Thanksgiving 2007: Celebrating the Black Family

Thanksgiving 2007

Celebrating the Black Family

This holiday season, we want to give thanks for the strength and beauty of the Black Family, which has inspired us and kept us strong in this society for over 300 years. It has been our political, social and spiritual foundation, in every generation expressing and containing our culture's highest ideals.

More on Family History

• Find Your Family Roots
• Black Oral History Project
• Plan Your Family Reunion

• Take a Reunion Cruise

Jumping the Broom

Unity in Slavery

Even during slave times, our desire to bond in the family unit could not be stopped by the oppressive measures that prevented slaves from getting married by law. By "jumping the broom," slaves bonded through spiritual will and formed the foundations that enable us to thrive today.

Families in Slavery

We Are Their Dream

In the novel 'Roots,' we see the story of 'Toby' Kinte as he tries to make a life for his family during the harsh reality of our slave years. Tempted to run away from his plantation, he stays with his wife and child, shouting: "This ain't my home, but this is my child, and we're family!"

Surviving Jim Crow

Family is Community

'The Color Purple' is the story of a family of friends, relatives, and neighbors who love and support one another no matter what the tensions and difficulties. They relish life in all its drama under the unfair rules of Jim Crow. Celie learns the pure appreciation of life through her family friends.

Our First Family

Unite & Fight!

Dr. King and Coretta Scott King presented the message of human equality that inspired the civil rights struggle from a strong family foundation. The image of their unity as a couple and the beauty of their family was an inspiration then, and their union continues to inspire now.

'Good Times'

Fun During Adversity

Life after the civil rights movement became rocky in the seventies, a time of many different kinds of economic and social turmoil. 'Good Times' was just a television series, but it did depict our capacity to find humor and joy in struggle with the support of loved ones.

Family & Ideals

Teaching Black Power

During the Black Power movement, we sought to address our social problems by restructuring our families along Afrocentric values. Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, was an important member of the Black Panther party who raised her family according to its creed that Black is Beautiful.

Family Stability

'The Cosby Show'

Bill Cosby created one of the first images of African-American family health, happiness, and wealth with his smash hit show. Well-loved by people of all races, it seemed that the black family had finally come into its own in terms of acceptance by our larger community.

Moving Forward

The Black Church

The emotional ties that bind us are often woven through the church into the sustaining fabric of our community. The black church is the bedrock of the larger African-American family. For that we give thanks, and we pray that all our religious communities continue to sustain us.

Family Reunions

Sun & Fun

One of the unique ways in which we build community is through the Black Family Reunion, a particularly strong African-American tradition. We give thanks that our holidays and reunions continue to keep us together during modern times, which seem engineered to keep us apart.

Loving Moms

Keeping It Together

We give thanks for black mothers, who sometimes have to be the mother and the father, always linking little ones to the larger community of relatives and elders.

Strong Dads

Loving Their Young Ones

We give thanks to great African-American fathers for protecting and honoring their families, and being great role models.

Kissing Cousins

A Special Relationship

In the black community, a cousin might as well be another sister or brother. At this time of year, we give thanks for our cousins and their love.

Thanks For Our Grandparents

Tending the Young Ones

Our grandparents represent that special connection to the past that links us back to ages that we can barely remember, we have come so far. And they do so with a loving touch.

For Our Families

We Say Thanks!

Alex Haley said: "In every conceivable manner, the family is [our] link to our past, bridge to our future." We have plenty to be thankful for as a people, and we thank our families for helping us make it with joy. We express gratitude for our ancestors, and encourage you to explore your roots.