Little Emma Burton has become a sensation, of sorts, throughout her home state because of her refusal to defy her principles in her kindergarten class.

What principles can a 5 year old have?  What personal beliefs could a youngster that age possibly have?  Miss Burton has personal conviction in something that most children – and adults – do: which team to cheer for in sports.

Emma’s mother, Bug Bytes blogger Julie Burton, recounted the events on her blog as follows:

Thursday afternoon, I am waiting outside the school with Kate. Kids come running out of the doors. They all run up to me, all trying to tell me something…

Kansas Jayhawks logo

Emma’s mom! Emma’s mom! Emma is crying! She’s in trouble! 

Wait, kids! What happened? I look up. Emma is being escorted out by her teacher. Emma is in a complete meltdown. Her teacher is struggling to hold Emma’s hand while carrying her backpack, binder, coat and a piece of paper.

Emma wouldn’t color a jayhawk!

BAAAHAHAHAHAHA. I could not help but laugh. A couple moms near me chuckled.

Emma’s teacher made it to me, very angry.

Emma would not color this Jayhawk today with the rest of her class. She told me she would not color it. She told me she does not like KU and her family likes K-State. She asked me for a K-State picture instead but I told her this was her only option. She took the paper, crumpled it up and threw in the trash can. I asked her to get it out of the trash can and she told me no then refused to speak to me the rest of the day. I told her I would have to have a chat with you about this and she will need to color this tomorrow during recess.

I am trying not to laugh. I have my hands over my mouth, trying to hide my smile that I can’t get off my face. I’m sure her teacher was not happy with my reaction.

I told Emma this is not about the schools, it’s just about the state of Kansas. This does not mean she has to like KU and she can throw it in the trash when she gets home. She told me she wouldn’t bring a Jayhawk in her house.

I took Emma home, crying. I thought about this on the walk home. I was getting mad. This little Jayhawk the kids had to color has everything to do with KU. Even if you argue about the historical significance of the Jayhawkers (which was a very bloody and violent time in Kansas. Nothing a kindergartener needs to know) there is no reason to color KU’s mascot blue, red and yellow. This little Jayhawk the class had to color has everything to do with the University. I feel the teachers should get rid of it entirely or give the kids an option to color one of the two major colleges in the state.

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Now this is where little Emma shines through.  Her mother pressures her to comply and conform, but the tot insisted that she would not cave in to what she believed in:

I was left with the dilemma on what to tell Emma. I ended up telling her that Scott and I were not mad at her. She would not receive a punishment from us. We were actually proud she fought for her school and did not back down. BUT, she could have handled herself a little differently with her teacher. She did not need to cause a scene by destroying the Jayhawk page by throwing it away. She did not need to have a meltdown and refuse to carry any of her belongings outside. I asked if she would please color the jayhawk, just for her teacher, and be done with it.

No.

Emma, you need to color this thing. The teacher might have to send you to the principal’s office.

I don’t care. I’m not coloring it.

Emma Burton's Powercat - Photo: Julie Burton

Hmmm…Ok. What if I make you a deal. What if I print out a Powercat and you color it purple, grey and white. Then write an apology to your teacher because you were rude. Will you agree to that?

(pouts) Fine.

Ok, but you need to color that Jayhawk for your teacher.

(silent, exhales) Fine.

You will?

Yes. But I don’t like it. And I’m wearing a K-State shirt tomorrow.

Fine. You don’t have to like it. Just do it and I want you to tell your teacher you’re sorry as well.

The next day was the “Kansas Party” – which I volunteered to help with. The other moms told me they heard what happened via their own children. They all thought it was very funny. One mom gave Emma a high-give for sticking up for her school (behind teacher’s back). One mom told me her daughter told her Emma tried to use purple crayons but the teacher would not let her. Another mom told me her own daughter was scared to throw away her Jayhawk when she got home because she thought she would get in trouble too. I can only assume Emma caused quite the scene the day before. I asked her teacher if Emma colored the Jayhawk. She did. And she got the apology note.

After the party, I drove Emma home. I asked her if the Jayhawk was in her backpack.

