Kwanzaa was invented by activist Ron Karenga in the late 60’s, out in Oakland, definitely a part of the whole black power/black is beautiful movement, which seems like light years ago. Its an amalgam of principles and philosophies from mostly East Africa. The words are Swahili. Kinda sad that we knew so little about our heritage then that most people were not aware that 98% of people sold into slavery over the centuries from Africa were West African, not East African, and Swahili was not one of the languages they spoke.
Anyway, it’s more like Hannukah, with candle lightings, reciting the principles, and giving small gifts over a period of days. I don’t celebrate it, I happen to love a good Christmas, but I have no problem with other people embracing it. I guess we knew it had arrived when the card companies starting making Kwanzaa cards. Blech! Especially the ones with fake Kente cloth patterns on them. Another mistake in historic and regional culture, as kente is West African. I’m sure somewhere at Hallmark central, some exec is screaming, “Ah, just put some smiling black people with kids on the cover, and add some African looking stuff. It doesn’t matter, they’ll buy it.”
I like Martha Stewart (especially now that she’s an ex-con -that’s hot), but I find Rachel Ray incredibly annoying. I just want to smack that smile off her face.
DH, where did you and 11217 have a spat over Martha?
I adore Martha – she’s the only celeb I’ve seen that I was actually starstruck by.
(no homo)
Kwanzaa was invented by activist Ron Karenga in the late 60’s, out in Oakland, definitely a part of the whole black power/black is beautiful movement, which seems like light years ago. Its an amalgam of principles and philosophies from mostly East Africa. The words are Swahili. Kinda sad that we knew so little about our heritage then that most people were not aware that 98% of people sold into slavery over the centuries from Africa were West African, not East African, and Swahili was not one of the languages they spoke.
Anyway, it’s more like Hannukah, with candle lightings, reciting the principles, and giving small gifts over a period of days. I don’t celebrate it, I happen to love a good Christmas, but I have no problem with other people embracing it. I guess we knew it had arrived when the card companies starting making Kwanzaa cards. Blech! Especially the ones with fake Kente cloth patterns on them. Another mistake in historic and regional culture, as kente is West African. I’m sure somewhere at Hallmark central, some exec is screaming, “Ah, just put some smiling black people with kids on the cover, and add some African looking stuff. It doesn’t matter, they’ll buy it.”
(curmudgeon goes back into cave)
snappy- looked at the picture. Like THL, I got nothin’. Maybe its the hair?
SO what sort of cases will the new hotshot law firm take on?
I like Martha Stewart (especially now that she’s an ex-con -that’s hot), but I find Rachel Ray incredibly annoying. I just want to smack that smile off her face.
DH, where did you and 11217 have a spat over Martha?
don’t worry jester – i think a big factor that makes the non-functional man scarf annoying is wearing it in conjunction with a murse.
and snappy can be my lawyer but I don’t want her on the jury.
south asians invented donuts… that’s why winthrop.
And did Cgar just say we are all conflicted?
martha is ok. i prefer oprah. (stedman…)
i’m not back until mid to late january so i won’t be able to join the sycamore gathering.
“I gotta go feed my beasts.”
Am I the only one who first read this as “I gotta go feed my breasts”?