LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Biden-Harris administration and Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently issued public statements and social media posts celebrating Kwanzaa. Their cheerful proclamations were aimed to acknowledge the holiday, which honors African heritage and culture despite the controversial roots of the holiday’s founder.

Gov. Whitmer, in her “Happy Kwanzaa” social media post on X, said that she was wishing everyone a “peaceful” and joyful holiday, conveniently ignoring its divisive and contentious origins.

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It’s a curious choice of celebration for a political party already struggling to connect with middle America, while Kwanzaa’s recognition and participation remains minimal at best.

According to a 2019 survey the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, only 3% of the U.S. population celebrates Kwanzaa.

Unpacking Kwanzaa: the seven principles and its founder.

Kwanzaa, observed annually from December 26th to January 1st, is promoted as a week-long celebration of African heritage and culture. Established in 1966 by Black nationalist Dr. Maulana Karenga, the holiday highlights the “Nguzo Saba,” or seven principles, dedicating each day to one of these values.

But who is Maulana Karenga? Perhaps Governor Whitmer, VP Kamala Harris and President Biden should have done a quick Google search on him before diving into the “Happy Kwanzaa” foray. For those unfamiliar with him, Karenga is a controversial figure who, reports say, founded the week-long celebration as a secular alternative to Christmas and Hanukkah. Karenga had originally declared Christianity a “White” religion with a “White God” and said that Black people should not celebrate it. He also referred to Jesus Christ as “psychotic.”

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The Kwanzaa holiday was looked at as the beginning of a possible revolution after Karenga said, “You must have a cultural revolution before the violent revolution.”

Kwanzaa’s founder: a controversial past.

The “peace” and “joy” Gov. Whitmer encourages everyone to celebrate ironically traces back to Karenga, a figure whose controversial past includes racially charged views and a criminal record involving violent crimes against women.

In 1971, Karenga was found guilty of felony assault, torture, and the false imprisonment of women.

A 1971 article in the Los Angeles Times recounts the testimony of one of Karenga’s victims: “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” (which purportedly stands for United Slaves, though that is disputed), also put detergent and running hoses in their mouths, she said. They also were hit on the heads with toasters.”

A manufactured holiday.

As Breitbart News points out, Kwanzaa is not an ancient African celebration as some might assume. It’s a modern creation from Karenga that aligns more with 1960s radicalism than with any traditional African heritage.

And despite its niche appeal, Democrats have latched onto the un-inclusive holiday as a symbol of inclusion, trotting out the same talking points every December to prove their “wokeness.”

The seven core principles (Nguzo Saba).

It’s reported that Karenga drew inspiration for Kwanzaa from traditional African harvest celebrations and ceremonies referred to as “first fruits” traditions, giving thanks for the harvest, celebrating community and honoring ancestors. The seven principles of Kwanzaa are core values that are celebrated in the Black community during the week-long holiday – one a day: unity; self-determination; collective work and responsibility; cooperative economics; purpose; creativity and faith.

The “unity” of the holiday, however, can be a challenging concept for some to embrace, as the holiday’s focus does not fully encompass all racial groups, leaving some feeling disconnected from its purpose and meaning. Additionally, the principle of “cooperative economics” raises concerns for some, as it emphasizes supporting businesses within the Black community, which can be perceived as exclusive in its approach.

The focus on cultural-specific holidays for specific groups has raised discussions about its impact on fostering unity, with some arguing it could inadvertently deepen divisions rather than bridge them.