The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Dul-Sayin' - The History of Kwanzaa

Episode Date: December 20, 2021

Dulcé Sloan gives a crash course on the Kwanzaa holiday, from its origins in 1966 as a way for Black Americans to honor their heritage to its waning popularity over the past three decades. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. T'was the night before Kwanzaa and all through the house, everybody was asking, what is this holiday all about? Quanza, it's the holiday your white friends think your black friends celebrate. But if you'd like to know more about it, I'm happy to tell you. Starting on December 26, Black families gathered for seven days to honor their African heritage and celebrate. But if you'd like to know more about it, I'm happy to tell you. Starting on December 26, black families gather for seven days to honor their African heritage and celebrate the values of the black community like unity, self-determination, and Beyonce. And some think Kwanza has ancient roots.

If you think doing the mashed potato smoking menthols on a shag rub is ancient. Because Kwanza was actually created in 1966 by Molana Karenga. He was a black nationalist leader who changed his birth name from Ronald because no one wants to celebrate something invented by a guy named Ronald. You could even be my best friend. If you named Ronald, I'm not even coming to your birthday for it. After seeing the 1965 riots in LA, Keringa wanted a way for African-Americans to honor their African roots and reaffirm

their cultural connections. So he created Kwanza, naming the holiday after the Swahili phrase, Matunduya Kwanza, which means first fruit, and then adding an extra S. Reminds me of when I'd copy someone's homework, but change a little bit so the teacher didn't know I cheated. Keringa studied a variety of African tribes, pulled from their traditions, and added the thing about candles because candles were on sale at bed-bath and beyond. Each night of Kwanzaa, a candle is lit that represents a different principle. Unity.

Ummulja. Self-determination. Coo-jee-jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjuh, Kuhjjah Golia. Who! Hey man, I don't know these words, I'm trying, all right? Collective work and responsibility. Ujima. Cooperative economics, Khama, purpose, Nia, creativity, Kuma, Faits, Imani. KUMBA. FACE. IMAN

On Imani, the seventh night, people exchange gifts, and the gifts are often handmade. Why? Because Kwanza's meant to stand against the commercialism of Christmas. And because handmade gifts are much harder to re-gift. At first, Kwanza had a hard time catching on. In part, because there's a lot of holiday competition during this time of year. Christmas, Hanukkah, the Lexus December to remember sales events. Also because seven days is a lot of time to spend with family. Even Jesus could only take three days in heaven with his dad before he came back to earth because he needed a break. It also didn't

help that Karenga himself wasn't the best dude. He spent some time in prison for abusing women. If Santa went to prison for smacking around Mrs. Claus and then tried to come down my chimney, Rudolph wouldn't be the only one with a red nose. Kwanza didn't pick up steam into the late 70s when the black middle class began to grow, and suburban black parents wanted to connect their children to their heritage. And of course, or there's black people people with with with with with with their people with black culture. So like every other major holiday, soon Kwanza became commercialized. Peebri-pwee-pwee! The dream! Ha! Beer advertisements, Power Rangers, cell phone commercials, Sesame Street, even white ladies in the food networks making Kwanza cakes.

Ugh! At least I think that's a cake. That looks like something you make when you're drunk at 4 a.m. Point is, Kwanza had arrived. 30 years after its first celebration, 10 million Americans were celebrating Kwanza. Even the U.S. government acknowledged it. Bill Clinton made the first presidential declaration marking the holiday, although I bet he was just trying to get another invite to Arsenio. And the U.S. Postal Service even commissioned a Kwanzaa stamp. Check it out! It's the closest thing we're going to get to reparations.

But Kwanza's moment in the sun didn't last long. After the 90s, interest in the holiday declined. And now only 4% of Americans celebrated, which to mean just reflects a changing of the times. Younger black people don't feel the need to have a holiday the the their holiday their to have to have to have their to have their to me just reflects a changing of the times. Younger black people don't feel the need to have a holiday to affirm their blackness when black culture is way more visible and easy to engage with nowadays. There's black Twitter, black Panther, slick down baby hairs. And honestly, Kwanza is a complicated holiday.

It's got a problematic beginning and can sometimes come off as African cosplay. But on the other hand, it brings families together, centers the black experience, and is an excuse to have some good food. Ugh, not you. But maybe the best part of Kwanza is, whether you celebrate it or not, you can pretend to celebrate it. So my white friends will buy me gifts. Ha ha ha! Hibari Gani, what does Abagani mean?

Oh, she a white lady, she don't know. Watch the Daily Show, Weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central, and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount Plus.