Residents > African American Heritage > Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial > Presentation Remarks

Dear Friends,

The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation takes pleasure in seeing you here today. Our sincere hope is that when you leave you will take away with you some small aspects of Alex Haley's Roots message - that is, that the strength of the human spirit to overcome challenges comes from maintaining strong family connections and pride in one's heritage.

We are particularly gratified to acknowledge the City of Annapolis' acceptance of the Memorial as a gift from the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation. We recognize that the enduring message of Alex is a universal message meant to be shared with all people for all time. It is too powerful a message to be owned by one people or by one place. In accepting our gift, the City will be serving as a steward of the Memorial for the people - for all those who are here today, and for all those who will come in the future.

We pause, too, to salute the many individuals and organizations who have contributed to the completion of this Memorial. Financial contributions have been received from around the world, and the efforts and talents of our volunteers have truly been the driving force behind the success of this undertaking. To the many of you who have helped to build this Memorial, Thank you! - you ARE difference-makers and have earned the bragging rights that come with this success!

And for us at the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, now that this fine Memorial has been completed, our work is only beginning. Look for us in the future as we take our first step toward setting up a "Friends of the Memorial." We are also busy conducting historical research, helping people find their family connections, and developing educational and cultural awareness programs.

While you are here with us today, take time to enjoy this moment in history, remember it, treasure it, and share it with your children, and your children's children, so that they too will come to understand the values of family, heritage, and love in an everchanging world.

Leonard Blackshear
President and Founder
Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation