I have never really given Kwanzaa much thought. I have always thought of it as a harmless, although futile attempt by my fellow Black Americans to get in touch with their African roots and deny their American heritage.
But I have to admit that I was disturbed to see an announcement that this year’s Sacramento area Kwanzaa Celebration was being co-sponsored by the All African Peoples Revolutionary Party (A-ARP) , a group that among other things advocates armed revolution against the American Government. And I had to wonder why Black folks would celebrate a holiday founded by a man who was convicted of brutally torturing black women?
A 2002 article published in Front Page Magazine highlights the charges against Kwanzaa’s founder, Dr. Ron Karenga and gives a detailed insight into the violent history this man who was also the head of an armed revolutionary movement/Cult known as US (United Slaves).
A May 14, 1971, article in the Los Angeles Times described the testimony of one of them: "Deborah Jones, who once was given the Swahili title of an African queen, said she and Gail Davis were whipped with an electrical cord and beaten with a karate baton after being ordered to remove their clothes. She testified that a hot soldering iron was placed in Miss Davis' mouth and placed against Miss Davis' face and that one of her own big toes was tightened in a vise. Karenga, head of US, also put detergent and running hoses in their mouths, she said."
I find it hard to believe that anyone knowing the background of Dr. Karenga would legitimize him or this holiday. For all Kwanzaa’s emphasis on “Unity”, it is interesting how most, if not all of the violent acts by Karenga’s US were against Black People.
On Jan. 17, 1969, about 150 students gathered in a lunchroom to discuss the situation. Two Panthers—admitted to UCLA like many of the black students as part of a federal program that put high-school dropouts into the school—apparently spent a good part of the meeting in verbal attacks against Karenga. This did not sit well with Karenga's followers, many of whom had adopted the look of their leader, pseudo-African clothing and a shaved head.
In modern gang parlance, you might say Karenga was "dissed" by John Jerome Huggins, 23, and Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter, 26. After the meeting, the two Panthers were met in the hallway by two brothers who were members of US, George P. and Larry Joseph Stiner. The Stiners pulled pistols and shot the two Panthers dead. One of the Stiners took a bullet in the shoulder, apparently from a Panther's gun.
There were other beatings and shooting in Los Angeles involving US, but by then the tradition of African nationalism had already taken hold—
While this Front Page piece is largely opinion, the facts sited in it appear to be true. This is why, I felt it necessary to share the truth about Kwanzaa and its founder; so that those who read it can know what I now know.
Kwanzaa is a sham. And like many, I was guilty of allowing ignorance to fuel my passivity and apathy toward this absurd celebration that founded by a man who practiced none of its principles.
So...You better not shout... You better not cry... You better not pout... I’m telling you why... Kwanzaa Claus is coming to town! AND HE'LL BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF YOU IF YOU DO!
Craig DeLuz
Visit The Home of Uncommon Sense...
www.craigdeluz.com
But I have to admit that I was disturbed to see an announcement that this year’s Sacramento area Kwanzaa Celebration was being co-sponsored by the All African Peoples Revolutionary Party (A-ARP) , a group that among other things advocates armed revolution against the American Government. And I had to wonder why Black folks would celebrate a holiday founded by a man who was convicted of brutally torturing black women?
A 2002 article published in Front Page Magazine highlights the charges against Kwanzaa’s founder, Dr. Ron Karenga and gives a detailed insight into the violent history this man who was also the head of an armed revolutionary movement/Cult known as US (United Slaves).
A May 14, 1971, article in the Los Angeles Times described the testimony of one of them: "Deborah Jones, who once was given the Swahili title of an African queen, said she and Gail Davis were whipped with an electrical cord and beaten with a karate baton after being ordered to remove their clothes. She testified that a hot soldering iron was placed in Miss Davis' mouth and placed against Miss Davis' face and that one of her own big toes was tightened in a vise. Karenga, head of US, also put detergent and running hoses in their mouths, she said."
I find it hard to believe that anyone knowing the background of Dr. Karenga would legitimize him or this holiday. For all Kwanzaa’s emphasis on “Unity”, it is interesting how most, if not all of the violent acts by Karenga’s US were against Black People.
On Jan. 17, 1969, about 150 students gathered in a lunchroom to discuss the situation. Two Panthers—admitted to UCLA like many of the black students as part of a federal program that put high-school dropouts into the school—apparently spent a good part of the meeting in verbal attacks against Karenga. This did not sit well with Karenga's followers, many of whom had adopted the look of their leader, pseudo-African clothing and a shaved head.
In modern gang parlance, you might say Karenga was "dissed" by John Jerome Huggins, 23, and Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter, 26. After the meeting, the two Panthers were met in the hallway by two brothers who were members of US, George P. and Larry Joseph Stiner. The Stiners pulled pistols and shot the two Panthers dead. One of the Stiners took a bullet in the shoulder, apparently from a Panther's gun.
There were other beatings and shooting in Los Angeles involving US, but by then the tradition of African nationalism had already taken hold—
While this Front Page piece is largely opinion, the facts sited in it appear to be true. This is why, I felt it necessary to share the truth about Kwanzaa and its founder; so that those who read it can know what I now know.
Kwanzaa is a sham. And like many, I was guilty of allowing ignorance to fuel my passivity and apathy toward this absurd celebration that founded by a man who practiced none of its principles.
So...You better not shout... You better not cry... You better not pout... I’m telling you why... Kwanzaa Claus is coming to town! AND HE'LL BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF YOU IF YOU DO!
Craig DeLuz
Visit The Home of Uncommon Sense...
www.craigdeluz.com
No comments:
Post a Comment