Talk:Kwanzaa

Alleged terrorist connection

Can we mention the Daily Caller's contention that the founder of Kwanzaa is a paranoid terrorist who copied his 7 principles from the Symbionese Liberation Army?

• These seven Kwanzaa principles are identical to the seven principles of the infamous Symbionese Liberation Army, the murderous, bank-robbing gang of revolutionary terrorists who kidnapped newspaper heiress Patty Hearst in 1974.
• A U.S. Congress document from the House Committee on Internal Security lists the Symbionese Liberation Army’s seven principles as: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative production, purpose, creativity and faith. [1]

(signed) --Uncle Ed (talk) 23:16, 25 July 2025 (UTC)

That's nonsense, of course. Kwanzaa predates the SLA by about a decade. Search the archives for the word "Symbionese"; they adopted the words, but assigned their own meanings to them. The Daily Caller article is pretty disgusting, but it nowhere says that Karenga copied the principles from the SLA. --jpgordon^{𝄢𝄆𝄐𝄇} 01:49, 25 August 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 25 December 2025

This holiday was created by a separatist and does not represent Black America and has nothing to do with the traditions of Black Americans. Fact: I grew up in the early 60's and most Black Americans celebrated Christmas and I was taught the same traditions as White Americans. If Wikipedia wants to gain more trust on the subject it must remain factual and not circumstantial. African Americans do not associate themselves with Africa.

History and etymology Add: Note that most Black Americans do not celebrate Kwanzaa and African history and celebrate the traditions Christmas as White Americans. The rise of FBA, Foundational Black American, this acknowledgement has push Black Americans further away from anything that relates to Africa. ~2025-42890-03 (talk) 12:29, 25 December 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want made. Day Creature (talk) 16:37, 25 December 2025 (UTC)

"I grew up in the early 60s" -- before Kwanzaa was invented. Or, more briefly, "so what?" --jpgordon^{𝄢𝄆𝄐𝄇} 20:57, 25 December 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit on 26 December 2025

In the lead, please change "African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East, as well as Southeast Africa" to "African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East, and Southeast Africa". Correct grammar. ~2025-43129-09 (talk) 14:38, 26 December 2025 (UTC)

 Done Day Creature (talk) 16:11, 26 December 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 26 December 2025

After its creation in California, Kwanzaa spread outside the United States[13] but does not appear to be directly observed in any African countries.[14]

After its creation in California, Kwanzaa spread outside the United States. However, it has not gained widespread observance in any countries on the African continent. ~2025-42428-34 (talk) 22:12, 26 December 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: No reason given for the proposed change. Day Creature (talk) 22:55, 26 December 2025 (UTC)

Popularity

While I am sure the popularity of Kwanzaa is in decline the sources and the tone of that section seem very hostile. Black separatist, what is that about? It is not balanced or NPOV. Overloading with irrelevant and often duplicate sources to give the appearance of {{facts}} Those sources need an audit. are they even confirming a decline? Where are the stats of the decline? And how it is it in decline outside of America? When Barbados wants it as a national holiday? Inayity (talk) 19:02, 29 December 2025 (UTC)

Let's see; checking some of the sources.

1. Stanley, Sharon (2017). An impossible dream? : racial integration in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0190639976.

No page number cited; not a useful reference at all without one.

2. Hall, Raymond (1977). Black separatism and social reality : rhetoric and reason. New York: Pergamon Press. ISBN 9780080195100.

No page number cited; not a useful reference at all without one.

3. Dattel, Gene (2019). "Separatism vs. Integration: Can Separate Ever Be Equal?". Academic Questions. 32 (4): 476–486. doi:10.1007/s12129-019-09822-4 (inactive July 12, 2025). S2CID 214460772.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)

Not viewable at publisher, 404; not a useful reference at all without one.

4. Neal, Mark Anthony (2012-12-28). "Is Kwanzaa Still A Thing?". Tell Me More (Interview). Interviewed by Michel Martin. NPR.

Doesn't really support saying in Wikipedia's voice that "The popularity of celebration of Kwanzaa has declined with the waning of the popularity of the black separatist movement." Interviewee gives several reasons it might have declined in popularity.

5. Fantozzi, Madison (2016-12-25). "Polk events celebrate values of African culture". The Ledger. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2024-12-24.

One anecdotal example of one observer in a small town newspaper in Florida

6. Demby, Gene (2013-01-01). "Significance Of Kwanzaa Changes Over The Years". Morning Edition (Interview). Interviewed by David Greene. NPR. Archived from the original on 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2024-12-24.

Maybe on point, more useful than the rest

I'm not going to continue past here. You're right, the sources are overloaded with weakness. What would you suggest? --jpgordon^{𝄢𝄆𝄐𝄇} 01:19, 30 December 2025 (UTC)

Get rid of all the weak ones and find a positive statement like the calling for adoption by Barbados. Find hard stats that can speak to the decline. Inayity (talk) 05:23, 30 December 2025 (UTC)

Good idea. Nothing's stopping any autoconfirmed or confirmed editor from doing exactly that. --jpgordon^{𝄢𝄆𝄐𝄇} 16:39, 30 December 2025 (UTC)