Barack Obama's official statement on Kwanzaa
Michelle and I send warm wishes to all those celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season.
This is a joyous time of year when African Americans and all Americans come together to celebrate our blessings and the richness of our cultural traditions. This is also a time of reflection and renewal as we come to the end of one year and the beginning of another.
The Kwanzaa message tells us that we should recall the lessons of the past even as we seize the promise of tomorrow.
The seven principles of Kwanzaa - Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith - express the values that have inspired us as individuals and families; communities and country.
These same principles have sustained us as a nation during our darkest hours and provided hope for better days to come. Michelle and I know the challenges facing many African American families and families in all communities at this time, but we also know the spirit of perseverance and hope that is ever present in the community.
It is in this spirit that our family extends our prayers and best wishes during this season and for the New Year to come. ####
Related items:
Pres. Obama issues special Hajj message to the Muslim world
Pres. Obama's special Ramadan message to the Muslim world
Pres. Obama's special message on the Hmong New Year
Pres. Obama's Hannukah message
Pres. Obama's statement on Romanian National Day
Weekly Remarks: The Obamas and Duncan Hunter say Merry Christmas
Whatever your taste in holidays or even if you don't believe in days off, celebrate by clicking here for Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item. Or follow us @latimestot. We're also over here on Facebook, though the list is fast filling up. And our new Facebook fan page is here.
Photo: Reuters
Ahhhh, the Black Nationalists' holiday. Perfect for the America-hating couple and their children.
Posted by: GEAH | December 28, 2009 at 08:03 PM
Kwanzaa is an ersatz holiday invented by a thuggish felon who was convicted of torturing two black women. It should make decent "African Americans and all Americans come together" and vomit. Just one more instance in which an American president has covered himself with PC shame (sadly, George W. Bush did it too).
Posted by: Bill Daugherty | December 29, 2009 at 06:56 AM
Why are the media ignoring President Obama's Kwanzaa address? It is only reported on this blog and only briefly mentioned on one other mainstream blog.
Is this part of a media blackout of black celebrations?
If it wasn't for Twitter most folks wouldn't even know that he issued a Kwanzaa greeting.
Talk about the media Grinch that stole Kwanzaa!
Posted by: Paul Scott | December 29, 2009 at 08:49 AM
I am ashamed of the first so-called African-in-american president who has chose to celebrate Jewish and Mexican Holidays in "The White House" but has failed to acknowledge the community in whichhe has lived and served among a majority of his political career. I would imagine he fear being called just what the dumb knuckle head before me just stated.It is amazing how people in our so-called great country can accept every holiday but the one which respects the true builders of this country "The African American Geniuses" Of course those who ancestorswho were illiterate and committing atrocity of the true intellects would ignore such a great holiday in this country. A militant I am not, an American I am. Our people should have been represented with a celebration well recognized in The White House just like every other country and not watered down to a statement in a letter from the president which is equal to an instrument of slavery, jut like a charging insrument in courts, Happy Kwanzaa America.
Posted by: Tyrone Galtney | December 29, 2009 at 10:05 AM