Nia (Purpose) the Fifth Principle of Kwanzaa

"To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness." - Karenga

What a few others say about Nia:

The African-American Registry - "The fifth principle of the Nguzo Saba is a dedication to the collective vocation of building, developing, and defending our community, its culture and history. This is done to regain our historical initiative and greatness as a people, and add good and beauty in the world. The hieroglyph Nefer-ancient Egyptian (picture) symbolizes beauty and good. Nia focuses on Black people as heirs and custodians of a great legacy, generational responsibility, and joining together for personal and social purpose."

Star-Telegram (Detroit) - "We celebrate Kwanzaa as a way of paying respect to our ancestors, who we've been able to trace back as far as the 1600s," said Jeff Wardford, chief operating officer of his own company, Taylarmade Consulting. "Although it's a seven-day celebration, we embrace the principles as principles to live by every day," he said.

Ritesofpassage.org - The fifth day of Kwanzaa is a day for reviewing our purpose for living. Each family member should examine his/her ability to put his/her skill or talent to use In the service of the family and community at large. Take time to reflect on your expectations from life: discuss your desires and hopes with family and friends. On this day you should try to determine if this purpose will eventually result in positive achievements for family and community.

All About Kwanzaa - Purpose encourages us to look within ourselves and to set personal goals that are beneficial to the community.

"Purpose" appears to be a common objective of those who celebrate this principle of Kwanzaa. Also reflecting upon the ancestors of the past is also a popular Nia activity.

The only problem I have with this principle is the focus on black people as a "great" people. The constant digging and looking for greatness as a people seems to be an underlying objective of this principle. That focus is at odds with reality. Groping for past greatness when the present shows deep trouble with blacks. We have the breakdown of the family, illegitimacy, drug-abuse, and rampant loss of morality within the black population and tons of other social ills. Looking for greatness won't help us and our immediate problems of today.

Most importantly, what's ignored is the spiritual deprivation of man. Until the black individual comes face to face with his failing before God and his need for salvation, all of the seven principles put together won't help him.

Next, the 6th principle of Kwanzaa, Kuumba (Creativity).

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) The Fourth Principle of Kwanzaa

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)

To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together..

This is Karenga’s original idea of Ujamaa taken from his 1997 book on Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa, a Celebration of Family, Community and Culture.

"The fourth principle is Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) and is essentially a commitment to the practice of shared social wealth and the work necessary to achieve. It grows out of the fundamental communal concept that social wealth belongs to the masses of people who created it and that no one should have such an unequal amount of wealth that it gives him/her the capacity to impose unequal, exploitative or oppressive relations on others" pg. 55.

What others say about what Ujamaa means to them:

From the Chicago Sun-TimesTo build and maintain business enterprises and profit from them together. This principle is the "Made in America" tag. It's supporting neighborhood businesses. It's choosing which salesperson gets your commission for a big purchase like a major appliance or car."

Rites of Passage.org - "Out of the fundamental concepts of "African Communal Living" comes the fourth principle of Kwanzaa. In a community or family, wealth and resources should be shared. On the national level, cooperative economics can help African-Americans take physical control of their own destinies. On this day, ideas should be shared and discussed for cooperative economic efforts to provide for needs as related to housing, education, food, day care, health, transportation and other goods and services."

From the "Afrocentric Experience" website - "On this the fourth and middle day of Kwanzaa, we celebrate Ujamaa, Cooperative Economics. Let us strengthen our resolve to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together...However, our community exists not only in the "real" world, but in cyberspace too. Here, sites established by Africans, throughout the Diaspora, exchange not only information, but goods and services on a global scale. In the true spirit of Ujamaa, these sites are always eager to publicize each other’s addresses."

Of course, there are many, many other examples of the fourth principle of Kwanzaa, Ujamaa, that can be found. Most understand that this princple was created by Karenga for blacks to build business for blacks and by blacks. And even today, most who celebrate Kwanzaa, share the same purpose and understanding of Karenga that this principle is stressed primarily for black people.

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) the Third Principle of Kwanzaa

Ujima - To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.

Not a bad principle if one applies that to all people. In fact, as Christians, we are also urged to help those who need help and to help people solve their problems.