Emma's Jayhawk In The Trash - Photo: Julie Burton

Yes. Get it out and put it in the trash can.

Ok. Emma, what is this Jayhawk coloring book?

She wanted me to color that today too. I told her no. 

Did the rest of the class color it?

Yes. But I would not color two jayhawks.

What did your teacher say to that?

Fine.

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Emma Burton is definitely an incredible child.  Standing up to an ‘authority figure’ to defend perhaps the only strong personal conviction that one could have at 5 years old.  Maybe it’s high time that we all pause and review our personal convictions and beliefs to discover if we have given in or given up.

Whether you stand for something as great as Freedom & Liberty, or something as seemingly minute as a college team:  Never surrender, never back down, and never abolish your principles in the face or fear of ‘authority’.

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Umoja (Unity) – On this first day of Kwanzaa the family gathers together to light the first of seven red, black and green candles in the Kinara. The colors are born out of the colors of African flags but represent the blood of oppressed black men (red), the color of our skin and that of the ancestors (black) and the land that has been stolen and denied our people but that is vital to our ultimate independence (green). Dr. Karenga describes the meaning of Umoja in his most recent annual Kwanzaa newsletter: The principle of Umoja (unity) speaks to our need to develop and sustain a sense of oneness, righteous and rightful togetherness in the small and large circles and significant relations of our lives, from family and friendship to community and the cosmos. It urges us to practice a principled and peace- ful togetherness rooted in mutual respect; justice; care and concern; security of person; and equitably shared goods. And it calls on us to stand in solidarity with the oppressed, suffering and struggling peoples of the world in the cooperative achievement of these goods.

I suppose if you read this without context or understanding of the roots of this modern tradition that description may sound rather harmless, but as a Christian who has just finished celebrating the most joyous of holidays I see it as dark and rather joyless.  Read that to your children.  Do they get excited to celebrate Umoja based on that? No, I didn’t think so. Even little kids understand joy, where it is and where it isn’t.  Dr.Karenga may want us to believe this is a positive occasion, but the undertone of the day one of taking account of pain and past offenses; as opposed to Christmas, which is about forgiveness and freedom from the sting of death.

The lighting ceremony begins with a prayer (to the Cosmos, I guess. God really hasn’t much to do with Kwanzaa) and Harambe – a call for “unity and collective work and struggle of the family” (how uplifting!).  Harambe is symbolized by each member of the family raising their hand above their head and making a fist as they pull their hand down (reminiscent of the traditional Black Power fist).  It is done in sets of seven.  Some families choose to sing the Kwanzaa song at this time. It goes like this:

Kwanzaa is a holiday

Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa 

Is an African holiday

Seven Principles

Seven Candles

Seven Black days for the African

The candle is lit and gifts are exchanged, one gift for each day. Gifts are meant to reflect Black heritage and community and the struggle for liberation of the Black people. A discussion about the principle and how it can better self, family and the Black community is meant to ensue.  We always hated that part.  Sullen teenagers and squirmy 4 year olds rarely have patience for such things when cartoons and 21 Jumpstreet are awaiting us in the next room.

The idea of celebrating one’s culture is not new and certainly valuable but Karenga’s Kwanzaa is more than just a cultural celebration.  In fact, I would challenge the idea that it’s a celebration at all.  It is a somber reminder, a salt shaker shoved in the wound of transgressions our very recent ancestors worked so hard to overcome.  For me, it does not promote healing or self-esteem but anger and division.  It keeps our people in the mindset that they are different, not American, but simply a stolen people living in a strange land. But we are not strangers to this country anymore. We are not African-Americans.  We are Americans.  Many of us don’t even have roots in Africa.  Our ancestries go back to the Caribbean or Latin America.  It is wrong to continue to promote the idea of our “otherness”.  We are not others, we are Americans.  Our culture is not in danger of disintegrating.  Indeed, American culture has always turned on Black culture – rap music, jazz, poetry, dance, fashion, slang- Black culture continues to inform the American culture at large.  It does our community a disservice to promote a perpetual state of anger.  I find the principle of Umoja the polar opposite of unity. Fail.

Back to Part I: Why Kwanzaa is Antithetical to American Values