Kwanzaa Explained and How Black Folks Can Celebrate It - Beyond the Scenes | The Daily Show

[@jessicalee3229]

Asian American here. I grew up in the USA in the 90s, and I remember all the Kwanzaa festivities with my classmates, and the tv shows (Brain from Arthur!). Then I left the USA for decade, and upon my return it felt like most folks didn't even know that Kwanzaa is 7 days, let alone what it was about. Now I'm the one who talks about Kwanzaa to my GenZ friends and coworkers. As an Asian person raised to revere traditions, it sits very jarring with me that something cultural just fell away like that. But when she said that now Black folks can now connect with African folks and learn about actual traditions, and not ones that had to be created due to the way all those traditions had been stolen, gives me some comfort about it. Looking forward to the next festival or holiday my friends and colleagues will tell me about.

[@cajokolo]

This segment is amazing. I was born in Angola 🇦🇴 and the name of our main river is Kwanza (and also the money). I live in the Netherlands and this year will definitely celebrate the other Kwanzaa. Peace 🙌🏿

[@fullblastrecognize8480]

In eastafrica, "kwanza" is swahilI word for FIRST. I am in Kenya.

[@dee_dee_place]

Thank You for explaining Kwanzaa. I think it is important for Black people because you were stripped of your roots & have no 'ties that bind'. It centers on the viewpoints, traditions, & values that you carry with you, no matter where you were born &/or reside. It's about connection, connection to a greater community, a world community. Now I get it! I'm Hebrew, & no matter from what country a Hebrew was born &/or resides, we carry a shared thread, we are connected to each other, forever.

[@mangos2888]

I am a white woman in a northern state who did a college research paper on collard greens in African-American culture, and Dr. Harris' books were a notable part of my research. I had to address how difficult it is to trace this history of food in AA culture because it wasn't written down. I think I even cited her saying that the culture passes down traditions as oral & demonstrative more than written & read - to the detriment of other cultures who want to know. Dr. Harris' work is truly priceless. I found so many books on the food history of so many cultures - even Native American food history is documented pretty well considering the atrocities they've had to deal with. I love this whole video. I did not keep up with her work after graduating in 2008 and am looking up her work on Amazon now! Thank you for posting this!

[@missym877]

Not sure why it’s surprising Native American history is well maintained when they were allowed to keep their culture, given portions of land and generally left alone after the trail of tears to govern themselves…unlike blacks who were forced into slavery, stripped of their heritage and identities, families torn apart and sold states and miles away…and forbidden to learn to read and write. While I know your post meant not offense, but people really need to stop comparing natives to blacks…our plights are so vastly different, especially when the bulk of natives complaints begin and end with a disease that wiped out their ancestors 200+ years ago and land stolen from them 300+ years ago. Blacks most recent and BIGGEST political disenfranchisement ended with segregation…not even 100 years ago.

[@Virjunior01]

Funny thing is that you see a lot of the roots of black American food in various African dishes. Hit up some Senegalese restaurants and you can see what might be like "proto-greens." My mother and grandmother always made badass greens, and seeing the dishes in american-african restaurants (often titled just "vegetables") hits a similar spot. The flavorings and ingredients are very different, but the spirit is there, complete with chunks of lamb rather than neckbones, smoked ham or turkey butts.

[@mangos2888]

@MIM I suggest you up your knowledge on Native American history then. If you can't see the similarities, that's a you problem

[@CaraRowen]

@@mangos2888 I think what they're trying to say is that we never really had the chance to write things down. Considering the illiteracy essentially force on to us. It wasn't as if we had books brought with us from the before times, it wasn't as if we were being educated during or after enslavement. I really agree that our plight shouldn't be compared. As a black woman I couldn't imagine the horrors indigenous tribes went through and I'm sure it's vice versa. There is of course overlap but this country was home to those tribes they had histories, writings, language most managed to hang on to (though I recognize a lot of tribes lost their histories in the many events leading up to modern day perpetuated by colonizing whites). The black community had none. No language, the writings, nothing but ghost of a homeland we would never know. There was nothing to recover. Your comparison comes off as you telling the black community that we didn't pull ourselves up by our bootstraps well enough, ignoring all nuance.