What was the creator’s intent of this principle and how do people celebrate it today? Let’s take a peak and see!

In Karenga’s 1997 book on Kwanzaa, A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, he says the following:

"…the principle of Ujima supports the fundamental assumption that African is not just an identity, but also a destiny and duty, i.e., a responsibility."

So the primary thrust of this "collective work and responsibility" is to help the African brother’s or sister’s. In other words, if one is black, if their skin color is black, then those are whom the black is to help.

Now let’s see how the general public celebrates this day of Ujima:

From an article in the Chicago Sun-Times:

"Ujima (Collective work and responsibility): The expectation is that everyone contributes and everyone has an opportunity for a job. We saw this play out in Illinois' minimum wage referendum and Chicago's "big box" debate. The nation is diminished because we have failed to deal responsibly with universal health care and school funding.

From an article in a Bowling Green newspaper:

"Today is the third day of Kwanzaa, Ujima, which means collective work and responsibility, a day Starks said reinforces the "it takes a village" mentality people should take when viewing their role in their community."

While not religious, Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that has become religious, Hardin said. "It is hard to separate religion from where we are as a people," Hardin said. "We are a religious people."

I found that article particularly interesting because while not claiming to be a religious celebration, this celebrant does consider it religious. Please click on the above links to read the entire articles.

From an article on the Stamford Times:

STAMFORD — "Ujima" is the Swahili word used to describe the celebration of collective works and responsibility on the third day of Kwanzaa when the obligations to the past, present and future are recalled along with the roles individuals play in their communities and the larger world, according to one Kwanzaa history.

African cultural identity and "connectedness" along with the Nguzo Saba principals are key Kwanzaa themes along with an emphasis on the unity of black families, according to the center.

Although Karenga says in his Kwanzaa writings that the principles are for world-wide use, the message that many blacks are getting is that it is created just for the black family.

New Direction of this Blog

This site I had originally began as a discussion pad for my website, "The Truth About Kwanzaa." But as I started writing, I realized that there is much more to write about -- so many various different topics!

I am writer, a divorcee, a mother of five kids, a college educated computer techy who loves her high tech toys, a ridiculously crazy San Diego Charger's fan, a black conservative independent, and evangelical Christian. Plenty of things to write about in this city, the state, the nation and the world!

Okay, I'm getting all excited about this blogging business and I if I get too crazy with it, I'll trust those of you out there to drop a line and let me know!

Meanwhile, this is the Kwanzaa season and for now, my writings will mostly be about it. After Kwanzaa, I will be moving on!

Carlotta M.

About Me

Taking a little break on this heavy, heavy writing about Kwanzaa. I have to remember sometimes not to be SO serious, always. And all the time I’ve spent talking about Kwanzaa, I haven’t let the readers know anything about me. Every now and then I'll take breaks such as this one and share a little more about myself each time.

So a little bit for today.

I’ve been divorced since 1993, mother of five children. I’m a fifty-somthing right now with my eldest being 27 and my youngest 16. Three boys and two girls.

I had to take a break from my writing on this blog to do my “mommy thang” as I shared with one of the posters. My 16 year old starts on his varsity basketball team and I went to watch him play. I enjoy watching my children in their activities – but especially basketball. I played basketball as a young woman at Los Angeles Trade and Technical school. I won’t say when but let’s just say – it was a long time ago! I ended up quitting school when I found I was pregnant with the first of a string of babies by my then husband.

I was ecstatic because motherhood was far more important to me than anything else in the world! Ironically, I lost that baby through a miscarriage. I was too devastated to return to school and stayed out and went to work at my first "real" job – customer service at the Los Angeles Times.

I had a troubled marriage from the very beginning. I was young and dumb and married my husband because he was “fine.” Sometimes we young ladies can’t get beyond the looks and nice bodies to really see the substance of a fella’. We both had major faults and although I tried, the marriage failed for reasons too intimate to discuss in this public forum.

But life goes on. Here it is today, December 27, 2006 and I’m reflecting on my kids after seeing my son’s team win their game, and with him scoring a bunch of points. I’ll read about him in tomorrow’s newspaper and websites.

