gon' head and burn that christmas list and pull yo damn pants up!

The Black Candle changed how I think about Kwanzaa in the best way possible. The film was heartwarming and full of Black/African history. It should make the African diaspora, especially in America, proud of who they are and who they could become. I loved how the movie features regular people who show how Kwanzaa is relevant to their lives. It’s inspiring.

 I feel like people aren’t attracted to Kwanzaa because it’s not rooted in vice and capitalism and has a lot of depth. No one talks about getting drunk or high to go to a Kwanzaa party. Could you imagine the economic debacle that Kwanzaa would cause? Children aren’t receiving the latest video game system or fancy clothes on Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is anti-capitalist, and America is disgusted with anything that doesn’t feed capitalism.

 There’s less spectacle surrounding Kwanzaa. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t have fun, but America doesn’t inspire citizens to critically reflect on their place in life to any degree like Kwanzaa does. Christmas doesn’t hold much weight, and it’s mainly about buying and receiving gifts. There are Christmas parties where vices such as alcohol are encouraged. Kwanzaa is more focused on how community and prosperity will help Black/African people resist colonialism so that they may thrive. It’s not a thoughtless holiday that just requires some expensive gifts and a dirty ass Christmas ham to celebrate.

 I bet if America, or the world, could make money off Kwanzaa, they probably would’ve started it by now, just like they make money off Black art forms such as hip-hop. If they started making money off it, it would no longer be Kwanzaa because Kwanzaa isn’t about profit.

 Honestly, I don’t even want Kwanzaa to become popular even amongst Black people. Next thing you know, there will be twerk contests in the spirit of Kwanzaa. I guess an ass-shaking contest would be aligned with Umoja (Unity), right? Black people love coming together to shake ass. Maybe that’s not a bad thing.

 See, now, I’m wondering if Kwanzaa could be suppressive in a way. The principles of Kwanzaa are encouraging and loving, but I wonder if it extends to even the most marginalized Black people like those in the queer and trans communities. Would they be frowned upon by the Black people who regularly celebrate Kwanzaa, or would they be celebrated? Could they show up to these Kwanzaa celebrations authentically as themselves? Since Kwanzaa emphasizes unity, self-determination, and creativity, doesn’t that mean Kwanzaa practitioners are naturally, radically accepting of different types of Black people?

 There shouldn’t be any room for any type of bigotry or phobias in Kwanzaa, right? Maybe just a little arachnophobia because some spiders are venomous!

 I would tell people who aren’t being accepted into Kwanzaa celebrations to simply create their own like they always do, but Kwanzaa is supposed to be about togetherness, so that would just contradict everything that Kwanzaa stands for.  

 Well, anyway, to hell with Santa Claus. Let me put on my Dashiki. I hope I don’t get fried chicken crumbs on it.