various forms and formations throughout the world African community. For it is out of Kawaida philosophy that Kwanzaa and the Nguzo Saba were conceived and thru which they are continually renewed, enriched and expanded.”
Here
  These statements are typical of Karenga’s philosophy. What do I mean? After reading the above statements one is no more enlightened as to the meanings of Kawaida, Kwanzaa, and Nguzo Saba then before reading them. I simply scratch my head and think: What in the world does all this mean? I call it ‘articulate confusion’ at best, or ‘intentional deception’ at worst. 
 For example, Karenga declares Kawaida conceived Kwanzaa and Nguzo, yet Kawaida was conceived in the Black Liberation movement in the 1960’s. But if that is true, how can Kawaida be an “ongoing synthesis of the best of ‘AFRICAN’ thought”? I have questions:
1.So, what exactly is African thought?
2.Where was “African thought” prior to the 1960’s?
3.How can Black “struggles waged in the Sixties” synthesize (combine) African thought?
4.How does Karenga jump to African thought while being born and raised in America?
5.Why would Africans not synthesize their own thoughts?
6.The continent of Africa has been in existence for thousands of years, long before there was an America or Black “struggles” in America. Why would the ongoing synthesis of the best of ‘AFRICAN’ thought need to wait for Maulana (teacher) Karenga? Who is Ronald Karenga to Africans?
7.The words Kwanzaa and Nguzo Saba are Swahili words spoken primarily in Kenya and Tanzania, or East Africa. However, there are hundreds of languages and tribes in Africa, many violently opposed to one another—at times fighting for centuries!! In addition, the two dominant religions in Africa are Islam and Christianity which are irreconcilably different! And, the differences between the Black African nations are as stark as the differences between Black Africa and Russia, or China, or Indonesia!! How can Kawaida, Kwanzaa, and Nguzo Saba which began in 1960 America—synthesize all these differences into umoja (unity)?
8.How can Kawaida define itself? Does it have being? Does it have a mind? Is it alive?
9.I have spoken to Africans who unequivocally reject Kwanzaa as an African celebration! Why are they wrong…and you (Karenga) right?
 
  Moving forward. Kwanzaa is NOT African at all! Karenga borrowed the term  “First Fruits” from the Jewish celebration Feast of Harvest(Ex23:16); Karenga borrowed the Jewish Menorah  renaming it a Kinara; Karenga borrowed ‘his’ “seven principles” (Nguzo Saba) from the Symbionese Liberation army. Here Karenga placed ‘his’ celebration after Christmas and borrowed its gift-giving, with the sole intention of giving Black people a celebration of their own tied to their African roots and culture. Of course, the problem with this is two-fold:
           i.Kwanzaa has nothing to do with African culture—it is wholly a
              Black nationalist invention from America
           ii.American Blacks are tied to Christmas through faith in Christ,'                     which has nothing to do with skin color!
  On the contrary, Karenga is a black nationalist, which means he interprets life through his skin color…which inspired him to create: “The ‘Seven-fold path to Blackness’; Think Black, Talk Black, Act Black, Create Black, Buy Black, Vote Black, and Live Black."
  First, only a Black person could get away with inventing ‘The Seven-fold path to Blackness’…
and not be called a racist! Why? Because liberalism declares Blacks cannot be racist. On the contrary, racism is a sin that any person or group of humans can commit. Can you imagine what would happen if a White person declared a “Seven-fold path to Whiteness”?!?!    
  Furthermore, even worse than the confusion of the seven principles (Nguzo Saba), the list of seven things on the Seven-fold path can only be defined by Karenga!!! I mean, what exactly does it mean to “Think Black? Is Blackness a language? Do Black people see a house, car, boat, or bicycle differently than do White, or Brown people? How does one Talk Black? Does this refer to ebonics? If so, how many African countries speak ebonics? How does one Act Black? Does this mean walking, producing, or dancing a certain way?
  How does a Black person Create Black? Does this mean Blacks only create for Blacks? Or, maybe Blacks only create Black things? How does one ‘Live Black’? Does this mean Blacks only wear Dashikis? Or, that Blacks ought to limit our clothes to the color Black?
   The one that interests me most is “Vote Black”. How does one ‘Vote Black’? Does that mean Blacks should only vote for the Democrat party? I mean presently the vast majority of Blacks vote Democrat…so Maulana Karenga must mean ‘Vote Democrat’! Right?
  Tragically, there is a major problem with the ‘Vote Democrat’ idea! While the Democrats did not invent racism against Blacks, they certainly perfected it! How many Black people know the Democrats enslaved Blacks in America? How many Blacks know that the KKK was created by the Democrat party? Do Blacks even care that the Democrat party created ‘every’ draconian law in the south against Blacks voting---from the Poll Tax, to Literacy Tests, to the Grandfather clause, to Black Codes, to sharecropping, to Convict Leasing, to Peonage, etc., etc., etc., etc!?!?! The sin of racism makes people extremely ignorant!  
  In conclusion, although Kwanzaa may be an invented holiday, Blackness is a reality! Blackness is the sin of idolatry and yet another sad example of Black nationalists propagating the sin of racism!
 
*US Organization - Wikipedia (I think this link would help explain some more background about Karenga and his agenda)
 
Quotebit
Addiction is an ever-increasing desire for something that has an ever-decreasing ability to satisfy.
              -Derrick Jackson