President Obama extended his “warmest wishes” to families across the U.S. celebrating Kwanzaa, a holiday which honors African-American culture.
“Today begins a week-long celebration of African-American heritage and culture through family and community festivities,” a statement released the White House on Saturday said.
“Kwanzaa’s seven principles — unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith — are also shared values that bind us as Americans,” he continued. “And in the spirit of the season, we reflect on the blessings of the past year and commit to building a brighter future for all our children.
“As families, friends, and neighbors come together today to light the Kinara, our family sends our best wishes for a happy and healthy new year,” Obama concluded.
On Friday, the president released a video to celebrate Christmas, in which he talked about the message of Jesus. Michelle Obama also appeared in the video, urging Americans to join her in supporting military families.
As of press time, none of the 2016 presidential candidates, in either party, had extended any messages to Americans celebrating Kwanzaa on their social media accounts. This stands in stark comparison to their deluge of Christmas and Hanukkah well wishes.
One political pundit who did chime in on the holiday was Ann Coulter. Coulter said Kwanzaa is “celebrated exclusively by white liberals, is a fake holiday invented in 1966 by black radical/FBI stooge Ron Everett — aka Dr. Maulana Karenga, founder of United Slaves, the violent nationalist rival to the Black Panthers.”
UPDATE:
At 7:43 p.m. EST on Saturday, Hillary Clinton became the first candidate to tweet about Kwanzaa:
Wishing everyone the best this Kwanzaa. To all celebrating—Bill and I send you our warmest wishes. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 27, 2015
