When was maulana karenga born

Classroom Support. Maulana Karenga. Biography Donate Now. Tape: 2 Maulana Karenga shares childhood memories Maulana Karenga recalls his early education Maulana Karenga recounts his family's transition to California Maulana Karenga remembers his college years Maulana Karenga details how he became a black nationalist.

Tape: 4 Maulana Karenga details how he created Kwanzaa Maulana Karenga responds to criticism of Kwanzaa Maulana Karenga discusses the problems posed by the recent creation of Kwanzaa. Karenga, T. Maulana Karenga Previous Previous post: Jack Johnson Next Next post: Carl B. Stokes After initially being observed by a few hundred people, Kwanzaa celebrations have spread well beyond the borders of the United States in ensuing years. Throughout the mids, Karenga's voice was clearly heard in speeches across the nation about the importance of racial pride.

His reputation soared due to his role in helping the Los Angeles police limit black rioting after Martin Luther King, Jr. At the same time he was working with these leaders, Karenga's continued outspokenness also put him under surveillance by the FBI. A number of factors isolated Karenga within the black-power movement. While some African Americans did not care for his overpowering manner, others disagreed with his philosophy for dealing with the problems of blacks; more extremist blacks spoke out against his dealing with whites.

The cultural nationalists could not bridge the gap between blacks who wanted to overthrow the system and those who were willing to promote change through the normal political process. It was also felt by many that the so-called cultural movement promoted by Karenga and Baraka compromised the rights of women. Karenga's male chauvinism came to the fore in when he was arrested and convicted of assaulting a female US member. After he was sent to prison to serve time for his offense, the US organization began to dissolve and was officially ended in In prison, Karenga actively complained that his sentence was more harsh than for others convicted of a similar offense, and noted that his repeated parole recommendations were ignored.

During his incarceration he maintained a rigorous schedule of activity and received a steady flow of visitors. He would often endure hour work days consisting of work in the prison library, running a humanist discussion group, and conducting research. His studies resulted in articles published in Black Scholar magazine that encompassed subjects ranging from feminism to pan-Africanism.

After three years, Karenga won his freedom due to the efforts of various black elected officials in California. After his release he admitted that US had made mistakes that weakened the movement and compromised its ability to change appropriately with the times. He also revealed an ideological reawakening by announcing his adherence to Marxist principles of class struggle.

As Thomas L. Blair said in Retreat to the Ghetto, "In Karenga's new view, black nationalism is reactionary because in the pursuit of an elusive ideal of unity it makes class contradictions among blacks. In the years that followed, Karenga would continue to rethink his position on black identity and once again embrace the principles of black culturalism.

Prominent in his thoughts was the need for blacks to work together toward common goals and, especially for Africans to transcend borders of country and tribe. Karenga's Marxist leanings continued to show in his negative opinion of black capitalism, which he felt subverted the black cause and resulted in blacks losing touch with their true identity. To further press the cause of black unity, Karenga and his wife Tiamoya increased their involvement with the Kwanzaa holiday over the years.