About my pride and joys:
My 27 year old is a student at a bible college. I’m proud of his 3.5 GPA he’s carrying in school.
My 25 year old is a professional basketball player in Europe. He’s a huge young man, 6’9” and he say’s he’s almost 250 now.
My 22 year old daughter just returned from Paris, France on a partial scholarship to study abroad. She’s completing her senior year at a famous HBCU and I’m very proud of her. Especially her ability to speak French!
My 19 year old daughter is a hip hop dancer (NOT the video-vixen kind) and is with a famous dance agency. I love to watch her dance! She’s on a team here in San Diego and I have to say so myself, she’s a great dancer!
And my 16 year old son is the baby, bringing up he rear. A single mom and a 16 year old son – well, you can imagine our struggles! But he’s a good boy and so far he’s staying out of trouble!!!

To keep from embarrassing them, I leave my children’s names out until they give me consent to write about them publicly. This will probably already be embarrassing enough to them.

Oh well!

Guess I’ll get back to Kwanzaa now!

Kujichagulia - Second Principle of Kwanzaa

In his 1988 book on Kwanzaa, The African American Holiday of Kwanzaa he says the following about self-determination:

"It demands that African people define, defend and develop ourselves instead of allowing or encouraging others to do this. …And it is a call torecover and speak our own special truth to the world and raise images above the earth that reflect our capacity for human greatness and progress."

How do others understand Kujichagulia? From the Tolerance.org website there are a few examples of what this second principle means to people.

"The principle of Kujichagulia reaffirms our need to always know ourselves in our uniqueness and specialness as persons and as a people. Itteaches us to always honor the divine in us by defining ourselves, speaking our own special cultural truth in the world and making our own unique contribution to the forward flow of human history, Karenga says.

Kujichagulia emphasizes the importance of the individual in shapinghis/her own destiny."

"Many African American families elect to choose African names for themselves as a way of paying homage to their ancestors who were stripped of their own names years ago. As William Wells Brown reminds us: "A new master might often change a slave's name and this indicated that the slave had absolutely no rights."

More thoughts on Kujichagulia later. I was going to do some major writing on this principle, but the week is catching up to me.

Feel free to comment on this even if it’s not completed.

Commentary on Kwanzaa

I am dissecting the Nguzo Saba, one day at a time as it’s being celebrated by Kwanzaa enthusiasts world-wide. How do I know it’s being celebrated all over the world? I was interviewed yesterday by a reporter from a Canadian newspaper after spotting my website entry from Kwanzaa’s section in Wikepidia (which I've learned has been since removed because you can't make self entries) and my daughter spending a year abroad for her collegiate studies in French, called me from Paris to tell me about French blacks asking her if she was going to celebrate Kwanzaa. Just a couple of examples but enough to convince me that it is indeed recognized around the world.

Again, I am of the belief that Kwanzaa is a holiday that shouldn’t be touched, especially by those who call themselves Christians. Why? The holiday’s roots are anti-American, anti-Christian, racist towards whites and Jewish people. On my website (www.christocentric.com/Kwanzaa), I use Karenga’s own writings to show his true intentions of creating Kwanzaa. He admits in his first book on Kwanzaa that he created it as a substitute to not only our Christmas holiday, but the Christian religion, or any religion where one prayed to what he called “spooks!”

Of course, all that divisive speech has been toned down if you read his latest book on Kwanzaa, but if one views his founder’s message of 2006 on his website (in pdf. form), one will find that his message is still racially inclusive to blacks. His intention is for black people to celebrate this holiday for them only. Karenga feels this is necessary because the principles in Kwanzaa he says,

“ . . . represent values and vital teachings of our ancestors about how we are to live good lives, rightfully relate to each other and the world, and teach our children by word and deed what it means to be an African man and woman in the world.”

Kwanzaa is more than just a cultural celebration. Many are using it for “spiritual” wisdom while refusing to call it a religion. As a Christian, I don’t need Kwanzaa because to know how to live good lives is taught to me in what is called the Bible. The principles I need for living are all found in that book. My ancestors don’t provide me the spiritual principles necessary, although there is much wisdom to be gained by them, but to live right, my family has pointed to God and His principles found in the bible.

There is a myth within the black community that knowing one’s heritage is necessary for their self-worth. That myth alone is what pushes events like Kwanzaa and Black History month, or Black history period. Self-worth does not come through our heritage, but through knowing who we are in God. Culture is turned into a religion by afrocentrics insist that one is not “black” if they don’t prescribe to their “religion.”