[@Iloveswedes]

@@missym877 Some natives were wiped out and others were separated, adopted, and "re-educated". It's going to be somewhat of a surprise that their information is still available. Of course, black folks had it worse in being treated like we were nothing.

[@michelleferrero8206]

I live in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, USA 🇺🇸. We celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa (in that order). It makes for an interesting December. Enjoy your holidays.

[@fieldandstream9362]

That sounds fun. But I always prefer Christmas because it's about children...

[@MindYourOwn777]

Sounds great

[@jamilajones8328]

I'm in cali, and when I was a child , I got my family to do the same for a few years. Kwanzaa didn't take... but at least they tried.😊

[@cassiopeia1931]

Being a white woman from Southern California, the majority of mentions of Kwanzaa I have been exposed to have been jokes at its expense. I'm really happy to have had this podcast put out to educate, since I am sure I can't be the only person out there who was ignorant about this holiday. Unrelated, I could listen to Dr. Harris talk about food history all day. She's a great speaker.

[@EtidoInyang]

The daily show keeps going… and someday we will welcome a special guest in the house; “Trevor “🎉❤🎉🎉

[@raymondtrabulsy7294]

Roy's southern manners are shining through like the sun.

[@visitingplaceswithnadia3669]

Im from Angola, and our currency is called Kwanza

[@Fahima90]

I'm from Harlem and have celebrated Kwanzaa for most of my adult life.

[@78DoubleA]

Thanks for dropping the knowledge ya'll! If Swahili is the language, why not take an east African food for Kwanzaa? Goat (mbuzi choma), beef (ngombe choma), and talapia are very popular meats. A common staple is ugali (maise meal cake) goes really nice with another, skuma wiki (kale and greens). That with a little pilipili (hot peppers) mmmmm mmmm mmmmmm!

[@healedaries4644]

Our Kwanza celebration includes foods from various African cultures, Jewish culture, and married into the family, Iranian food. It’s lovely and lots of love!

[@sophieoshaughnessy9469]

Swahili is an East African language. Most African Americans are of west African descent so it seems odd to have chosen the language.

[@petjeremiah8164]

I appreciate what you do Roy. Thank you

[@heyheyhey40]

It’s important to emphasize that the word Kwanzaa means “first fruits”. It’s strategically placed before New Years as it represents a new beginning and commitment to self and community betterment.

[@ms.kitisaharris3276]

Thank you for this! My immediate family has been gathering and inviting extended and honorary family, and friends to celebrate with us since 1988. This year we even created committees and did a T-shirt fundraiser (inviting guests to wear the T-shirt to the party)! Point being, THANK YOU for this discussion! I even looked up Dr. Jessica B. Harris and realized we ALREADY have this book! So, THANK YOU! ❤️🖤💚

[@SewingNinja]

A dear friend gave me the book when it came out and I have celebrated Kwanzaa every year since.

[@katelangworthy8698]

Great interview with Dr. Harris! I've known about Kwanzaa for many, many years. Although it's not an ancient tradition, I feel that the seven principles are so important to standing tall, becoming a discerning person, and building community. I hope it gains in popularity and can remain relatively commercial free.

[@edjones8815]

Great segment! It made me reconsider my thoughts about the celebration.

[@immersiveexperiences4799]

Thank you for having this conversation. I love Kwanzaa and look forward to celebrating it again this year.

[@waliasad5475]

The ideology is to practice these principles throughout our daily weekly struggles while always remembering our family and family-friends and knowing looking forward that our responsibility to keep evolving while moving forward Sankofa = Go back and fetch Fetch that Umoja Kujichagulia Ujima Ujamaa Nia Kuumba Imani In our day to day Speak peace and love with gladness

[@blackqueen164]

Thanks for the wonderful history lesson🙏🏾✊🏾.

[@sharonkaysnowton]

Roy, Dr Harris forgot the most important- Kwanzaa is a "Thanksgiving of Family". It is not just your immediate family, but your ancestors and friends. Friends are the family we choose. I celebrate family. I celebrate Kwanzaa. Thank you for your video.

