What's wrong with Kwanzaa

This is another one of those things that just keep people separated. Declaring a special "African-American" winter holiday casts Christmas as a "white people" holiday.

While most of the imagery and traditions associated with Christmas grew out of northern Europe and England, the event that Christmas celebrates, the birth of Christ, happened in Palestine.

And the death of Christ, which is why we celebrate his birth, was supposed to save ALL PEOPLE. Not just northern Europeans.

Some Kwanzaa promoters see Christmas not only as a "white people" holiday, but as part of the religion of the oppressors.

Hardly.

Most American slaves were Christian, but not because their owners forced it upon them. They learned Christianity from missionaries and other slaves. For most of them, it was a source of deep strength, which allowed them to keep their humanity, even in the worst situations.

Their ancestors were not Christian, but then, neither were anyone else's if you go back far enough. How far back do you go to claim Heritage?

There is also a subtle difference in modern Christianity as practiced by white Americans and by black Americans. The megachurches, million dollar televangelists, and hatemongers are predominantly a "white people" enterprise. The black brand of Christianity is more focused on local community and family. It's about uplifting the individual spirit, rather than saving the masses.

So, asking people to celebrate Kwanzaa instead of Christmas is rejecting generations of strong, faithful Christians to claim an artificial heritage based on a culture that was willing to sell their ancestors.

The Kwanzaa celebration itself is nice. It celebrates noble attributes. Add it to Christmas, if it has meaning for you. But, don't reject Christmas as a "white" holiday. It isn't.

.