Well, on to the breakdown of the Nguzo Saba. Kujichagulia is next, which is Self-Determination in Swahili, principle number two of Kwanzaa.

The First Principle of Kwanzaa: UMOJA (UNITY)

Umoja (Unity)

To strive for and maintain unity in the family,
community, nation and race.

This is the first principle of Kwanzaa for the first day ofKwanzaa. Unity sounds innocent enough and who can find fault in this first principle? What is so wrong with wanting to unify the "race?"From a Christian perspective, which will always be the perspective I write from, there is only one race - the race of mankind. Is the intent of Kwanzaa to unite the race? Take a closer look from the creator of Kwanzaa, Karenga, and his views on race from his 1997 book on Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture.

"The ultimate level of unity for African people is Pan-African unity or unity of the world African community. This is also called unity of the race." . . . Pan-Africanism requires and urges that we see ourselves and act in history as an African people, belonging to a world community of African peoples." pg. 48.

I do have a problem when there is emphasis on unity in the name of one's color of their skin. Karenga makes the mistake of assuming world cohesiveness among African and African-American peoples. But diversity is tremendous and true unity would be impossible in this life time. Even as I write this, Ethiopia's military is attacking Somalia. 35,000 Somali people are seeking refuge in Kenya. Not even within Africa is there unity among Africans.

But in addition to utopic unity, there is the disturbing call for unity of all black people. How bothersome if it were a call of unity for white people? Some feel that because we are the minority, we are justified in calling for unity of blacks only. Reverse racism I call it and a move to create even more divisiveness within our great melting pot of a country.

From a Christian perspective, the first step in unity as a people is reconciliation with our God. To strive for unity is in vain unless God is at the helm. In the following passage, Christ prays to the
Father for unity within the body of believers:

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:20-23

Complete unity Christ speaks about here is for all of those who will believe in Him. He didn't even call for unity of all people, but unity within His body of believers! That's a tremendous challenge in itself! One of my more difficult debates has been with another person who calls himself a Christian! We couldn't come to an agreement on much we were discussing and he didn't even want to share his personal faith. Something that most Christians are all to eager to discuss. Disunity within the body of Christ -- forget the color of one's skin!

Tomorrow: the second principle of Kwanzaa - Kujichagulia - (Koo-jee-cha-goo-lee-a) - Self-Determination

Introduction to Kwanzaa

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa and I’ll use each day of Kwanzaa to write about each of the principles found in the Nguzo Saba. But first I’ll start with an introduction about Kwanzaa. The creator of Kwanzaa, Ron Karenga, posted on his website (pdf form) the 2006 Founder’s Message. This is something that he does every year. Some comments about this message before I get into the first principle.

The following is the introduction to the message:

"The season of Kwanzaa has come again, this celebration and season of joyous harvesting and sharing of good in the world. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the recovery and reconstruction of this ancient celebration which has found a valuable and enduring place in the hearts, homes and daily lives of over 28 million people throughout the world African community.

This year’s theme is, of necessity, focused on the Nguzo Saba as a vital source of principles and practices to bring increase and sustain good in the world. Indeed, they represent values and vital teachings of our ancestors about how we are to live good lives, rightfully relate to each other and the world, and teach our children by word and deed what it means to be an African man and woman in the world."

I immediately have problems with this introduction such as:

1. Kwanzaa is the recovery and reconstruction of an ancient celebration? What ancient celebration? His earlier books said he created this celebration as an African-American celebration not African.
   
   
2. Karenga says that the theme is focused on the Nguzo Saba, to bring increase and sustain good in the world. This is not just cultural. This is getting into a "way of life" like religions."
   
   
3. "What it means to be an African man and woman in the world." – This is still a racially inclusive celebration.

What many people don’t understand about culture is that it should be tied in to your way of life, your religion as many cultures do things differently, even within the same religion. But in Karenga’s opening paragraphs, we see that he’s using culture to define one’s entire world. The good they do, their principles of living and so on. I would ask Karenga at this point, what does one need God for if all of this "good" would be accomplished with just this cultural celebration and following the Nguzo Saba?

