Republican State Senator Attacks Kwanzaa Holiday

Kwanzaa Symbols

Kwanzaa is a week-long Afrocentric holiday which is observed from December 26th through today, January 1st. It was created in 1966 by black radical Maulana Karenga. It is observed by an estimated 2 million Americans.

Wisconsin Republican Glenn Grothman recently attacked the holiday of Kwanzaa, claiming “almost no black people” care about it.

The state senator put out a controversial press release recently in which he asked rhetorically, “Why must we still hear about Kwanzaa?”
“Why are hard-core left wingers still trying to talk about Kwanzaa — the supposed African-American holiday celebration between Christmas and New Year’s?” Grothman wrote.

“Of course, almost no black people today care about Kwanzaa — just white left-wingers who try to shove this down black people’s throats in an effort to divide Americans,” Grothman said. “Irresponsible public school districts such as Green Bay and Madison … try to tell a new generation that blacks have a separate holiday than Christians.”

Grothman went on to personally criticize the rhetoric of Karenga and called for the holiday to be “slapped down.”

“Senator Grothman seems to outdo himself every time he opens his mouth,” said local Democratic treasurer Meg Moen. “That press release is absolutely disgusting and drips with disdain for African-Americans and, therefore, I am calling on him to retract his statements,” she added.

I was amazed when I read the account in the Grio. This politician seems to think that he can say anything without being called on his racist words. We as a people must stay vigilant and respond to these type attacks on our traditions and customs. Our best weapons are the power of the pen and the might of our vote.

Grothman is regarded as one of the most conservative state legislators in the entire country. Recently, Grothman earned national attention when he proposed a bill that would formally deem single parenthood a contributing factor to child abuse. Grothman sponsored the legislation that repealed the state's 2009 Equal Pay Enforcement Act, which made it easier for victims of wage discrimination to have their day in court. In an interview with the Daily Beast, he dismissed the notion that the wage gap between men and women is due to workplace discrimination, instead stating, "You could argue that money is more important for men." Women, he said, were often more focused on raising children than earning money.

Is there any wonder that he was chased and heckled by Wisconsin voters outside the State House?

Posted in: Culture,Emerald Quill,Equal Pay Enforcement Act,Glenn Grothman,Kwanzaa,Meg Moen,Politics,Wisc State Senator