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