Next: UMOJA - Unity

Happy Birthday Jesus!

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

What a wonderful time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, God incarnate in the flesh of man! God loved us so much that He gave us His only begotten Son, born of the Virgin Mary.

We don’t really know the exact day of Jesus’ birth, but we do know that He was born. Christians around the world take the time out to commemorate this most sacred birth and thank God for His infinite love and undeserving grace.

Wow! God is just too awesome! To think He’d suffer the indignation of putting Himself on our level, as a mere man – even through being born as a baby! To walk the earth among His creation, to be rejected, ridiculed and eventually suffer physical torture and death for a people who are so imperfect! But oh so wonderful is that He was resurrected and lives on forever!

This is just my personal moment here to publicly thank my Lord, my God for sacrificing His Son for me and all others!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Father!

Is Christmas Pagan?

That's the question most posed to me whenever I talk about Kwanzaa. It's usually goes like this: "Well, you better check out your Christmas before your start talking against Kwanzaa! It is pagan moreso than Kwanzaa!"

Is that so? Well, I'll share an article from Hank Hanegraaff of the Christian Research Institute, who has researched Christmas and can shed some light on America's favorite holiday.
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IS CHRISTMAS CHRISTIAN?

Santa Claus. Christmas trees. Exchanging gifts with people you really don’t care about or even know. Office parties which involve drinking and immorality. Is Christmas really Christian or pagan?

The best arguments against Christmas are the pagan myths and practices that have attached themselves like so many barnacles to a ship. But just as you don’t abandon a ship simply because it’s got some barnacles on it, you don’t need to abandon Christmas because non-Christians abuse it.

The Bible neither commands nor condemns Christmas. Nor is there any biblical principle violated by the celebration of Christ’s birthday. Scripture clearly teaches that anything is permitted as long as it does not violate biblical principles, and as long as it is done in faith, with love, and in a manner that edifies (Rom. 13:10; 14:4-5, 23; 1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23; Col. 2:20-22).

Often we are told that celebrating Christ’s birthday on December 25th is very wrong, for two reasons. The first is that Christ was probably not even born on December 25th. That’s probably true, but so what? We don’t know on what day Jesus Christ was actually born, but what does it really matter? What matters is that we are commemorating the birth of the Savior of the world.

The second objection is more weighty — when Christmas was originally instituted, December 25th was a pagan festival which commemorated the birthday of a false god. While this is a historical fact, what is often overlooked by the church is its intent in choosing December 25th in the first place. The church was not Christianizing a pagan festival, but was establishing the celebration of the birth of Christ as a rival celebration. Today the world has all but forgotten about the pagan gods of Greece and Rome, but at least a billion people on planet earth today consider themselves to be followers of Jesus Christ.

Well, over the next few days I’m going to be discussing what Christians should think of such traditional aspects of Christmas as Santa Claus and Christmas trees. But remember, there is nothing wrong with celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world, I think it’s great. On Christmas, that’s the CRI perspective. I’m Hank Hanegraaff.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

On the date of Christ’s birth we recommend Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ (Zondervan) by Harold W. Hoehner (SB540/$17), who argues that Christ may actually have been born in late December or early January after all. This resource is available through CRI. For shipping and handling information, please call CRI or refer to our Resource Listing. To place a credit card order, call toll-free (888) 7000-CRI. To receive a free copy of our Resource Listing, fax us at (714) 858-6111 or write us with your request at P.O. Box 7000, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688-7000.

Responses to Cobb's Blog

I've always wanted to get a true understanding of those Christians whom after finding the truth about Kwanzaa, still insist upon supporting it. I've been participating in a debate with Cobb, who considers himself a conservative Christian. As I'm learning more about him, something he reveals to me helps me to understand even further the thought process of those who profess to know Christ, but would support the worship of man in this celebration called Kwanzaa.

In a closing statement he had made to me, Cobb said the following:

"I am thankful to live among people who recognize that there are multiple valid interpretations of holy works and that throughout history there have been many paths to the truth."

As a Christian who believes in the inspired word of God called the Bible, I see immediately a major contradiction. He's a Christian who believes in multiple interpretations of holy works and many paths to the truth. As a bible believing Christian, there is only one true word of God and only one path to God: through Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of mankind. If I've misunderstood Cobb, I'll welcome him here in "my house" to correct me.