[@tmalloy9]

I do not know any people who gather without food. Even in boardrooms there is coffee and tea.

[@d1ane96]

This was really interesting for me. I usually don't know how to connect with the idea of blackness or the black community because I'm biracial and my Mom's side of the family is from the Carribean. I appreciate how broad and inclusive of all black people this holiday is.

[@cruzpaez8047]

I am #Caribbean (#PuertoRican 🇵🇷 ) & the entire population R rooted in the #Native (our indigeneous ancestors came from what is now #Venezuela .. A mixture of Natives from Taino, Arawak & Carib tribes) & #African (from all over but primarily from the Yoruba/Igbo people which is the Benin/Nigeria regions but really #WestAfrican esp. in it's rhythms, drumming & faith practices which heavily weaves in & out with whatever the main religion is. usually #RomanCatholic in the #Carib). So, rest assured, no matter your coloring.. #Caribbeans R rooted in #Native + #African #Diasporas .. Welcome. BTW, my Family celebrates #Kwanzaa in addition to #Christmas & #3KingsDay .. I'm #PurrtoRican 🇵🇷 we R so beyond triple plus "racially" mixed.✌🏾💜

[@Cancun771]

Roy needs to be the next Trevor. You all know it. Roy's uncle Ernie can then take over as the next Roy.

[@agnesstokes1078]

I have been celebrating Kwanzaa since the 80's, I'm trying to get the newest gen involved

[@priyanshuanand3127]

Loves from India🇮🇳

[@shreehariraam2290]

Miss you Trevor 🙂💔

[@kasturipillay6626]

I had a feeling food is involved in Kwaanzaa 😀 Interesting to learn about new traditions. 🥨🥜🍗🥣👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

[@susansheffield2931]

Really interesting show. 2 great guests and interesting Roy and a lovely subject!

[@outofmanyweareone6429]

Happy holiday....🖤💚💛one love

[@theronious]

Seriously amazing interview. Thank you!!

[@RobertaMcGillRecipes]

Great job of explaining the history of Kwanzaa!👍🏾

[@BePatient888]

I have never lived anywhere where anyone celebrated Kwanzaa - and that includes ATLANTA, GA - the unofficial capital city of African America.

[@Fahima90]

@Delayed Grats It really depends on the community you're around. I recall attending a Kwanzaa celebration in the ATL at Pascal's at the inviinvitation of a classmate from George.

[@22221mm]

Chinisha is dropping some gems! Agree with her 💯

[@MrSutton17]

Thanks for the information. I appreciate the knowledge

[@jamilajones8328]

Food brings people together ❤️. You can talk about stuff on a full stomach; you can't talk on an empty stomach.

[@RealziesCuts]

Enjoy your food & 🎄 92 days no alcohol I am a Winner 🥇🏆🎄

[@michel3691]

Incredible accomplishment! Stay strong. ✌️

[@iancalhoun7644]

Last Christmas was my 90 day's. It gets better!

[@johncraig4820]

Let's make it the Daily Show with Roy Wood Jr. I'd eat that up like big bunch of Carolina Pulled Pork with side of Kansas City Ribs.

[@t10events11]

I loved every minute of this

[@brickellkid305]

Chanukah is not a year end celebration, lunar calendar & different year date.

[@primeapocalypse6291]

I miss Trevor Noah

[@almediaspace]

Roy is absolutely awesome ❤❤❤

[@briangad.]

'Kwanza' is a swahili word for 'first'

[@ms.kitisaharris3276]

In my family, we have been exposed to Kwanzaa and celebrating since the 70s… discussion during the season has lead to my family practicing the 7 Principles at present in various forms. Please do not say it isn’t useful. Also the gifts/ Zawadi are supposed to be handmade… there’s so much to unpack. The holiday is celebrated worldwide. It’s absolutely NOT okay to say this holiday isn’t needed. Do better in communicating what’s wanted and needed. Kwanzaa also provides an opportunity for unifying cross culturally. I appreciate this discussion with a Kwanzaa kid (whose dad was #VainGlorious #ToTheEast ❤️🖤💚)! Please don’t form a conversation based on what can be TRULY subjective! Thanks again!! I’d love to experience #KwanzaaCrawl. Not newer. EXPANDED to include the new along with the different iterations over the years!

