Other than the Media, I know of no one. Mostly, from my experience, it hangs on as the Media keeps mentioing it as a way of being PC.
[QUOTE=thelurkinghorror]
I thought about that, but they are pretty much a Methodist church. The “Episcopal” in their name refers to their system of polity (e.g. they have bishops), but their theology is thoroughly Methodist.
[/QUOTE]
That’s what I meant, African Methodist Episcopal. I went to one of their services once when I was younger at the black church here and I really liked it. I’m pretty sure they let white people join their congregations too (how could they not - that’d be illegal, right?!) I’m not religious at all but I did like the singing and oration.
[QUOTE=DrDeth]
Other than the Media, I know of no one. Mostly, from my experience, it hangs on as the Media keeps mentioning it as a way of being PC.
[/QUOTE]
This seems to be the consensus of all here, unless electronic cards and girl scout projects count as personal celebrations.
[QUOTE=cbawlmer]
I always see Kwanzaa greeting cards for sale in stores in December. They keep stocking them, so someone must be buying them. They can’t ALL be sold as gag gifts.
[/QUOTE]
I’m bumping because I’m curious to know the answer to this. If very few people celebrate Kwanzaa, who buys the cards? Do Hallmark and American Greetings make them, and retailers display them, because of political correctness and a fear of reprisals from advocacy groups?
[QUOTE=Keeve]
OTOH, there’s another possibility, namely, that Kwanzaa is largely uncelebrated for reasons other than a percieved conflict with Christmas. I could speculate on what those other reasons are, but being a white Jew I really don’t feel qualified.
[/QUOTE]
I think part of the reason is that a lot of people aren’t into celebrating new holidays. At least, not without a push like attending a friend or family member’s celebration first. I celebrate Christmas in a certain way because my family did, even though I’m no longer Christian. I think Kwanzaa seems like a nice enough holiday, but as a creature of habit, I’m probably not going to adopt a new tradition.
elmwood, IME, some white people buy them for their black acquaintances. The last time this question came up, someone said that their family celebrated Kwanzaa. Maybe it was monstro, but I’m not sure.
[QUOTE=Chief Pedant]
Little Bill, if Cosby would go for it, Mr Cunningham: http://www.bluemountain.com/display.pd?prodnum=3041614&path=35531
[/QUOTE]
While Little Bill is cute, he doesn’t give us an iconic image that screams Kwanzaa. I imagine a woman in a traditional African gown colored black, red and green. She would be bearing some of the gifts (maybe a basket under one arm with corn and crops and the unity cup in the other hand). Her gown could have an image of the candle holder and candles on it. I picture a very dignified woman, similar to the late Madge Sinclair.
[QUOTE=Omega Glory]
elmwood, IME, some white people buy them for their black acquaintances. The last time this question came up, someone said that their family celebrated Kwanzaa. Maybe it was monstro, but I’m not sure.
[/QUOTE]
Wouldn’t some blacks find it patronizing? It’s sort of like being introduced to several people, and shaking the hands of most in the normal fashion, but giving the lone black person among the crowd the three-step soul brother handshake.
Do some people? Without a doubt. If a person means well, sometimes it’s just easier to take things in the spirit that they’re meant, though, then laugh or vent in private if necessary.
[QUOTE=Slypork]
While Little Bill is cute, he doesn’t give us an iconic image that screams Kwanzaa. I imagine a woman in a traditional African gown colored black, red and green. She would be bearing some of the gifts (maybe a basket under one arm with corn and crops and the unity cup in the other hand). Her gown could have an image of the candle holder and candles on it. I picture a very dignified woman, similar to the late Madge Sinclair.
[/QUOTE]
Well, he gives me an iconic image that screams Kwanzaa.
Plus, he could totally pass for the young Ron Everett.
[QUOTE=cbawlmer]
“Made-Up Black Christmas” (which I’m not saying it is, but I think that’s a common perception)
[/QUOTE]
Why on earth wouldn’t you say that’s what it is? 
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp]
Why on earth wouldn’t you say that’s what it is?
[/QUOTE]
Exactly. We can make excuses for Kwanzaa all we want, but the fact is it was created for reasons of pure racism. Forty years ago, a bunch of black radicals decided that Christmas was a tool of the eeeeeeeevil White Oppressors[sup]TM[/sup], and they created Kwanzaa as an alternative holiday. So, it really is race-based (not culture-based, and certainly not multicultural) and there’s a fair amount of anti-Christian sentiment behind it (remember, many black radicals are/were Black Muslims.)
For the record, I don’t know anyone who celebrates Kwanzaa. I’ve seen the cards in the Hallmark stores, but I’ve never seen anyone buy them, or even look at them for more than a moment. And yes, plenty of those people were black.
[QUOTE=Keeve]
IOTOH, there’s another possibility, namely, that Kwanzaa is largely uncelebrated for reasons other than a percieved conflict with Christmas. I could speculate on what those other reasons are, but being a white Jew I really don’t feel qualified.
[/QUOTE]
Oh, I’m a white Jew and I feel perfectly qualified to speculate on those reasons. But I think it’s been covered.
I’ll just say that I’ve been living in central NJ since 1994. This is an area with a large and influential black population. I have never met or heard of a single person who actually celebrates Kwanzaa.
And just for the record, it’s not a matter of them not mentioning it and me assuming that they don’t. Over the years, I’ve known plenty of black people who do not celebrate Christmas for one reason or another. (Muslims or Jehovah’s Witnesses usually). I’ve met plenty of black people who celebrate Christmas along with Hanukkah (Jewish family members or they just like it). So I assume that I would have heard of someone celebrating Kwanzaa if they did in fact do so.
[QUOTE=Argent Towers]
“Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa!”
[/QUOTE]
Don’t forget to have a a tip-top Tet and a solemn, dignified Ramadan.
To me the most telling thing is that despite a large and politically active black population in NYC, they have not bothered to get the first, last or any day of Kwanzaa on the list of holidays for which Alternate Side of the Street Parking Regulations are suspended.
It made sidebar news locally when the Hindu holiday of Diwali was added to the list this year, as a sign that the Indian Americans (not American Indian) had become numerous and influential enough in NYC to make a noise.
Chinese New Year was also added to the list recently (under the more inclusive name of “Asian New Year” since other Asian ethnicities observe it as a festival day).
There are a slew of Jewish, Christian and Islamic holidays on the list as well, though it’s worth noting that Hanukkah is not religiously significant enough to warrant parking suspension.
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp]
Why on earth wouldn’t you say that’s what it is?
[/QUOTE]
Because despite having skimmed the Wikipedia article, I don’t feel qualified to make a judgement about it one way or the other. However, I am willing to label Christmas “Made-Up Christian Solstice-Time Festival.” As I pointed out to my mom during a discussion of Kwanzaa, all holidays are made up; some are just more recent than others.
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers]
Don’t forget to have a a tip-top Tet and a solemn, dignified Ramadan.
[/QUOTE]
I for one welcome our new holiday overlords.
If you celebrate Kwanzaa, aren’t you supposed to light a candle each night (like a menorah)? I’d guess that a created holiday (like Kwanzaa) has probably failed to cath on…so I expect it will probably die out.
Question: is “Festivus” catching on? Can’t say I’ve ever been to a festivus celebration.