Cobb goes on to say:

"It is an acknowledgment that human beings speak different languages and come to universal truths in different ways. More directly, we are fortunate that African Americans, at a crucial point in history decided to move beyond the same pulpits and the same messages, to confront restrictions on their liberties and minds from a new perspective. The best of that perspective embodied in works of the Black Consciousness, Black Nationalist, and Black Arts Movements, is still alive, and some part of that is carried forward in the spirit of Kwanzaa."

Those who love Kwanzaa, love the "black consciousness." Honestly, I'm still not sure what that's supposed to mean. But it appears that those who subscribe to this black consciousness, want ALL blacks to possess the same type of consciousness. I figure that I'm black and have a conscious, that's as far as my black consciousness goes. What shapes my mind is my own life experiences as dictated to me through the word of God. Perhaps I can hear from people as they explain what "black consciousness" means to them. My world isn't shape by the color of my skin. I do experience things because of my color at times, but my life's consciousness doesn't dwell on color. Maybe that's why I don't fit this black consciousness thing.

When one falls in love with God and his Word, you want to guard the sacredness of anything about Him with your life. The way to better living (an abundant life) is through God's word and anything else that attempts to imitate it we must expose. Thus my writings regarding Kwanzaa.

Though claiming to be a non-religious celebration, it imitates several religions. It has lighting of candles such as you see in the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, it has pouring of water and libations as in ancient African religions that practice ancestor worship, it has gift giving as in Christmas, the holiday is even spread through many days as the Jewish spread the days over in Hanukkah. And most strikingly, it is celebrated near the Jewish and Christian's seasonal holidays of Hanukkah and Christmas.

My world is Christ-centered, thus the name of my website Christocentric as opposed to afrocentric. Instead of my world being ruled by the color of my skin, it is ruled by the things of God as it relates to Christ.

More musings later.

Kwanzaa in Church - An Abomination?

Vision Statement of Kwanzaa Church (www.kwanzaachurch.org) - "Guided by God’s vision and the principles of the Nguzo Saba, Kwanzaa Community Church is a loving church, empowering its members to pray for and usher in the Kingdom of God."

Guided by God's vision and the principles of the Nguzo Saba? What happened to the Word of God - the Bible? I emailed this church before I decided to write this commentary. I gave them my website to examine Kwanzaa more closely. Sadly, I've had no response to my email to them dated 11/27 of this year.

My complaint all along about Kwanzaa is how people are using it as "self-esteem" builders, or as a way of life. If this was just a cultural celebration, then there would be no talk of principles, but talk of history, of past acts of honorable ancestors, appreciation of where we are from and where we are going. But no, Kwanzaa has not only become a way of life for people, now the church has jumped on the bandwagon, not wanting to be left out. This church is just an example of many. many churches that are using Kwanzaa in their services and like this church, for their ministries.

This church says that the, "Foundation of our purpose and vision - Focused on Jesus Christ." Is the focus truly on Jesus Christ? That is the question that not only needs to be posed to this church but to any church that attempts to mix culture and religion both as a way of life.

Another problem I have is the emphasis on African-American culture in the church. Is there a wonder why many churches are so segragrated? The emphasis of Kwanzaa for African-American unity was probably what has drawn this church to it because of their own desire to emphasize the black culture.

I don't see a problem with a predominantly black church or predominantly any ethnic church, as long as the message preached and taught is for all -- the way that God intended it to be! Emphasis needs to be on God's word as taught in the bible, and unity not just for one group, but for everyone!

Kwanzaa is black separatist and so is this church. No matter how much Jesus is talked about, if one trusts in their culture "plus" Jesus, then is God truly the object of their faith?

cm

Bring on the "REAL" Reason for the Season!

Thanksgiving is done, Black Friday is over and now the CHRISTMAS season is officially upon us! Kwanzaa observers are now about to suffer the same problem that Christian Christmas observers have suffered since its inception: gross commercialism and the forgetfulness of the true meaning of the season.

