Non-theist Maulana Karenga—formerly known as Ron Karenga—is the founder of the African- American cultural celebration known as Kwanzaa. Karenga founded the observance in 1966, when he was chairman of the Black studies department at the University of California at Long Beach.
Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits” of the harvest, uses Swahili words as a nod to the African continent.
Kwanzaa consists of the Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles. One is observed each day of the week from December 26-January 1. They are: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). (Participants may define faith in any way that they see fit. However, Karenga means nothing religious. He is primarily referring to faith in African people and African institutions.)
Kwanzaa observers exchange zawaida, or gifts (that are preferably handmade and/or inexpensive). They use an mkeka, or grass place mat. They display a bendea, or red, black and green flag. (The tripartite flag, popularized by Marcus Garvey in the 1920s, represents the blood, color, and African land of Black people, respectively.) They use red, black and green candles lit in a holder known as a kinara. They share drink from a kikombe, or communal unity cup. They greet each other which such Swahili expressions as “Harbari gani,” or “what’s happening.”
No one knows for sure how many Black people throughout the world celebrate Kwanzaa. According to recent estimates, as many as 13 million African Americans celebrate the holiday. Karenga says the numbers are much higher all throughout the world. Others believe that there are only several thousand observers, at most. (Buffalo has one of the largest celebrations in the world. For this reason, Karenga participates in the Buffalo observance every year. About 400 people gather for the celebration.)
Some people believe the observance is dying. Others are working to bring about its demise. The Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, an ultra-reactionary Black preacher, has been railing against Kwanzaa for years. He has called it “godless,” “pagan,” “separatist” “Marxist” and “racist.” This is the same preacher who thanks God for having enslaved Black people.
However, other critics are far more reasonable. Black scholar Gerald Early has attacked the celebration, critical of its Black nationalistic flavor. Others have called it a “Black Christmas,” trying to co-opt the Christian holy day.
Many maintain that Kwanzaa is being corrupted by capitalist forces. Indeed, in 1997, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a postage stamp in honor of the celebration. Since then, the USPS has issued licensing rights for the image on the stamp. Many businesses, including companies in China, now use the image to promote products to African Americans during Kwanzaa.
Karenga has tried to promote African-centered humanism among African Americans. He once worked with the American Humanist Association in this regard. He often ran into problems, because he would refer to religion as “spookism,” a term many African Americans found to be offensive.
Karenga has long led and been involved with Black secular organizations. He was a major leader of the Black power movement in the 1960s as a leader of the US organization. (US simply stands for “Us Black people.” However, their Black secular competitors, the Black Panthers, mockingly referred to the group as “United Slaves.”)
Karenga also helped establish the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC). The organization is committed to fostering learning about great African civilizations, and they hold meetings all over the United States.
Kwanzaa has been viciously attacked by rabid White conservatives such as Ann Coulter and Michael Savage. They have brought up Karenga’s criminal past from several decades ago as evidence of why he and his celebration should not be taken seriously. (Karenga went to prison from 1971-1975 for beating a woman that belonged to the US organization.)
Sean Hannity and others have suggested that Kwanzaa is part of an alleged conspiracy to secularize Christmas. They see it as a threat to Christianity and American values. Karenga would probably agree in many respects. After all, he is clearly opposed to the American values of Eurocentric Christianity, consumerism, White supremacy, etc. He certainly objects to the use of images of White Christ and Mary figures, all White angels, etc.
Love it or hate it, Kwanzaa has stood the test of time. It continues to draw the ire of critics and the praise of supporters. All over the United States and all throughout the mainstream media, people are greeted with “Happy Kwanzaa.” Most importantly, it offers a secular alternative to the sometimes stifling religiosity of Christmas. It seems that the celebration is here to stay, and people should learn to respect the right of its observers to embrace it.