Kwanzaa message from Mayor Ward
December 26, 2025
Press release from the City of Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Today, Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward released the following message:
Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community, and culture. This seven-day holiday is rooted in Pan-African heritage and traditions. The term Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili “matunda ya kwanza,” meaning “fruits of the harvest.” Each of the seven days celebrates a different principle: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
I hope that Kwanzaa brings you time to enjoy the blessings of family, community, and togetherness.
Harvey
I’ve known lots of black people, even had 2 as business partners. ever met one that celebrated “kwanza”.
Kwanza was made up by Maulana Karenga in 1966….you know that, right? No one I have ever met, of any hue, took ‘Kwanza’ seriously.
Why all the hate? Every holiday was made up by somebody
Because they’re dumb. All holidays are made up. The same people who never question St. Patrick’s Day suddenly become constitutional scholars when Kwanzaa shows up. Life goes on…
From Wikipedia-
American black separatist[3] Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 during the aftermath of the Watts riots[4] as a non-Christian,[5] specifically African-American holiday.[6] Karenga said his goal was to “give black people an alternative to the existing holiday of Christmas and give black people an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.”[7] For Karenga, an anti-white figure in the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the creation of such holidays also underscored the essential premise that “you must have a cultural revolution before the violent revolution. The cultural revolution gives identity, purpose, and direction.”[8]: 63–65
According to Karenga, the name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning “first fruits”.[9] First fruits festivals exist in Southern Africa and are celebrated in December/January with the southern solstice. Karenga was partly inspired by an account he read of the Zulu festival Umkhosi Wokweshwama.[8]: 84 It was decided to spell the holiday’s name with an additional “a” so that it would have a symbolic seven letters.[8]: 228
During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas. He believed Jesus was psychotic and Christianity was a “White” religion that Black people should shun.[10] As Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his position so practicing Christians would not be alienated, stating in the 1997 book Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture that “Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday.”[11] Many African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas.[12]
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]
Made up holiday to fight back against Christianity.
Thank you Bear for sharing this. The most interesting part of the wiki report to me, was: “For Karenga, an anti-white figure in the Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the creation of such holidays also underscored the essential premise that “you must have a cultural revolution before the violent revolution. The cultural revolution gives identity, purpose, and direction.”[8]: 63–65
This is the playback of how to take over a population and a country. Most Blacks in America chose to assimilate and take advantage of a country their historic relatives helped build to become the greatest country on earth.
That playbook now seems to be the radical Muslims desire to wipe out Christians and to destroy the “Great Satan”, the USA.
I pray our Mulim brothers and sisters here in the USA choose to assimilate also. If they don’t, the USA is in for a very rough ride ahead. One in which, we will prevail. God Bless America.
Bear we knew you would hate it cuz you’re a f****** racist
This country is made of Americans. ONCE YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF THE USA you are an American, not a half and half as progressive leftists want everyone to be. You amuse me with your childish rants. You call be a racist yet you know nothing of my multi racial background. I identify as a American period. Your Derangement disorders show your true colors.
Thanks Harv. For explaining what Kwanzaa is AGAIN. You had to look that up didn’t you? You’d think after 60 years that every mention of Kwanzaa didn’t also have to explain what the heck it is, but here we are.
“This seven-day holiday is rooted in Pan-African heritage and traditions.”
And what kind of heritage and traditions are they referring to? You mean the culture of government dependency, elevated crime rates, poorly educated children with irresponsible parents?
Sure….go ahead and celebrate.
LOU whole life is 7 days a week rooted in racism and hate
Keep crying cause YOU can’t handle the truth!
He just mad that Trump tried to one up Santa and give all the trespassers a gift of being sent home to families for Christmas.
Individuals decide if they want to integrate or segregate themselves. And stop blaming others if they fail.