Maulana Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa, said one of the reasons he created Kwanzaa was to get folks away from the commercialism of the "oppressor's" celebration. On page 15 of his 1977 book on Kwanzaa titled: "Kwanzaa: origin, concepts, practice" he says the following:

"...one of its (Kwanzaa) main functions is to escape the economic entrapment and alienated gift-giving which the Christmas season has come to include and demand."

Karenga could have urged Christians to remember the reason for celebrating their season and to pull away from the crazy spending that goes on during this celebration, but because of his belief that Christianity is a "white man's religion" he created a holiday that blacks could celebrate without Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately for Karenga, the same commercialized problems are now plaguing Kwanzaa as Christmas. Try to find one store (other than Christian) that doesn't sell something having to do with Kwanzaa (and there are some Christian stores that do sell Kwanzaa items). It's a fact of life: where there are human beings, there will be greed and over-zealous spending.

So this message is for all: This is the CHRISTMAS season! (Say it again - CHRISTMAS! You are free to speak it, write it and think it around this site.) Yes, December 25 may not be His exact birth date, but let's choose this time of remembering the true meaning of Christmas -- the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! (More on this during the week of Christmas.)

Those of you who don't believe in Christ, do celebrate your holidays. And Christians? Let's not give folks such as Karenga more reasons for inventing holidays to take the place of ours!

Carlotta M.

Another Grouped Duped into the Kwanzaa "Unity" theme

I will begin postings from organizations or people that write about Kwanzaa being used to "practice daily its principles" or for uniting the black family to make their lives better. Below is my first example in my newly formed blogosphere.

"OCKG is a Non-Profit organization made up of members of the Omaha Metro Community whose mission is to draw our community together through celebrating Kwanzaa and practicing its principles in our everyday lives. First Fruits is seeking support from the local business community to sponsor events, and volunteers from the community to donate their time and talents to the various events." (Omaha Community Kwanzaa Group)

What celebration do we have in which we are urged to practice the pricinciples of it in our everyday lives? Whenever I see Kwanzaa being used as a means of uniting folks, it is this purpose of it that causes me to bristle. Why give people the impression that black people need something/someone other that Jesus Christ to improve our lives?

This is a dangerous idea because then the world will begin believing the same, which is why our president, our market places and etc. all begin to offer Kwanzaa greetings for the black people, under the assumption that we all need it.

I found out about this group from reading an article published on an Omaha, Nebreska news website: KETV.com. The article starts with this opening title: "Group Wants To Unite Community By Celebrating Kwanzaa." One of the organizers of the group, Rick Cross, says the following in the article: ""If you just follow the principles you should be able to find out how to move in a direction to make your life better for yourself, for your family and community," said Cross.

So is Kwanzaa JUST a celebration of culture? Or is it going beyond just honoring dead ancestors but establishing a way of life? What about celebrants whom are also followers of Christ? Who's making life better for you, God or Kwanzaa? Biblical principles or the Nguzo Saba?

We can't serve two masters as our God is a jealous God. Only He must we serve and look to for our lives day to day improvement and growth.

Blog scripture references:

God as a jealous God: Exodus 20:5

Better men and women through Christ: 2Corinthians 5:17

Welcome to my new blog!

I've finally joined the world of blogging...but no I'm not giving up on my good ole' guestbook just yet. So you will see both on my website to start off with...until I get comfortable with the idea of blogging. If anyone can think of a really good reason why I don't need by guestbook, please let me know!

Why am I blogging? Because of a little feeling that I'm missing out on something by not being a part of the blogging world. Especially after seeing the comments made in my guestbook, where people are trying to get a conversation started. Now I hope we can really dialogue about this subject after reading my articles on my Kwanzaa site.

Some of you have asked to support financially my unofficial webministry and that is in the making too! Soon I will have a button for anyone to donate to this free information that I'm sharing with the world. I will keep it free and if this website is a blessing to you, by all means feel free to give.

I've written about Kwanzaa to attempt to open the eyes of my fellow blacks that culture is fine until it becomes your religion. Kwanzaa attempts to do just that. It has candle lighting, a seven day celebration, gift giving, name-chanting, incorporates "faith" and an acknowledgement of some creator being, and yet it begs not to be called "religious." Well, my website is all about exposing Kwanzaa for the fraudulent celebration that it is.

Hang on folks...we're just getting started!

Carlotta Morrow