[@bicycle697]

Roy is awesome!!! Even white folks like me appreciate learning more about Kwanzaa!

[@carleenmulloy481]

Beautiful ☺️ principals 🙏🇺🇸

[@unreliablenarrator6649]

Great explanation!

[@TW-uj6tn]

Kwanzaa is based on Swahili, predominantly, an East African language. But, America's Chosen People are from West Africa, primarily, Nigeria, a former British colony whose top ten indigenous languages: Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulfulde, Kanuri, Ijaw, Pidgin English, Tiv, Ibibio, and Edo do not include Swahili. Kujichagulia is awesome, but can't it be said in Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa?

[@paulinemuthena6545]

I would watch Trevor's reruns if they will put them up.

[@healedaries4644]

Where can I find the “Healing Supper?

[@craigslistreplies3485]

That woman is giving Rachel Dolezal 🧐

[@chuckm1961]

Every group think that they have a unique and special connection to FOOD. All humans have a connection to FOOD. We need to eat it to live.

[@davidh6326]

Trevor come home 😭

[@unreliablenarrator6649]

Chinese moms are famous for being strict with children to behave and study hard. But you know they love you when they love you dinner first, and bring you peeled fruit for a snack before bed.

[@kuyonza94]

Matunda ya kwanza ...noma sana

[@nejmiel]

Ohhh...trevor..trevor

[@naomiwright4895]

As a multicultural wiccan, I really appreciate this topic. Each year of the last 3, I include a new culture in how I celebrate each season and holiday.

[@537zun4]

Wait Kwanza is a real thing? A suprise for sure. (Edit) nvm...

[@missym877]

No. It’s fake. But in white peoples frenzy attempt to be more “open” they failed to do their proper research and realize MOST black Americans do not celebrate kwanza, did not grow up celebrating kwanza…considering most blacks are Christian, Baptist or non denominational, believe in Jesus…not to mention… kwanza came out in 1966, meaning the earliest celebrators would be in their 80s and the average maybe in their 60s. It’s an infuriating joke, how they’re trying to further “other” blacks by making it appear as if we have an entire different holiday culture when black Americans are as American as a white American…and celebrating Christmas is just as much the norm for us as it is them.

[@537zun4]

@@missym877 you are a special little flower, ain't you ?

[@paulinemuthena6545]

Cant watch this show because Trevor is not there ..

[@annatryjesus9041]

Thank y’all for sharing this I didn’t know it was for our people Kwanzaa now that I heard yall talking about it I can celebrate it . So it’s not a pagan worship. So it’s a gathering of our people and eating traditional foods??👀

[@t10events11]

And acknowledging the principles, and giving handmade gifts

[@NicolasMendoula]

What is Kwanzaa?

[@MajorHenryL.]

Im offended by Kwanzaa. I hope nobody wishes me a happy kwanzaa because I will be offended.

[@kaynetinnermon7638]

Happy kwanzaa 😁

[@meredithforde-purposefocus5004]

No pub for the black restaurant that catered the event? "Corporate economics," nope

[@pamelanichols804]

I feel Kwanzaa is being commercialized. I felt it was like thanksgiving and I made some dishes from Africa like jollof rice. And we also gave each other handmade gifts. I gave up because of commercialization. America just steals our culture.

[@mackymintle7806]

Ronald….. hmmmm… L Ron Hubbard?

[@Gorgeous.The.Godess1]

✨️🖤✨️

[@annatryjesus9041]

Want sumin to eat gone and fix you a plate baby and take home 😊❤🙏

[@kitsmith806]

Anna Try Jesus ❤️ 🎯💯🙏🏽

[@Chymariebry]

Had me til she used Michael Jackson as an example

[@UndefeatableKing]

That part

[@derheadbanger9039]

I bet most white people, like myself, know of Kwanzaa thanks to Futurama. 🚀

[@0809EZ]

Kwanzaa is nothing but a natural return to OUR ORIGINAL CULTURE. Our HOLYDAYS, our CULTURE, our MENORAH, our WAY of LIFE was stolen by those that claim to be US and are NOT. The jewish state today is a counterfeit. The fact that those called "black" attempted to create a separate day of celebration from american culture to attempt to celebrate our own culture and that attempt contains every similar trait of what is known today as Hanukkah, should be a very strong testament to who we are as a nation/family of people.

