Kwanzaa

I hate generalizations. When someone associates an entire group of people with one idea, stereotype, or action, it infuriates me. People are individuals and make individual choices, period. I don't do things because I'm female, black, 23, etc. I do things because I'm Victoria and I'm really cool.

That being said, I'm about to make a huge generalization but it's okay because it's true: no black people celebrate Kwanzaa. None. The ones who tell you they do are liars, and are just trying to sound different and interesting.

I know, I know, we learned about Kwanzaa back in third grade because it wasn't fair to just learn about Christmas and Hanukkah, two holidays people actually celebrate. I get it. However, think of all of the black people you know (side note: if I am the only black person you know, stop reading this blog and go make some black friends) and tell me that one or more of them celebrates Kwanzaa. Trust me, they don't.

When I was in elementary school I had a classmate named Samara* who claimed to celebrate Kwanzaa. Every year in December she would bring in the black, red, and green candles and the candle holder thingy and talk about what her family did for each night of Kwanzaa.

She was a liar.

I knew she was a liar because I pulled her name for Secret Santa, and since Santa doesn't celebrate Kwanzaa I figured I didn't need to buy her anything (eight year-old Victoria was wise beyond her years, let me tell ya). She was pissed and said it wasn't fair because her family celebrates Christmas too. No black people have the time, money, or patience to buy presents for two holidays. None. Is that racist? Probably, but I've been black for almost 24 years so it's okay.

All that being said, we had a Christmas cubicle decorating competition at work and I had no desire to participate. Thus, I pulled the "I don't celebrate Christmas, I celebrate Kwanzaa" card. I hated myself for being That Black Girl but the feeling quickly passed because I'm a lazy bum who had zero intentions of getting to work early to decorate my cubicle. The little blonde girl who initiated the competition quickly sent out a new e-mail, changing the name to a "Holiday" decorating competition and encouraging us to decorate our cubicles for the holiday we celebrate, no matter what it is. Whore.

Here are some photos from the competition:

My co-worker Jennifer's desk. She won 1st place.

Another co-worker, Sara's, desk. She won 2nd.

My desk.

Maybe next year....



*Names haven't been changed, sorry.