IV 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 520 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 18, 2012 Ms. Waters submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform RESOLUTION Recognizing the significance of the 45th anniversary of Kwanzaa Week.

Whereas Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community, and culture and is observed each year by an estimated 40,000,000 people throughout the world African community on every continent in the world; Whereas Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, an internationally recognized scholar and an author, professor, and chair of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach, and the founder and chairman of The Organization Us, in order to reaffirm African-Americans’ rootedness in African culture, to provide a context in which Africans around the world could come together and reinforce the bonds between them and to introduce the Nguzo Saba and reaffirm the importance of African communitarian values which stress and strengthen family, community, and culture; Whereas Kwanzaa is a profound expression of African people’s commitment to their cultural values and heritage, an annual reaffirmation and reinforcement of the bonds between them as a people and a celebration of themselves and their history; Whereas the core principles of Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba, are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith), and these principles are positive, proactive, and contributive to the building and development of the community and African people; Whereas Kwanzaa is organized around the fundamental cultural activities of the ingathering of the people; special reverence for the Creator and creation; commemoration of the past; recommitment to the highest African values; and celebration of the Good, as outlined in Dr. Karenga’s authoritative work on Kwanzaa titled Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture; and Whereas Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 through January 1 and mayors, city councils, and State legislatures across the country have issued official proclamations designating these dates as Kwanzaa Week in recognition and respect of the cultural significance of this holiday to African people throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives honors does hereby— (1)recognizes the significance of the 45th anniversary of Kwanzaa Week; and (2)commends Dr. Maulana Karenga for his scholarship, creativity, commitment, and vision in creating this holiday and introducing the Nguzo Saba as a core value system which contributes significantly to community development and the enrichment of national and human values and culture.