[@sambathehusqueen9909]

😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@missym877]

Except Kwanza is a man made holiday formed in 1966. It’s not a holiday made from hundreds of years of culture and religion…it was created in a day (basically) and now everyone’s trying to pretend like it’s a thing, when it’s the equivalent of Dubai…a man made city formed “overnight” but with no culture because it has no actual history because it hasn’t been around for centuries upon centuries. Just like Kwanza…a fake holiday… Hanukkah is not… And I’m a black person saying this..

[@0809EZ]

@@missym877 Nothing you said was false. Regardless of the color of your skin.

[@Fahima90]

@@missym877I"m not sure where exactly all the hate is coming from. However, all holidays are created by someone. Memorial day was originally called Decoration Day and was started by Black people after the Civil War. There's MLK Birthday made a Federal holiday by Ronald Reagan after much protest. President Biden recently made Juneteenth a federal holiday, due in large part to the efforts of Elder Opel Lee, although Black some Black people were celebrating it inappropriate number of states anyway. I'm not going to get into the history of Thanksgiving. The point is all holidays are created by someone.

[@UndefeatableKing]

@@missym877 Sorry to break it to you, but all holidays are man made. The very premise of your argument is flawed.

[@louischapman87317]

I have no Beef with Kwanzaa. Welcome it and accept it. But I don't look at it as America Black cultural celebration. American blacks have no ties to Africa.

[@weastekadmin5760]

Perhaps Kwanzaa was/is an effort to create those ties ? With the internet and ease of travel, black ppl dont need anyone non-black to tell them abt Africa they can see it for themselves.

[@missym877]

Most black Americans don’t even celebrate kwanza, and we need the media to be REAL about that. It’s a made up holiday, birthed out of the black power movement in 1966. Meaning most black Americans today were either babies when it came out, teens or adults…already use to AMERICAN cultural traditions…not Kwanza.

[@louischapman87317]

@@missym877 thank you. Think I first heard of it in 95 when I was 8 in my "multi-cultural institute" lol. Never really celebrated much of it beyond that. It's not an American black celebration, it's not our American culture. I like the idea of celebrating the holiday Tariq Nasheed proposed. Something for foundational black Americans

[@missym877]

I’m SOOO over this. As a black American, this is NOT something traditionally celebrated in most black households. It’s a holiday that was birthed out of the black power movement, but has no ties to any religious beliefs or tradition past down through the generations. It was a way to turn our backs against Christmas which was seen as a commercial holiday for a white america that did not welcome blacks. Kwanza’s history is important to know, but forcing it down as a fact as a BLACK holiday feels like the media’s covert way of further “otherzing” black people. And I can PROMISE you, these black folks in this video didn’t grow up celebrating Kwanza. Most black people are Christians and believe in Jesus, whether you think that’s silly or not…demographically speaking it is a fact. So why anyone thinks Kwanza is a cultural standard of black America is just ridiculous.

[@Fahima90]

@MIM With all due respect, my church has celebrated Kwanzaa for as long as I can remember. You are making some broad and sweeping generalizations. The Black people I know in Harlem, NY and DC have celebrated both Christmas and Kwanzaa. Moreover, Kwanzaa begins the day after Christmas and isn't an alternative, nor religious holiday in competition with Christmas, but rather a Culteral continuation of the holiday season. Speak your own truth and don't make generalizations about other Black people's experiences.

[@CarolynBatson-cn2ie]

U R so wrong

[@CarolynBatson-cn2ie]

Most blacks are not Christian or adhering to their colonizers traditions.

[@ModdedGarage]

You know what...I'm brown. Not black not white...but if you heard someone say "buy white" people gasp. Think on that.

[@MikeyH84]

I'd push to make Kwanzaa a federal holiday.

[@lesterholtsucks9039]

Eww